SHARE
Moves to New Local Development Regions
A Reflection Piece
by SHARE Board Member Susan Saudek
January 2005
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year to all…. And I DO hope
you can find some happiness despite the outcome
of our elections, the escalating number of deaths
in Iraq, the human toll of the devastating tsunami
and so much more.
How about HOPE?
In these troubled times, I try to center my
thoughts on a positive image, something that
is close to my own life that I can understand
and in turn do something about. For me, the
images that flash up immediately are the faces
of ordinary Salvadorans that I have met over
the years through the work of the SHARE Foundation.
These are ordinary and heroic people who despite
hard lives and rough political policies keep
HOPE front and center as they keep on working
for a better tomorrow.
I want to tell you about the great sense of
Hope I came away with after my last visit to
El Salvador as a member of SHARE’s Board
of Directors. We went down to hear from our
in-country staff, from participants in SHARE’s
programs, from members of our sister communities,
from economic and political experts and from
our steadfast friends in the church who taught
us again how necessary it is to heed the inspiring
legacy of the Salvadoran martyrs.
From a personal perspective, I was particularly
interested in how the transition was going from
one target area to another. You and I are very
familiar with the work that SHARE has done in
the Lower Lempa over the past twelve years.
But with SHARE making the decision to move its
local development work to the western provinces
of Santa Ana and Ahuachapan I wondered:
- Would the Tecoluca CDM (Municipal Development
Committee) still be active? A model pioneered
by SHARE.
- Was there still interest in youth organizing?
And …
- What about the women’s cattle cooperative?
Was their membership growing? Was cattle still
a good business investment? Did they ever
buy the truck they dreamed of to get their
cattle to the market bypassing the middle
man?
- Was there any resentment towards SHARE
for moving on?
- Had SHARE found new partners to collaborate
with in the new target communities of Chalchuapa
and Atiquizaya?
- Were the mayors open to community organizing?
- What would the new local development projects
be? Cattle? Bakeries? Sewing?
We set out our very first morning to find out.
A visit to TECOLUCA
In the freshness of a sparkling spring morning,
we sped through green valleys framed by imposing
volcanoes, to the edge of the Lempa River where
the mayor of Tecoluca, Carlos Cortez, and all
the members of the CDM were awaiting us. So
many committee members wanted to talk to us;
there was standing room only. It was a wonderful
exchange. We did a round of introductions, and
then we were reminded to turn off our cell phones
(amazing! At most Salvadoran meetings it is
a status symbol to be busy on the cell phone
while business is being conducted.) And then
came presentations by key people.
The voices were strong. As Edith Portillo,
president of the CDM, said, “The CDM has
been operating for 10 years and has the strongest
relationship ever with both the local towns
and the mayor. One of our guiding principles
is gender equality. We are proud to say that
all local councils are either led by women or
have more than 50% female membership.”
From the mayor’s perspective, community
organizing and the collaboration with the CDM
has been nothing but positive. He said, “Tecoluca
is recognized nationally and internationally
as a model for municipal participative partnership.
Because of this organization, governments both
national and international have been investing
in the municipality. Where there is organization
there is confidence which brings investment.”
We had lunch with a youth group, supported
by SHARE through grants to CRIPDES. One young
man, Vladimir, expressed his appreciation and
said, “CRIPDES workshops helped me with
self-confidence and as a leader in my school.”
Maria del Carmen agreed and said that before
the workshops she would get so nervous that
her legs would shake, and she couldn’t
even say her name.
After lunch we were ready for a walk in the
campo with the cattle women of the MUGAN cooperative.
They were bursting with pride as they pointed
out FAT cattle in almost every field we passed.
The coop which got its start in 1993 with 10
members now has a membership of 263. They have
built a granary, a classroom, an office building
and a small store. They have bought the truck
that they needed to transport their cattle to
the market. They have taken courses so that
11 women are now “popular vets”
who teach others about animal care, vaccinations,
feed, etc. The once small project has grown
into a model of sustainable, people-led development
in tune with the needs of the community and
the environment
AND MOST IMPRESSIVE…. They ALL have HOPE
and dreams and energy. They are convinced that
with their own initiative and hard work they
WILL have a better life.
A visit to CHALCHUAPA
On our second day we set out again by van but
this time in the opposite direction, west to
Santa Ana, a mountainous coffee growing region.
This region is suffering because of the fall
in coffee prices, the general neglect by the
federal government and almost non-existent local
organizing.
So where to begin in this new target area?
First step. Plan exchanges between
the old and new target areas. SHARE did just
this.
SHARE invited members of the Chalchuapa mayor’s
staff, and leaders of local organizations to
a meeting with the CDM in Tecoluca. Women were
identified who were working in small cooperatives
but with big dreams of starting their own businesses
(perhaps a bakery) and members of the Women’s
Institute (IMU), who are JUST getting organized.
SHARE took them down to the Lower Lempa to meet
with the MUGAN cattle women.
Second step. Identify leaders and support
local organizing. And SHARE is doing just that
too.
By the time of our visit there was a great
deal of HOPE and excitement in the air. If Tecoluca
did it we can too! The IMU women needed a physical
space in which to meet. The cooperative women
were dreaming of their brand new tiny bakery
that might become as successful a business as
the cattle project in Tecoluca.
So, we were curious as we drove to the Chalchuapa
mayor’s office in the company of our counterpart
IMU. How supportive would the mayor, Mario Ramos,
be to local organizing and the formation of
a CDM? It was a difficult meeting. The mayor
started out complaining that his municipality
had it tough. Unlike Tecoluca, non-governmental
organizations did not want to work in his municipality.
How could he ever provide services without help?
Deysi, president of IMU, answered and made the
case better than we ever could have. She stated,
“NGOs are interested in working in stable
organized communities. NGOs are looking for
communities that have worked together to identify
development needs and together have committed
to working on that plan. You know that these
conditions do not exist in Chalchuapa…..
but they can. Working with the women’s
committee is one step towards that coordination.
Others must be invited and they will come. There
is a hunger for municipal coordination but there
must be a political will on the part of the
mayor. For example we have asked you for a meeting
space for IMU, you have offered us inaccessible
sites or suggested that we would have to pay
for the space. Where is your willingness to
work with us?”
The challenge was on the table. The air was
tense. After what seemed like a long silence
the mayor said, “There is an empty lot
right next door that is waiting for a new use.
Perhaps, we could give it to you. Come, let
me show you what I mean.”
And with that we were all out the door to see
the property. There was a great deal of talk
and affirmative nodding and hand shaking. There
was understanding, and there was HOPE.
NEW BEGINNINGS FOR CHALCHUAPA…NEW
BEGINNINGS FOR THE REST OF US
I, for one, left feeling that the SHARE local
development model can be reproduced. It will
be done through one-on-one sharing between the
regions. It will be done by strengthening local
organizations. It will be done by bringing these
organizations and the mayor’s office together
to jointly plan development.
Local organizing is the strength and the HOPE
of their future. They know that, they believe
that and they have the energy to do it.
I came away in admiration of the SHARE vision
and the amazing staff who day-to-day keep this
HOPE alive.
Won’t you accept an invitation to journey
to El Salvador in this year of the martyrs?
Give yourself a chance to give SHARE’s
work a personal face…. YOUR FACE.
Sincerely,
Susan Saudek
SHARE Board of Directors
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