Unlike its neighbouring countries, Honduras was not involved in any violence process in the 1980s, and was thus completely forgotten by the international solidary movements. However, Honduras was the centre of counterinsurgency and the headquarters of the great transnational firms that exploited bananas. This brought about a great deal of violence against the movements of trade unions, peasants, feminists and students. In fact, the number of dead and disappeared during those years was considerably high; but above all, the repression had a terrible effect on the civilian society, which was left leaderless until very recently.

 

At the end of the 1990s, hurricane Mitch came to prove the extreme social, environmental, economic, political and organisational vulnerability of this country. It was then that international cooperation and solidarity placed Honduras in a preferential position: both civilian organisations and governmental institutions sent all kinds of programs, aid, technical and human assistance to alleviate the suffering of the country.

 

Mundubat started working in Honduras in 1996, in the Department of Santa Bárbara, a region bordering Guatemala. The goal was and continues to be joining forces with social agents that can respond critically to the current situation of the country. Our work focuses on two areas which are fundamental to analyse the development possibilities of the civilian society: local power and popular economies. From the very beginning we also decided to support the organisational processes of women peasants.