The Project started from a simple vision - help others who were less fortunate. In 2006, Brian Ruark and Joel McGinty set out on a mission to help a small community in Puerto Cortes, Honduras. This band of people lived among the the city dump, named Cocal Gracias. This dump was their livelyhood. Where some would see only trash and remnants of anything useful, these people made their homes, their playgrounds, their way of life.

With a desire to help improve on their situation, Brian and Joel produced a documentary that told the story of the people of Cocal Gracias. The goal - to build a school in the community that would teach valuable skills and trades so that the people of Cocal Gracias would have an opportunity to improve their quality of life. In 2008, The Cocal Gracias Project raised $100,000. It constructed three buildings to house public school classes and four workshop classes. In 2009, we launched Escuela La Voz, The Voice Technical School, with classes in Automechanics, Auto Electricity, Welding, and English. Our goals for 2010 are to equip and provide business courses, sewing, and refrigeration.