The fine staff of Roatan Daycare Center includes a manager/credentialed teacher, a second credentialed teacher, two teacher's aides and a devoted cook.

Our building is old and small, but recent renovations with donations from our supporters have made the spaces more comfortable with fans and a/c units, running water, and working bathrooms.

We have five compact rooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen space with a large blue table. In addition to two meals a day and snack times, a number of activities such as crafts and artwork take place around the kitchen table.

Because of the efforts of many people during the last half dozen years, the Roatan Daycare Center has become the leading resource on the island for young children. It is our hope that these centers will spread throughout Roatan. Early childhood education has proven to be the greatest motivator for the love of learning and healthy choices throughout life.

Daily Activities

In the mornings, up to 30 children learn letters, words, and numbers, in English and Spanish. We teach about their island and their community. Books are readily available to them. Children are encouraged to paint and make things, and singing and dancing are part of the regular routine.

Play is a must, on bicycles, with blocks, toy trains, with dolls, dress-up, and imaginary play. We have built two small sandboxes and have a water table for other outdoor activities.

Afternoons become quieter times in order to unwind from the morning’s activities before returning to their homes. This is time for educational movies, story time, naps, and snacks.

Contributors

Within the community, there are those who care deeply about children getting their start in life while their parents have to work. One is our Roatan Municipal government. They and other contributors donate time, money, equipment, food, the facility and/or building maintenance. Global Healing doctors give complete health exams once a month. Others donate from afar. Donations of time include all administrative work.

We also have been fortunate to be one of the beneficiaries of the Christmas Concert for the Angels, an annual fundraiser held at the Roatan Airport the first Thursday of December.

How you can help

You can donate money, knowing that this will help keep our center running. You’re paying for teacher’s and staff salaries, food, water, teaching materials, incidentals like birthday parties and some scholarships (for children whose parents are unable to pay).

We rely solely on the contributions of people like you, so money is always our number one need. Checks - make out to ‘Island Friends Corporation.’ Deliver to the center in Coxen Hole. If outside of Roatan, please send to - (Director) Judith Allred, 7110 Poniente Lane, San Antonio, Texas 78209. Our nonprofit status is being processed.

Donations of books, toys, and art materials are welcomed. Boys and girls clothes for ages 2 to 6 are needed. We always need tempura paints (for flying, liquid tempura must say 'water-based' on bottle) and 10" by 20" paper for easel painting. Put a few bottles of any color in your suitcase...the paper will fit nicely in the bottom of your case. We encourage you to contact us about our current needs.

The address for sending donations - Roatan Municipality, Roatan, Honduras – Attention: Coxen Hole Daycare Center, or send to the director’s address above. In addition, bring them to the Center when on the island. It is located next to the small town square next to the market on the main street.

Connect directly to a teacher or a director, using our contact page. Let us share with you how your contribution is helping the children.

If you’re coming to Roatan, we would love to have you volunteer at the center. Read a story, teach some art, do a craft project, play in the sandbox with the children, teach them a song. Being with these children is lots of fun and you’ll go away feeling great.

History of the Center

Daycare pioneers Vivien Tugliani and Softly International started this Center. They believed, along with the present directors, in the vision of the creation and outfitting of a multi-use, intergenerational facility (including seniors); financing for educational and nursing/health care staff, and an outreach component that helps establish other centers elsewhere. This vision would include a playground, allowing these growing children to get outside in our natural environment, to run and play.

Our Directors

Judith Allred - Judy, a credentialed teacher, lives on Roatan.

Kim Dueffert - Kim is a credentialed counselor, and is the stateside director from Minnesota.

The Roatan Daycare Center operates under Island Friends Corporation, S.A. www.islandfriendsroatan.com