Meet the 2011 - 2012 Team
Cody Laminack 
Before teaching at the Cofradia Bilingual School, I lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. In May 2011, I completed a Masters degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Prior to my graduate work, I attended Appalachian State University where I received a degree in English and history.
I’ve worked with children in a variety of ways. Most recently, I coached a competitive rock climbing team. All throughout college, I spent my summers teaching at an Outdoor Education Center in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. That job introduced me to the world of non-profit organizations. The people I worked with displayed passion and an ethic that continue to inspire me today.
After exploring many other programs, I discovered the good work being done at the Cofradia Bilingual Schol. Once I learned more about the school, it was an easy decision, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to effect positive, necessary, and lasting change.
Reiko Sakuma 
I work as a resource specialist. (by the way, the resource program has just implemented this year at CBS! very exciting time.) I grew up in Japan, and studied in the United States to receive the teaching credential in Special Education. I’ve worked as a special education teacher in the California public school system before I came to Cofradia. Teaching and travelling are the two biggest passions in my life, and now I’m here experiencing both at the same time! I’ve skipped Honduras when I have traveled previously through Central America, so I did not have much of an idea of what I was putting myself into. If you’ve never been here in Honduras, and are feeling like you are in the same boat, trust me, the life out here is so much better than you’d expect. Also needless to say, teaching brings a great deal of laughter and joy every day!
Rebekah Robertson 
This is my second year teaching at CBS. Last year I taught first grade, and this year I have followed my class into second grade. It has been an amazing experience watching them grow, learn, and mature over the past year, and I can only imagine what they will be achieving by the time I leave them in 10 months' time. They genuinely are the reason why I can get up every morning at the crazy hour of 5:30am with a smile on my face.
Before coming to Honduras I gained a Bachelors degree in International Development, spent a year managing a team of fundraisers for Oxfam, and spent three years working for a private finance company in the UK. Those days seem like a world away from my life here in Honduras, but I am happy to have experienced so many different work environments and challenges to have prepared myself for the wonderful array of challenges and opportunities that present themselves on a daily basis in Cofradia.
In my spare time I like to travel, hike, read, eat new foods, go out for dinner, bask in the sunshine and play Scrabble. Fortunately, Cofradia and CBS tick all of these boxes!
James Deighan 
I arrived in Cofradia in January 2011 and returned as a volunteer for the current school year. I´m from Scotland, so if you ever find yourself traveling about Honduras and meet a third grader who can do Highland dancing, likes haggis, and sounds a wee bit like Sean Connery you´ll know you´ve found Cofradia! I´m 27 years old and have a degree in theology and archeology - mainly due to the fact I used to want to be Indiana Jones.
After university, I went traveling and have lived in quite a few different places but can honestly say I have never felt more at home anywhere in my life more than I do here in Cofradia. I have also had more than my fair share of jobs and usually get bored of them within a matter of weeks, so the fact that I still wake up at stupid o´clock every morning to go to school with a smile on my face is nothing less than a minor miracle. I decided to return for another year at CBS for many reasons. I have made many fantastic friends; I love the food, the relaxed attitude of the people living here, and the community spirit in the town, but, most of all, I love the kids in third grade who are all absolutely wonderful and make every day different, but always fun and full of energy.
Alison Welch 
My name is Alison Welch, and I’m teaching sixth grade at CBS this year. I come to the school with a bit of teaching experience—I completed my undergraduate studies in English education (9th-12thgrades), and I’ve spent the past two years teaching university writing courses while completing my master’s degree in English. As I was in the process of determining where I would teach this year, CBS seemed a good fit for me. As a lover of languages and a believer in the importance of cross-cultural experiences, I knew I wanted to teach in a bilingual environment, and CBS is a school that strongly emphasizes the importance of a bilingual education. In my time here, I’ve found that the administrative staff and teachers at CBS form a strong support system, helping me to really feel at home in this school community. I look forward to the rest of this school year, getting to know my students and their families, working with students as they develop life skills and English skills, and learning just as much from them as they learn from me.
Lisa Mariani 
My name is Lisa Mariani, and I am the Preparatoria teacher at CBS. I am flying the flag for Australia here in Cofraida. I’m 28 years old and from Brisbane (the Sunshine State), and when I’m not traveling, I work in finance. I have been living and traveling away from my home for the past six years, and it is my love of the Central/South American culture that bought me here to Cofradia.
