Who We Are

The Foundation for the Advancement of the People of Honduras (FAPOH) is a nonprofit organization formally established in 2022, with deep roots reaching back to 2009.

What began as small, personal commitments by our board and partners—feeding children, building homes, and supporting local farmers—grew into a unified foundation designed to scale impact across Honduras and beyond.

FAPOH founders meeting with community members in Honduras

Fifteen Years of Dedicated Service

For more than 15 years, our leadership team has stood alongside families in Central America, working in housing, agriculture, education, and healthcare. These early efforts laid the foundation for what FAPOH is today: a bridge between humanitarian compassion and sustainable development.

Today, FAPOH is headquartered in the United States with a Central American base in Honduras, chosen as our starting point to expand regionally. By defending land, fighting corruption, and advancing sustainable housing, agriculture, and healthcare, we are creating a model for development that uplifts not just communities in Honduras, but families across Central America.

250+

Homes Built

1200+

Students Supported

500+

Families Served

15+

Communities

FAPOH team working with community members in Honduras

Our Journey

Fifteen years of meaningful impact in Honduras.

2009 - Humanitarian Work Begins

Our team's humanitarian work began in Honduras, laying the foundation for what would become FAPOH in 2022.

2015 - Educational Programs Launch

Expanded our mission to include educational support, providing scholarships and school supplies to students.

2022 - Healthcare Initiative

Launched comprehensive healthcare support programs, improving medical access for underserved communities.

What Guides Us

Our work is guided by principles that have shaped our approach since 2009.

Partnership, Not Charity

We walk alongside communities as partners, respecting local knowledge and empowering sustainable solutions.

Dignity for All Families

Every family deserves respect and hope. We ensure our programs preserve pride and foster lasting dignity.

Sustainable Impact

Our programs are designed for long-term success, building local capacity and creating lasting positive change.

Meet Our Leadership

Passionate leaders dedicated to transforming lives in Honduras.

Our leadership team brings decades of experience in international development, community building, and sustainable program implementation. Each leader is committed to walking alongside Honduran communities with respect, humility, and hope.

Leyla Varela

President

Born in Honduras, Leyla founded FAPOH after witnessing the resilience of Honduran families during medical missions. With 20+ years in international development, she leads our strategic vision.

Randy Lauritzen

Chairman

As Chairman, Randy steers capital projects and long‑term partnerships. He prioritizes resilient, safe housing built with local materials, fair‑wage labor, and hands‑on training for families.

Marshall Valdez

Vice President

Marshall directs field operations—logistics, procurement, and vendor coordination. He maintains job‑site standards, tracks impact, and leads rapid responses after storms.

Jack Barton

Secretary

Jack ensures governance and transparency—records, agendas, and compliance. He supports grants and donor reporting and keeps supporters and Honduran partners aligned.