Red Viva Honduras (RVH)

Red Viva Honduras (RVH) is the Honduran branch of the international Viva network. RVH has worked as a network of faith-based organizations since 1999 and was legally registered in 2003. RVH was founded by a group of local leaders within the child sector with a desire to make a better joint coordinated effort between the organisations they each represented. This small alliance quickly grew to a network of more than 20 local child-focus organizations. The overall purpose was to collectively to provide better care to children, eliminating duplication of programs, identify shared challenges and establish a joined advocating voice towards duty-bearers. The areas of experience and expertise combined in this specific project are: Today 35 civil society organizations (churches, children’s homes, schools, etc.) are member of the network. RVH emphasize alliance-building between civil society and the public sector, which has positioned the network as a recognized and well-respected child-focused civil society actor. RVH has proven its capacity to work with public institutions through its cooperation with the Directorate of Children, Youth and Families (DINAF) and the Ministry of Education (MoE). The latter being a partner in two CISU-funded projects focusing on active citizenship and transparency of schools and public institutions. RVH has extensive experience promoting the rights of children and child protection not only through advocacy and collaboration with duty-bearers, but also through community-based programming. At community level RVH enjoys legitimacy as a child protection champion through its local member organizations, churches, and schools. RVH has built and maintained a strong presence in several Departments (administrative divisions) through implementation of child protection programs such as prevention of (sexual) violence, promotion of family-based care, youth mobilization, Viva Sport, and promotion of institutional transparency. Local presence contributes t