Cofradia is a small town with lots of friendly people, good food (one word: Baleadas – Google it!), and the children at the school are awesome. Leaving here is going to be hard ...
Rachel Swenson 
My name is Rachel Swenson, and I am the Kinder teacher here at CBS. I’m 25 years old and from the Twin Cities, Minnesota, U.S.A. I went to St. Olaf College in Minnesota and graduated with a degree in Spanish and Asian Studies. For the past three years, I worked in a daycare/preschool in downtown Minneapolis, as both an infant and preschool teacher.
I decided to volunteer in Honduras and at CBS because I love working with kids, and I wanted an opportunity to continue to develop my Spanish language skills. I traveled academically in Europe, Africa, and Asia, but this is my first time in a Latin American country and my first time volunteering with an independently-run program.
Ryan Cowling 
I’ve always wanted to teach and see the world. Having just graduating from University, the world can seem a daunting and different place, to say the least. CBS has given me the perfect opportunity to see some of the world and improve my teaching skills. Of course questions soon arose doubting issues or queries I had were quickly dealt with. Teaching at CBS has already proven fun and extremely rewarding, and seeing the progress my students are making is a great experience. I’m able to say “my” students so quickly because CBS invites you to take responsibility and gives you a lot of freedom in how you want to teach, allowing you to build strong relationships with your students. All I can really say is if you want to do something rewarding, different, and special then certainly consider giving your time to CBS.
Bennett LaFond 
When I graduated with a degree in Fine Art Painting, I expected that I would be a little lost. On little more than a whim, I moved in with a friend in Brooklyn, New York, and started promoting my art in the city. I was also working as a bike messenger. It’s hard to say if it was meeting one too many pretentious curators and collectors, spending one hour too many dodging NY traffic, or one night too many not sleeping in the city that never sleeps, but I started to feel a little disenchanted with the metropolitan life.
I went to work at a school in an indigenous community in Ecuador. I went there thinking I was going to be a volunteer laborer working in construction, but when I arrived what they really needed was a teacher. At first, teaching was difficult, and I wasn’t prepared for it, but when it came time for me to go back to the city and start working another job in the service industry, I realized something: I was doing something I cared about and I didn’t want to stop. I skipped my flight home, found CBS, and made my way northward by bus and boat.
Now I’m in Cofradia teaching fifth grade. I love the challenges and rewards of teaching, and I like the town. It’s a simple place, but there’s a real sense of community. Going on a run in the afternoon, I’ll always hear a couple of my students shouting, “Hello, Mister,” or “Run fast, Mister!” After only a little more than month here, I already feel at home.
Bardia Ahmadi 
Since studying Marketing at University, I worked within the multinational and FMG industries and found myself getting bored with the daily routine of the 9 to 5 lifestyle. With the UK economy struggling and stress levels soaring, it seemed like the right thing to do was to save and travel abroad for new experiences. Honduras was not my first choice, but I could not have asked for a more enriching and positive experience from volunteering abroad. I was lucky enough to be teaching a great group of kids and they were a major reason in my decision to stay on for a second year. I feel that we are making great progress in the classroom, and I love my students. I couldn’t wish for a better group and their personalities are what makes the job fun and interesting. It’s certainly going to be difficult to leave and I am sure my fellow teachers feel the same! Our continued work here is important for the future of the children, their families, the community, and most importantly, the future of the country itself.
Cary Sands 
I was raised in The Bahamas, and lived there until I was 18. At that point, I moved to the U.S. and earned a degree in Culinary Arts. I have held various positions in different restaurants, and I have also managed an imports office. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, sports, playing games and watching films.
I applied to C.B.S. (which also happen to be my initials) in search of a new direction for my life, and I do believe that I have found the right one. I teach 1st grade and I absolutely love all 20 of my kids, though at times they can provoke hair pulling and garment rending (kidding!)
Cofradia reminds me of The Bahamas with its laid back atmosphere and friendly people; I'm very happy with my decision to come down here.
Clare Flanagan
Clare is from just south of Boston, MA. She graduated from Georgetown University in May 2011 with a degree in Government and Women’s and Gender Studies. Coming to Cofradia was her first opportunity to live abroad and she hopes to travel more in the future. Clare is really excited to be here and has been enjoying life in Cofradia – the town, the food, the people, the other volunteers. She loves teaching first grade and is looking forward to exploring more of Honduras.
