Safety & Security

There are certain risks when traveling abroad to a developing country like Honduras. But almost all incidences can be avoided by taking certain precautions and by using our common sense

First, most of the crime in Honduras is directed towards those involved in the drug trade or gangs. Tourists and volunteers are rarely targeted, especially when traveling in groups.

Second, crime in Honduras - and in just about any country - is localized in certain geographic regions. The overwhelming majority of the crime happens in specific neighborhoods in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba where we do not take our volunteers.

All of our worksites where our volunteers travel to are located in quiet and relatively peaceful villages, outside of the major cities. We have already built relationships with the Honduran locals who live in these villages so they are very welcoming and look out for the safety of our volunteers.

To think that a peaceful farming village within the small city of El Progreso is as dangerous as the inner-city neighborhood of Chamelecón in San Pedro Sula would be absurd. It would be something like comparing a quiet farming town in Oregon with some of the more dangerous neighborhoods in New York City.

We have organized nearly 100 service trips for thousands of volunteers since 2007 and have never had a single security incidence during any of these trips. As an organization we will always take every precaution to ensure the safety of our volunteers but it’s important to stress that we would not be hosting these trips in the first place if Honduras were too dangerous to travel to.

Our Volunteers.....

1. Travel and work in groups with fellow volunteers and staff members, and never go anywhere alone.
2. Travel only in our chartered buses or in authorized SHH vehicles.
3. Will travel in our chartered vehicles to and from the airport.
4. Will have a security guard accompany them at the work site and at the hotel.
5. Will be with a staff personnel 24/7.
6. Will only work in designated villages where the organization has established strong connections with the local Hondurans.
7. Never go into neighborhoods with a high security risk.
8. Will have access to an international cell phone at all times and internet at the hotel.
9. Will only stay in hotels chosen and approved by our organization.
10. Will receive a security briefing during orientation.