Disturbing News at SOS Children's Villages in Honduras

Of particular concern to us now is the case of Olman Flores, the director at SOS-La Ceiba. We understand that Mr. Flores, along with four of the madres at the home, has been forced out. The effects on Mr. Flores, the madres, and especially the children are devastating.

By Eve Horowitz
SOS Children's Villages International is a well respected organization that does good work around the world on behalf of orphaned and abandoned children. There are six SOS facilities in Honduras, including one near La Ceiba in the community of El Pino. I am a director for a US based NGO called HondurasChildren, which has been providing an academic and creative enrichment program for the children who live at SOS-La Ceiba. The program is staffed by volunteers from all over the world. In June, the SOS-Honduras management team in Tegucigalpa forced SOS-La Ceiba and another SOS facility in Tela, which we've also supported, to discontinue their relationship with us. The action was not due to anything HondurasChildren had done, but was simply an across the board decision regarding volunteers and partner organizations at all SOS locations in Honduras.

Our international volunteers and I had been hearing for several months before this decision that the SOS-Honduras management had been visiting other SOS locations (besides SOS-La Ceiba) and that some directors had either left or been fired. Specifically, an experienced and well loved director in San Pedro Sula had been forced to quit, and now I've learned that the Tegucigalpa director has submitted his resignation. It is hard to know exactly the reason for the changes, but it may be that the new management group in Tegucigalpa is implementing some cost cutting measures and wishes to appoint "its own people" in key positions.

Of particular concern to us now is the case of Olman Flores, the director at SOS-La Ceiba. We understand that Mr. Flores, along with four of the madres at the home, has been forced out. The effects on Mr. Flores, the madres, and especially the children are devastating.

Earlier this summer, SOS-Honduras management in Tegucigalpa required Mr. Flores to take a "vacation" from June 15-30 while their people ran the SOS-La Ceiba facility and audited its operations. When Mr. Flores returned at the end of June, he was not provided a report or notified of any problems that needed to be addressed. On August 10, individuals from SOS-Honduras management showed up with the fiscalia and placed four of the madres in a taxi, sent them to La Ceiba and told Mr. Flores to leave. They said they were performing an investigation of some allegations and would let them know when they could return. Thus far, Mr. Flores and the four madres have not been allowed to return.

Most of the madres are from southern Honduras and do not have family in the northern part of the country. These women had no money and nowhere to go. Eventually, one of the other madres who owns a house in a small nearby development allowed the four madres to use her home. Two HondurasChildren directors, Charlie and Amalia Kirkhum, have been taking food to these women.

Mr. Flores and his wife had no place to go except their son's home, which is located about 20 minutes from El Pino. They were not allowed to take many of their personal items and, in fact, Mr. Flores was not even permitted to take his electric wheelchair, although he was finally able to retrieve it a few days ago.

I, along with a friend, visited Mr. Flores on August 11 and again a few days later. As might be imagined, Mr. Flores is distraught and is especially worried about the impact of these events on the children. The children at SOS look at the madres as "mothers", and to most, Mr. Flores is like a father. Many of the children are running away and trying to see the madres and Mr. Flores. They are scared.

We observed SOS children hitch-hiking on the side of the road as we returned from visiting Mr. Flores. In fact, Mr. Flores has a video of driving into La Ceiba and finding a 9-year old SOS boy at the side of the road. There are reports that one child who tried to run away is now hospitalized because he fell from the back of a pickup truck while hitch-hiking. This behavior did not occur when the madres and Mr. Flores were caring for the children.

In the past week, we have heard that the SOS-Honduras management currently at the La Ceiba facility wants to send several of the older teens to jail because they are protesting the loss of their "parents" and are "unruly". Several local churches have stepped in to protect the teens. Teachers from their school are also vouching for the good character of these teens. HondurasChildren has provided mattresses and food so that they can stay with the madres and continue to go to school.

There are some baseless allegations that have been made about Mr. Flores. Those of us who have spent extended periods of time at SOS-La Ceiba and with Mr. Flores know that the children were treated with fairness and love. Unfounded allegations have also been made about the madres and even about the bookkeeper who works in the office.

Mr. Flores has worked at SOS-La Ceiba as a director for 13 years. My friend has known him since 2005, and I first met him in 2004. We know him to be a kind and good man. IHNFA (child services in Honduras) has never had a negative report about him. The IHNFA people know and respect him. He has also never previously been disciplined by SOS in any way. There is absolutely no history of any kind of infractions.

I am concerned about Mr. Flores, but I am also very worried about the children. Even if Mr. Flores is never able to return to his job, I believe the main office for SOS Children's Villages International in Austria must be made aware of what is going on in Honduras. If you would like to assist us in a letter and e-mail writing campaign, I would be most appreciative. If you are interested in getting involved or would just like more information, please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to request my e-mail address, and feel free to write me. Thank you. (8/28/11)