Club Intercambio

Learning English - Together

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Club Intercambio - Spring Kick-Off Class

Background & Introduction

The Manos de Dios ministry is a multi-faceted operation that seeks to support and uplift our neighbors in Honduras. Whether young or old, student or professional, we recognize that our neighbors can benefit from our friendship and service in ways that we might often take for granted. The ability to speak English as a second language has become essential in today’s increasingly competitive and interconnected world. Therefore, at Manos we have identified the need for our students and community members to engage with the English language and decided to create “Club Intercambio”, a language exchange club with ESL elements and specialized classes that help bridge that gap in the community of Danlí.

Club Intercambio not only promotes an interest in the English language, but offers our participants an edge in their academic and professional careers. We have been blessed over the years to witness this program grow, from hiring staff to lead classes to partnering with major universities like The University of Texas at San Antonio.

(Club Intercambio In Action During Our January Mission Trip)

Club Intercambio

Club Intercambio typically consists of Saturday classes during which Professor Jorge, one of our Manos staff, leads classes with the help of members of the Manos Texas team and volunteers. These classes typically revolve around a particular topic dressed in significant language and cultural expressions. The members of Club Intercambio are treated to real lessons prepared by professionals and a presentation on the lesson with the presence of English speakers. This helps our students not only acquire knowledge of the English language but also bear witness to speakers and receive cultural insight about different accents, regions, and expressions.

In addition to Professor Jorge, a whole host of volunteers come together to make our Saturday classes a reality. As of late, the leaders on the Texas side have included Geoff Partain, Sofia Muñoz, and Dani Jaime. We are excited about their participation in this initiative as they bring in expertise, energy, and experience to the table in a way that allows Club Intercambio to have an authentic flavor for its classes.

We are particularly excited for the participation of Sofia Muñoz, one of our Young Adult Travel Award recipients. As a young person who has professional expertise in teaching English, bringing her on board as a volunteer and leader for this program was a no-brainer! We are grateful for the next generation of leadership in the Manos de Dios ministry!

As we move into the spring, we are taking advantage of the in-person class we were able to have during our January 2026 mission trip. We hope that our in person class that was full of games, lessons, and team-building serves as a spring-board into the rest of our year!

Visitas Virtuales

Returning from a mission trip fills us with excitement to stay in touch with our friends and our programs in Honduras… but how do we do that? This is where “Visitas Virtuales” comes into play. The “Visitas Virtuales” component of Club Intercambio is part of our outreach efforts in connecting volunteers interested in making a difference through our ministry. Manos de Dios is a missions ministry, but our efforts are ongoing, even when we are not physically present in Honduras. Through “Visitas Virtuales” aspiring missionaries or people wanting to help can tap into what we do in a way that is easy and rewarding. No expertise is required, just presence. If you are interested in volunteering with Club Intercambio through “Visitas Virtuales”, we encourage you to sign up by emailing either Geoff Partain at geoffmanoshonduras@gmail.com or Dani Jaime at danimanoshonduras@gmail.com.

Lessons Learned

What we have learned through Club Intercambio is that “presence” above anything else is what makes the difference in service work. Our students benefit from having people show up and talk to them and guide them as they put in the work to make their dreams of learning English a reality. Members of Club Intercambio have taken what they have learned with them in their career and advanced themselves beyond what they ever thought was possible. With the help of Professor Jorge, Geoff Partain, and Sofía Muñoz, we are ready to walk alongside our Honduran friends as they push themselves to greater professional heights. The question now is for you: “Are you ready to join us for our next class?”