CRIPDES San Vicente Introduction
By Noel Andersen
March 2, 2006
WELCOME!!!! Welcome to the SHARE Foundation’s Grassroots Sistering Program. SHARE is excited to have participation of US faith communities in the accompaniment of San Vicente community projects. Through the solidarity of some of these sistering partnership committees, together we are assisting the Association of Rural Communities for the Development of El Salvador (CRIPDES), in its community work throughout the region to develop organization, youth projects, women’s empowerment groups and technical assistance to provide basic needs, like availability of water.
My name is Noel Andersen and I am a student at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley wherein I have been doing an internship with the SHARE Foundation in conjunction with my studies. After working in fundraising at the San Francisco office for Fall of 2005, I have begun my Spring semester working in El Salvador with SHARE’s Grassroots sistering program. Recently I was placed in San Vicente and so far it has been a wonderful introductory period. I have very much enjoyed getting to know the dedicated work of CRIPDES as well as getting acquainted with the people they work with. It is clear there is a great need for the type of community organizing CRIPDES coordinates and it’s a blessing to be a part of that vision.
(Photo: Community council organizational meeting with CRIPDES)
The first community I visited was called Las Anonas where Erika Murcia, from CRIPDES, met with the local council of leaders to discuss: the pre-election scenario (local elections March 12); the importance of organization; and how to work through the conflicts on the council. For my sake, the group reviewed some of the projects they have done with youth and women throughout the year. The women’s committee has participated in marches for human rights and received trainings on gender relations, mental health and technical assistance for community projects. The youth leaders spoke about the trainings they have had on gender and sexual education, political formation, public speaking and advocacy. The Las Anonas community was kind and open to me in my arrival which seemed to be the pattern with all the people I met in the San Vicente area.
I was also fortunate to sit in on a SALV-AID delegation from Canada that spoke with the Association of Women in San Carlos (ASMUR) who works in coordination with CRIPDES. ASMUR women leaders exchanged with the delegates about their experience within El Salvador’s patriarchal culture, their journey to create women’s rights, and the struggle against the all-too-frequent cases of domestic violence. ASMUR often has trainings on gender relations and has also begun literacy trainings for women in twelve different local communities to bring further education to their own economically sustainable projects.
In the same delegation meeting, some of the women from the community gave a fokloric dance that demonstrated the type of organization CRIPDES has been fostering with youth, recognizing the importance of cultural expression through arts in the community.
(Photo: Fokloric Dancers)
I also helped Marixa Amaya, from CRIPDES, with a training on accounting and bookkeeping. A group of ten community leaders from Achote, El Zicaro, Dethania, and Florida attended the training to gain a better sense on how to balance their books in a more consistent fashion. Often times, these seemingly basic skills are trying for populations where few have had the opportunity to study past elementary or junior high levels. The participants in this training have been heading up water projects in their communities to bring greater access to potable water. Within these projects they often have to utilize accurate bookkeeping skills.
(Photo: Bookkeeping Training)
My first week in San Vicente brought many profound experiences regarding the type of community development the SHARE Foundation supports through CRIPDES. It was reassuring to know that while I was participating in different trainings or meetings for development and solidarity, other leaders from CRIPDES were in different parts of San Vicente working on similar projects. Although El Salvador continues in its economic struggle, the networks of solidarity continue to be a strong support.
Thank you for your solidarity!!!
UPDATES ARCHIVE