MINISTRIES

Micah Works

Micah Works: A Path Forward Through Purpose

Micah Works is our vocational training initiative and a cornerstone of how we help street-connected young men step into lasting transformation. It’s more than a program. It’s a path forward. For boys who’ve survived life on the streets, the barriers to economic stability are steep. Micah Works exists to break those barriers by offering practical skills, personal mentorship, and spiritual guidance that help our young men rebuild their futures with dignity and purpose.

The need

Unemployment and underemployment are chronic challenges in Honduras. Nearly half of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank, and the country ranks among the most unequal in the world. For those born into poverty, opportunity is scarce, and for street-connected youth, it often feels out of reach.

Why is work so hard to find in Honduras?

We have seen with our own eyes how difficult it is for working-class Hondurans to find stable jobs. Even fast food jobs are hard to come by, and those who have them tend to hold on for years because there are so few alternatives. Entrepreneurs who open small businesses out of their homes or rented storefronts often face extortion demands from gangs like MS-13 and the 18th Street gang. Many are forced to shut down and flee, leaving entire communities with fewer resources and fewer opportunities. This combination of limited employment, systemic corruption, and the constant threat of violence has pushed many to migrate in search of safety and stability. These are the same pressures that drive children and youth onto the streets in the first place.

This combination of limited employment, systemic corruption, and the constant threat of violence has pushed many to migrate in search of safety and stability. These are the same pressures that drive children and youth onto the streets in the first place.

Our answer to the issue? Micah Works

Micah Works is an accelerated program of classroom instruction and hands-on training to help street-connected youth acquire the skills necessary to be able to step away from the streets and successfully enter the work force.

In response to the overwhelming barriers our boys face, we developed Micah Works. It has become one of the most transformative parts of their journey.

Micah Works is a core part of daily life at the Micah Project. Every boy in our care takes part in vocational training and life skills development, right alongside his academic studies and spiritual formation. This integrated approach shapes the whole person. It teaches our young men what it means to show up, work hard, solve problems, and contribute with confidence and integrity.

But Micah Works is not just about job training. It is about job creation, job retention, and long-term stability. We help our boys see themselves as capable, trustworthy, and full of purpose. Through hands-on experience in woodworking, welding, electrical work, culinary arts, and more, they begin to believe in a future they never thought possible.

The impact reaches beyond Micah. As the program grows, it also serves youth from the wider community, offering opportunity and hope in a region where both are often out of reach.

Job Placement

Young men who have completed the Micah Works program will be ready to succeed in any formal work environment. Graduates of the Micah Works program may choose one of the following three paths upon successful completion of the program:

Internship/hiring in a formal business: The Micah Works program will help make contacts in formal businesses to help place graduates of Micah Works. Because jobs are scarce, we may negotiate with a company or business to have Micah pay a portion of their salary for six months as a “paid internship” with the idea that, if they are successful, the company will hire them after the internship.
Seed money for entrepreneurial start-up: Some of our graduates may be interested in starting up a micro-enterprise, which is very common in Honduras. Depending on their business plan, we may help them start a small business and will supervise the start-up for the first six months.
Further training: depending on personal interests and skills assessments, Micah Works graduates may decide to pursue further training (auto-mechanics, culinary school, etc.). Micah Works will pay for this training if the graduates meet the requirements of the further training program.