history of un mundoUn Mundo has evolved from spontaneous efforts of friends and visitors to the area interacting with local residents, into a non-profit organization with carefully crafted projects and programs carried out by a dedicated group of staff, volunteers and community members.
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un mundo's beginning
In 1991, while traveling around Central America, Joseph Kenneth Hutz stumbled upon the mountain village of El Pital, located in the Cangrejal River valley some 15 km from the Caribbean coast of northern Honduras. Soon after falling in love with the beauty around him, Kenneth and a few community members founded Finca Papagayo, a working ranch that established cacao plantations with the aim of benefiting the residents of El Pital, while at the same time offering travelers a unique way to experience both the natural beauty of the surrounding area and authentic rural Honduran culture.
During the construction of Finca Papagayo, Kenneth familiarized himself with the community and its endemic problems of poverty, malnutrition and the lack of educational opportunities. Kenneth began to act as an informal intermediary with volunteers who were interested in helping these problems. In October of 1998, Hurricane Mitch completely devastated the area and Honduras as whole.
Hurricane Mitch wreaked havoc on the community of El Pital and Finca Papagayo. The majority of houses in the village that were constructed of sticks and mud, were destroyed. Virtually all of the seasons crops were lost. Some families lost their lands to the river as it flooded to levels never seen before. In response to this tragedy, the community and Finca Papagayo's network of volunteers and donors joined forces to get people back on their feet by undertaking a handful of projects initiated by the community, including the construction of houses and a permanent health clinic.
During the construction of Finca Papagayo, Kenneth familiarized himself with the community and its endemic problems of poverty, malnutrition and the lack of educational opportunities. Kenneth began to act as an informal intermediary with volunteers who were interested in helping these problems. In October of 1998, Hurricane Mitch completely devastated the area and Honduras as whole.
Hurricane Mitch wreaked havoc on the community of El Pital and Finca Papagayo. The majority of houses in the village that were constructed of sticks and mud, were destroyed. Virtually all of the seasons crops were lost. Some families lost their lands to the river as it flooded to levels never seen before. In response to this tragedy, the community and Finca Papagayo's network of volunteers and donors joined forces to get people back on their feet by undertaking a handful of projects initiated by the community, including the construction of houses and a permanent health clinic.
