Gina Larios

Administrative Assistant

Administrative Assistant 

Gina Larios began her academic career at the American School in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where she had the privilege of receiving a bilingual education. She graduated in 1999 from a private university, "José Cecilio del Valle" with a Degree in Graphic Design. Since that time she has been employed by Metromedia, GBM and New Horizons; the last two as a computer instructor. She was also the Executive Secretary to former First Lady Aguas Ocaña and was most recently the Administrative Assistant for the Interamerican Restoration Corporation (IRC)/Torch Mission. Gina joined the Mi Esperanza Staff officially in September of 2007. 
 
Gina's heart has been involved for many years in volunteer efforts to serve her people. She works closely alongside her parents where they direct a non-profit organization, Cadena de Amor (Chain of Love), which is involved in medical-dental missions. She volunteers in projects with the organization and serves on their board. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be working for the Mi Esperanza Project and to be granted another opportunity to help serve my people in the land that I love. ”

Aurora Romero

Production Manager

Production Manager

“I feel truly blessed to be part of Mi Esperanza. Working for women in my country is a privilege. Offering them more opportunities and hope is a beautiful commitment.”

Aurora Romero graduated with a business degree from UNITEC University. Her first job was as a restaurant manager, where she discovered how much she enjoyed teamwork and serving people. She has also been a credit manager at COFINOL and an elementary school teacher at various schools where she discovered her passion for teaching and training others. She is currently enrolled at the Universidad Pedagógica Francisco Morazán, pursuing a new degree, this time in basic education. 

As a bilingual professional, she has been part of the North Carolina based organization, Live Again Ministries, serving as a translator during in country mission trips for 16 consecutive years. 

Reina Viera

Sewing Maquila Manager & Sewing Instructor

Sewing Maquila Manager & Sewing Instructor 

"This organization is like a blessing because I have received so much. Thanks to Mi Esperanza, I have had a job for many years now."

Reina is a great example of what our organization is working for.  In 2006 she came to Mi Esperanza as a student and started working in the sewing shop, showing her abilities and high-quality work. When a supervisor´s position was open, Reina was the right choice.

Since January 2017, she has been in charge of guiding the artisans that work in the sewing Maquila.  Her talents are also applied in the sewing school. She is very proud and enthusiastic about her first experience as a teacher, having the opportunity to train and inspire other women.

Paola Martinez

Beauty Instructor/Personal Skills Instructor

Cosmetology Instructor

Jensy Paola Espinal Martinez graduated from Mi Esperanza’s beauty school in 2009 and started a beauty salon in a small section of her house. Throughout 2010 and 2011, Paola grew her salon business and achieved every goal she set out to accomplish regarding her salon, including legally naming it PAO PAO (Pow Pow). She also agreed to offer her salon as a location for Mi Esperanza students to fulfill their internships.

In February 2012, Paola joined the Mi Esperanza staff as our beauty school instructor, teaching a morning and an afternoon class three times a week. Her salon is doing amazingly well, and she schedules the Mi Esperanza classes around her salon hours. Additionally, she was able to buy a car using a micro-loan from Mi Esperanza so that she could move more effectively between her two jobs and can travel to her client’s homes with her salon business. In 2022 Paola bought an apartment in Tegucigalpa. Paola is a great addition to the Mi Esperanza family because her story helps Mi Esperanza students see that the education and training Mi Esperanza provides, combined with hard work, results in hope, empowerment, opportunity, and success.

“I continued to stay actively involved with the Mi Esperanza program in order to be an inspiration to others. I also wanted to give back to the organization that helped me.”

Aracely Valasquez

Office Manager

Aracely is our center support employee.  She was a graduate of our computer class in 2013 and came to work at Mi Esperanza in 2014.

Because her daughter's school was so far from home, she did not have the resources or time to travel back and forth by bus each day. She began volunteering her time to help us organize our sewing maquila while she waited for her daughter to finish school.   She soon proved herself a huge asset to our team, and we brought her on as a paid employee. Aracely serves in many capacities; office support staff and sewing maquila support staff. She helps in the on-site store and is our textile hand-printing artisan.  She is always ready to learn something new and expand her talents.

