Dionisio was born in San Juan Tela, Honduras on October 10^th, 1944, to Juana and Ramon Amaya. He recalled living a happy childhood and smiled as he remembered the friendly football matches he played with his four brothers and two sisters.

    Dionisio attended Vicente Casarez Elementary but was unable to continue his studies because of the familyís financial struggles. "It was always hard; we never knew where our next meal was coming from," he recalled. As a result, Dionisio started fishing alongside his father to help with the familyís expenses.

    At the age of 11, Dionisio took a job selling frozen ice "paletas" (Popsicles) to thirsty patrons on the streets. After two years, he went in search of another source of income and found a job as a janitor at a large commercial building. Besides cleaning and maintaining it, in his spare time the young man would also chop and clean yards for extra money. At the age of 18, Dionisio went to work at a wood factory, converting trees to lumber. This type of hard work did not agree with Dionisio though, so he found work in a restaurant. After laboring every day in a hot kitchen for the next two years, he realized this was not a career he wanted to continue.

    Looking for a better way of life, on March 5^th, 1974, Dionisio, and his companion, Flora Diego, moved to Belize and settled in Corozal Town. His first job entailed making and painting tiles by hand. Donisio would pour concrete into a tile mold and after it dried, he would glaze each tile by hand. These decorative tiles would then be baked in a kiln and sold to building contractors.

    On December 13^th, 1980, Dionisio married his faithful companion, Flora Diego. They are the proud parents of ten children: Carlos, Alex, Freddy, Minnette, Joan, Flori, Marvin, Noemi, Jerson and James.

    In 1993, Dionisio decided to go to work for himself. After acquiring the materials needed for the trade, he began making balusters, the shaped inserts that decorate most concrete home railings.

    Unfortunately, in 1984, the Corozal sugar factorys closed and the townís economy suffered. Since people could no longer afford to build homes, there was less market for his product. Jobs were scarce, so Dionisio made a tough decision to uproot his family and move to San Pedro Town. "When you first arrive in San Pedro, it is not as easy as everybody thinks. Jobs are available but if you do not have an education, it is hard to get one," he explained. 

    Dionisio was finally hired by the San Pedro Town Council to rake the Townís streets and beaches. For the next three years, he performed his job with pride, stating "Whatever job you do, if you are earning an honest living, you shouldnít suffer any humiliation."

    In 1999, Dionisio and his wife went into business for themselves selling burgers, burritos, tacos and other tasty fast foods. In order to have food prepared and ready for delivery, Flora must begin to cook every morning at 3:30. Dionisio then takes to the streets on his vendor tricycle at 6:00 a.m. to deliver hot, delicious meals for the working citizens of San Pedro.

    Faithful to his religion, Dionisio was eventually able to establish a place to worship, converting part of his home into the Iglesia de Cristo (Church of Christ). "I opened the church because the youth today need to know about God. Whether it is from my church or any church, they need spiritual guidance." Dionisio has also begun construction on another church, on the north side of the island.

     Four years ago, Dionisio and his wife visited their native Honduras. "As wonderful as it was to see my family and old friends again, by the third day I wanted to come back to the island. Honduras is my birthplace, but San Pedro Town is my home," stated Dionisio.

    Dionisioís hardworking spirit has inspired him to push his family ahead. "I work hard for my family. I always remind them that a sound education is important. Reading and writing alone is not enough in this day and age," he advises.

    Dionisio Amaya is an honest, determined, good natured Christian pioneer. All of these wonderful qualities make up the type of individual who is always welcome to settle in "Our Community."