Boosting the future of textile industry in Honduras!

At the Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana - UNITEC, we were honored to host the Sustainability and Textile Technology Forum at our San Pedro Sula campus, where we brought together key stakeholders from Honduras’s textile sector to explore and promote sustainable practices in the industry.

In partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), North Carolina State University, Wilson College of Textiles, Gaston College, and Shimmy Technologies, we created a platform for dialogue and learning focused on the impact of sustainable innovation in textiles.

This forum is an important part of our Hilando Oportunidades (Weaving Opportunities) program, which we launched in February with the goal of transforming the textile industry in Honduras by providing job training for unemployed youth. We aim to empower 1,500 young individuals, and we’re proud to report that over 600 have already received training, gaining both technical skills and soft skills that open doors to new job opportunities.

Our President and Rector, Rosalpina Rodríguez, highlighted the importance of the forum and the Hilando Oportunidades program, saying, “This event provides a vital opportunity to tackle the challenges in the textile industry while promoting sustainable practices. Through Hilando Oportunidades, we’re creating pathways to employment and building up Honduras’s skilled workforce. Ongoing collaboration between the private sector, educational institutions, and international organizations is essential to creating a more sustainable and prosperous future for our country.”

Hilando Oportunidades: Transforming Futures for Young People in Honduras

So far, Hilando Oportunidades has implemented an Accelerated Workforce Development Program that integrates both simulations and hands-on learning with textile machinery. One of our beneficiaries, Andrea López, shared her experience with us: “Thanks to Hilando Oportunidades, I’ve gained knowledge I never expected to have. Now, I have a job in the textile industry that gives me the stability and security I’ve always sought. I am very grateful for the support I’ve received.”

This forum reaffirms our commitment, along with that of our partners, to advancing toward a more sustainable textile industry that benefits both the economy and environment of Honduras. The presence of representatives from USAID, North Carolina State University, Gaston College, and Shimmy Technologies underscores the significance of this international collaboration in paving the way for a more responsible textile sector.

We invite young people interested in training and job opportunities in the textile industry to follow Hilando Oportunidades on Facebook and Instagram for updates on future programs and events.