 Aracely is married and has two daughters, Xermaina and Ashley Sophia.  Her top priority is her daughter’s education.  With her job at Mi Esperanza, her daughter Xermaina is currently studying graphic design at university. Sophia is enrolled in a private/bilingual school for which she is so proud.  Aracely often speaks of her gratitude to Mi Esperanza for giving her the opportunity to work and provide a better education for her daughter, knowing it will make a difference in Xermaina's and Ashley’s future.  

“ My girls will have all the opportunities I never had. Their futures are changed! I will fulfill many of my dreams through them. I thank Mi Esperanza and everyone that helps us. You are changing lives.”

— Aracely Valasquez

Sulema Benitez

Jewelry Studio Supervisor

Jewelry Studio Supervisor

Sulema joined the Mi Esperanza artisan team in 2015 when she was hired as part of a large train-to-work team for a jewelry order Mi Esperanza was hired to produce. Sulema's natural abilities and trainability elevated Sulema very quickly. After the production was completed, Sulema was added to the Mi Esperanza jewelry artisan group. Because of her talent and abilities, in 2017, Sulema was promoted to Mi Esperanza's Jewelry Studio Supervisor.

Sulema continues to advance her skills and mentor other jewelry artisans. Sulema is kind, joyful, and a treasured part of the Mi Esperanza staff.

“ Working at Mi Esperanza has been a great change in my life. I have never been paid fairly in any of my former jobs. At Mi Esperanza, they listen to my ideas, and I am respected. It makes me want to grow old working at Mi Esperanza.”

— Sulema Benitez

Katia Andino

Lead Teacher in the Mi Espernza’s on-site child learning center

Katia Andino is a graduate of Unah University. She holds a degree in Psychology.

In 2015 in Katia's town of Santa Ana, Mi Esperanza hired 65 women and trained them to complete a production order of 85,000 bracelets. Katia applied for one of the spots to earn an income while she was working on her degree.

Because of her connections with Mi Esperanza working on our production team, Katia heard about a computer technology instructor opening. Katia applied and began her teaching career in 2017.

Katia takes great pride and is grateful to have the opportunity to share her computer knowledge with women who have never had the chance to pursue their desire to learn. Katia shared, "Many Honduran women start taking care of their homes and children at a young age, making it almost impossible to get an education. It's hard for a mother to help their children with homework when she has not received an education. Computer literacy helps them have access to a vast amount of information."

In 2023 Katia became the lead teacher in the Rilyn Harper Child Learning Center, Mi Esperanza’s on-site daycare. Katia holds a degree in psychology and is happy to be in an area where she can put her degree to work. Katia is a compassionate, dedicated teacher and a valued part of the Mi Esperanza staff.

“Mi Esperanza is reaching out to help women. They are no longer left behind. Thank you!”

— Katia Andino

Daniela Martinez

Assistant Teacher at the Mi Esperanza on-site child learning center

“I want to thank Mi Esperanza for the opportunity to be a part of your team. I started working in the Jewelry Studio, and today I am the Assistant teacher at the Rilyn Harper Child Learning Center. Mi Esperanza has been a blessing in my life and family.”

— Quote Source

Daniela is married and a mother to Ashely. In 2018 Daniela joined our jewelry artisan team. She immediately showed how skilled and hardworking she was and became a valuable part of the team. In January 2023, Daniela changed positions and became the co-teacher in our new child learning center. She and Katia are a fabulous team. Daniela always has a smile and encouraging words for her co-workers. Daniela aspires to continue her formal education, and her dream is to enroll in university and earn a marketing degree. Working at Mi Esperanza has made that dream come closer to reality (and all of us at Mi Esperanza are cheering her on to her goal.)

Yerlin Marin Viera

“I thank Mi Esperanza because they allowed me to work with them, belong, and be part of this mission: to break the cycle of poverty and create generational change by empowering Honduran women through educational development.”

Yerlin Marin Viera graduated from high school with a computer science degree. She is currently a university psychology student. Yerlin grew up with Mi Esperanza as a part of her life. Her mother, Reina, is the sewing instructor and maquila manager and has been a part of Mi Esperanza since 2006.

In January 2023, Yerlin accepted the position of Computer Technology Instructor as a part-time job as she continued her formal education. She loves helping women achieve their goals of learning and bettering themselves. Yerlin is happy for the opportunity to give back to an organization that has had a significant impact on her family.