History

In an effort to relieve suffering caused by Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, several Brigham Young University faculty and students founded HELP International in 1999, as H.E.L.P. Honduras. The initial group of 46 volunteers raised over $115,000 and spent four months in Honduras conducting humanitarian aid work and administering microcredit loans to those in need. These initial projects affected the lives of an estimated 4,000 people, providing relief to many people left homeless by Hurricane Mitch. Since then, HELP has served in various projects including earthquake relief, microfinance impact assessment, family gardening, adobe stoves, libraries, business training and teaching English as a Second Language. HELP currently servies in El Salvador, Guatemala, Uganda and Fiji. HELP has grown and changed through the years but continues to focus on training participants to become lifetime social entrepreneurs, dedicated to eliminating poverty worldwide.