Ronald Emanuel Guevara Maldonado is a 16 year old young man from the community of Las Olivas, Concepción de María village, Langue municipality, Valle, Honduras. He is the son of a single mother, Itzela Maldonado and comes from a family of farmers. He faced difficulties continuing secondary education due to economic limitations and thought he would only work in agriculture to meet his family’s needs. However, with a lot of discipline and self-confidence, he achieved both goals and graduated as a Bachelor in Science and Humanities in 2023 in Isletas Abajo community.
Motivated by a desire to learn a job, he accepted an invitation from the Vice-president of the Women’s Network, Aricelda Rodríguez, who told him about an opportunity to participate in a training program sponsored by Vecinos Honduras and facilitated by the Instituto Nacional de Formación Profesional (INFOP). With the support and encouragement of his mother, he met the requirements to start the Basic Welding technical training program
Of the 28 young people who began the training in January 2024, some did not complete the program for various reasons, including migration to the USA; however, his interest in learning led him to complete the train in Basic Welding and additionally in computing and electricity because he was aware that there are few opportunities for training like the one offered by Vecinos Honduras with support from World Neighbours Canada, as a way to improve his living conditions.
In January 2025, with his mother’s support, he acquired basic tools to put into practice what he learned by setting up a workshop in his mother’s home, where he now fabricates all kinds of metal structures.
Ronald Emanuel is an example of personal growth and inspiration to other young people, telling them, “Motivate yourselves to study. And if you don’t have the opportunity, learn a trade so you can move forward in our country, without straying from our family.”