Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.  According to The World Bank, over half of the country lives in poverty, and 60% of rural area residents live in extreme poverty.  Additionally, crime is a serious problem; Honduras has one of the highest murder rates in the world, and the highest level of income inequality in Latin America.  Many disadvantaged families cannot afford to send their children to school (parents must bear the cost of mandatory school uniforms, textbooks, and supplies).  Smaller towns and rural areas are hit even harder than the already-gloomy statistics imply.