| HAPPY HANDS SCHOOL |
"Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands."
Psalm 119:73
Educating Honduras' Deaf Children
In 2002, a dream began to become a reality as the need for an effective institution of learning for Deaf children in Tegucigalpa, Honduras was too great to be ignored. A national director was appointed and the process of accreditation began. In 2003, NLDM's Happy Hands Christian School for Deaf Children "Manos Felices" opened its doors and served five students at the Pre-K level. The Happy Hands School's mission is to serve the Lord by raising up Deaf children who will help mold a new generation of Deaf Hondurans who love their language and culture, will be good fathers and mothers and employees, and have a strong foundation of Biblical principles.
At present, Happy Hands is serving fifty students in Pre-K through Fourth Grade classes. The director, the nine national teachers (four are Deaf), P.E. coach (Deaf), and one classroom assistants agree that Happy Hands is to be a sunny place filled with lots of smiles, stickers, and learning. There is a strong emphasis on language learning and discipline. A Christian based education is offered using Honduran Sign Language (LESHO) as the primary language, and Spanish as the second language. The team at Happy Hands is working hard to give each student an academic education of the highest quality in a most positive learning environment.