Meet Our Team
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Sara Brakhane
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Throughout school (and college) Sara used to get in trouble for reading her novels under her desk while the teacher was talking. But problem students always grow into the best teachers! Sara has been working in education for 9 years both as a teacher and in student affairs departments at various universities.
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Social Activism in Communication from Pacific Lutheran University. She continued studying for her Master’s degree in Diversity in Higher Education from the University of Denver.
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Ana Rocio Castillo
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Ana is a daughter, sister, granddaughter, teacher, and volunteer. She is a fan of Isabel Allende, Marvel, traveling through Latin America, and almost all kinds of music.
Now as Director of Educational Programs, she holds a great desire to contribute to the organization and children; by managing and supporting the implementation and monitoring processes within the team and in each of the Chispa Project libraries.
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Dunia Marisol Estrada Padilla
EDUCATIONAL TEAM COORDINATOR
Dunia was born in Choluteca, but at two years of age her parents moved her to Tegucigalpa. Studying at Francisco Martínez Maradiaga elementary school, she remembers her teacher with great affection, since she gave her classes from first to sixth grade, then she went to the institute Dr Jesús Aguilar Paz where she studied from seventh to ninth grade. In high school at the Republic Institute of France, she got a degree in hospitality and tourism.
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Gleen Miralda
LITERACY ALLIANCES PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Gleen Krystian is proud to be from the capitol city, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras with a degree in pedagogy, taking on a role as an agent of change as an education professional. Passionate about reading and a follower of the literary works of Jorge L. Borges (Argentine writer), he is the author of the poetry book “Azul Estrellado” published in 2020.
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Jorge Izaguirre
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFICER
Jorge earned his degree in Foreign Languages from the National Autonomous University of Honduras in 2019, and since then, he has been an educational volunteer working with children and young people.
He is a very active person who enjoys learning new things every day. He is passionate about astronomy and hiking, and whenever he gets the chance, he escapes to La Tigra National Park to embark on a new adventure while hiking with his friends.
His favorite book is Fahrenheit 451 by the American author Ray Bradbury.
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Jeny Borjas
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFICER
With a degree in Foreign Languages with a focus on teaching French at UNAH, Jeny not only learned a beautiful language but also discovered one of her favorite writers—an unexpected and wonderful twist along the way.
She is dynamic, spontaneous, and always eager to learn something new. She believes that every day brings something valuable, whether it’s a great achievement or simply the chance to write a verse while enjoying the sunset with good music in the background.
Her philosophy is simple: to enjoy what she does, no matter the scale. In the end, it’s the little details that make each day worthwhile.
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Esteven Giron
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFICER
Esteven Girón holds a degree in Pedagogy and Educational Sciences. He is passionate about community work, which he views as a space for continuous learning and an opportunity to contribute as an agent of positive change in society.
In addition to his professional role, he is a father, husband, and friend—values that guide both his personal and professional endeavors.
In his free time, he enjoys dancing, spending time with his family, and discovering new places. His favorite book is Rhinoceros by Scott Alexander, a work that has influenced his perspective on perseverance and personal growth.
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Josué Sevilla
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFICER
Josué Sevilla is a free thinker and a passionate defender of causes that many consider lost, but that are precisely the ones worth fighting for. Since childhood, he has sought to see the world from a different perspective.
He is a professional in Pedagogy and Social Intervention, with diverse experience in Honduras’s non-governmental sector.
His favorite book is Blanca Olmedo by Lucila Gamero de Medina, and his favorite poetry is by Alfonsina Storni and Alejandra Pizarnik. His dream is to live in a world where all human beings are truly free and equal.
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Marvin Rodríguez
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Marvin is originally from Danlí, a city in eastern Honduras. In 2009, he decided to move to Tegucigalpa to continue his university studies. He graduated with a degree in Commercial Education from the Francisco Morazán National Pedagogical University (UPNFM) and earned a Master’s in Business Administration with a focus on Finance from the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH).
From a young age, he was involved in the arts through folk dance at his school and later in high school. He enjoys meeting new people, sports—especially cycling—and dancing. He is also passionate about coffee.
In the short time he has been working with Chispa, his curiosity for reading has grown even more. Two of his favorite authors are James Clear and Brian Tracy.
He loves Chispa’s mission, and for him, every day is an opportunity to learn something new. He hopes to continue sharing, improving, and contributing through his work in Chispa’s office administration.
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Cristian Asturias
OFFICE ASSISTANT
Cristian Jesús Asturias Centeno is a recent graduate of the degree in Pedagogy and Educational Sciences with a specialization in Educational Guidance from the National Autonomous University of Honduras. He lives in the city of Comayagüela, Honduras, and obtained his degree in 2024.
Initially, his main interest was to study Psychology, and Pedagogy was not among his first options. However, he decided to pursue this career and, over time, developed a strong affinity for it. This path allowed him to grow both personally and professionally.
He enjoys exercising, listening to music, and is firmly against animal abuse. He previously worked as a community educator with Médecins Sans Frontières. He completed his internship with Chispa Project, where he was particularly drawn to how the project encourages a love of reading, giving children the opportunity to expand their knowledge and develop a more critical understanding of their reality.
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Eva Pokorny
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Eva is proud to be from Colorado, and has been an avid reader since childhood. She has been in the field of education for 9 years, first as a teacher, and more recently as lead trainer and pedagogical support for volunteer teachers in a Honduran nonprofit. She currently resides in San Pedro Sula.She holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Microbiology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. Her passion lies in supporting education efforts and inspiring young learners across Honduras.