My name is Marilin Manuel Trino and I am 21 years old. I am from the department called “Gracias A Dios” in the city of Puerto Lempira. I was raised by a single mother along with my two brothers. From ages 5 to 11 years old I was separated from my mother because she was working in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, to help provide money for the family. During this time I lived with my grandparents in Villedamorales, Gracias a Dios. My mother returned in 2011 after the death of my grandfather. From then on my mother stayed with us in Puerto Lempira where she works as a maid in one of the houses. She struggled to build a house for us made of wood with a metal roof. It is a small home, but it is ours and we no longer have to pay rent. My father never helped out with the family, only my mother provided for us. The department of “Gracias A Dios” is made of 6 townships each containing several small villages. To reach the nearest major city, La Ceiba, you need to travel by airplane. You used to be able to travel by boat, but because of the pandemic it is forbidden. It was much cheaper, but took a few days to reach the city of La Ceiba.
My older brother finished high school, but could not continue in the university because my family did not have the funds to help him. I completed high school in 2018 and then took an exam to enter the university. After studying for two months my mother had to remove me from the university because she could not pay the tuition. After that I lived at home, because my mother’s salary wasn’t enough to pay for the tuition. I thank God for my mother whose great strength and dedication has shaped me into the woman I am today. In the year 2020, I was enrolled in nursing school, in a two year program to become a nursing assistant. However, in the middle of my studies the pandemic began in Honduras.
The classes were cancelled because you had to be present for classes. There were no online classes. I stayed home all of 2020 without studying. I have a strong desire to continue with my studies, but sadly during these times there are no opportunities. But thank God, in 2021, He gave me an opportunity to continue with my studies with the program of “Casa Esperanza.”