Hogar Tierra Santa, a home for abandoned, abused and neglected children, located in Villa de San Antonio, Honduras, was officially opened on July 4, 1986 by the founder and current director, Mr. Santiago Martinez.

At the time, Santiago was working for a boy's home in Tegucigalpa. He frequently walked the streets looking for boys sleeping in doorways. It was safer for these young children to be in shelters than on the street, and he would bring those he could back to the boy's home. One young boy, who went with him to the home, had three sisters and their mother was dying. Santiago got involved in getting supplies to this very needy family. Over time, and as she lay wasting away, the mother begged Santiago to take care of her daughters. He made her a promise, and so began Hogar Tierra Santa.

Santiago was himself on his own at a young age. His father left the family and he believed that as a male he should remove the burden of feeding him from his mother, so he left his home to fend for himself. He spent some time on the streets but was thankfully rescued from that life and befriended by a kind Bahai woman who instilled in him ethics and good morals. In time, he met Archie Cameron, a missionary pioneer, who dedicated his life to helping kids like Santiago that wanted more out of life - he ran a school, taught them English, and got them jobs working as translators for groups coming down to Honduras.


               Dr. Donald Watson & Santiago Martinez

In 1972, Dr. Donald Watson, a dentist from Minnesota, USA and his daughter Marcia, came to Honduras to work for two weeks with a medical mission group. Santiago was the translator assigned to work with them. Dr. Watson returned to Honduras to do volunteer dental work year after year and his friendship with Santiago continued to grow. He saw Santiago’s commitment to better himself, so Dr. Watson and his wife Phyllis, decided to help Santiago continue his education with the promise that he stay in Honduras and help his own people.

Santiago went to electrical school and then opened his own TV, etc. repair business. Unfortunately discrimination exists, even in this poor country, and as an African man he was unable to make a go of his business.

Because of Santiago’s kindness and good heart, Dr. Watson got the idea of contacting his friend, Father Brooks of La Ceiba, who oversaw the running of a boy’s orphanage in Tegucigalpa, to see if he could get Santiago a job. It did not take long before they saw how responsible and dedicated Santiago was, and gave him more responsibility. It was through this job that he found the three girls that were the reason to start Hogar Tierra Santa.

At that time very few, decent places existed for young girls. Yet girls are often abandoned by their parents for economic reasons, as they are seen as more of a burden than boys. Or else they are disabled at a young age by a parent to make them better beggars, or put into prostitution. The girls come to the home through the social services, family courts, and some are brought by their parents. Although Santiago founded Tierra Santa primarily to care for girls, some boys are also accepted in order to keep siblings together.

The USA Military shares a base in Honduras, nearby the Hogar. It is only through their help and dedication that Hogar Tierra Santa even exists. In the beginning they helped with construction and shipping of donated supplies. Many of the military men and women missed their own families and spent time visiting the children and attending monthly birthday parties. Today they provide tanks of potable water for the home and a few military people still visit the children on a regular basis.

Dr. Watson passed away June 18, 2008. A memorial service was held in La Ceiba, Honduras for his Honduran friends. The Hogar celebrated his life along with their anniversary on July 4, 2008.
Dr. Watson, we we will miss you.