Association of Rural Communities for Development in El Salvador

CRIPDES- San Vicente

4/13/06

by Noel Andersen

In my sixth week in San Vicente, the local focus has been on advocacy to prepare and involve communities in levy repairs, to reduce the danger of flooding as the rainy season approaches the high-risk zone of San Vicente. The SHARE Foundation organized a workshop for local NGOs in the area, including CRIPDES, on emergency prevention, preparation and relief work. Some from CRIPDES also find time to create space for moral support with participants from other NGOs.

(Photo: Political and NGO leaders gather to advocate for successful levy reconstruction)

On April 4 th, SHARE´s advocacy coordinator in El Salvador, Guadalupe Cortés, came to San Carlos Lempa for an important meeting at CRIPDES´ office. At this meeting, representatives from various NGOs and the local government of Tecoluca came together to secure reconstruction of areas of the levy that were damaged in Hurricane Stan. Together, these leaders analyzed the current situation and made plans for further organization with communities before May, when the rains are expected to start.

 

 

(Photo: October, 2005, eruption of Ilamapatec Volcano)

The subject of emergency response and preparation for natural disasters is especially important in El Salvador. In the last seven years, El Salvador has been hit with two hurricanes, an earthquake and a volcano eruption. On April 6 th, CRIPDES San Vicente and I attended SHARE´s training on the SPHERE Project in San Nicolás Lempa. SPHERE is made up of 24 different NGOs and international agencies that have agreed to work together for the creation and systematization of a more efficient and organized response to emergency situations -- while also concentrating on how to prevent future emergencies. This training was successful in its goal to educate and centralize a system of response between the NGOs and local government of the Bajo Lempa.

Despite the concentration on emergency preparedness, some from CRIPDES still found time to be in solidarity with each other as women who work for NGOs throughout El Salvador. A number of women gathered at CRIPDES´ Maritza Amaya´s house to talk about the discrimination they face as women and the personal struggles within their occupation. This type of moral and spiritual support is essential for the type of social work NGOs do, so that women who work for justice can deal with their problems together in a strong and unified fashion.

(Photo: Women from various NGOs and regions gather to find support in a group)

CRIPDES and SHARE continue doing important work for the entire region of the Bajo Lempa by advocating, promoting and training for emergency prevention and preparedness. At the same time, there is an internal focus on how to morally support one another as women, in order to continue the struggle for justice, community organization and development throughout El Salvador.

In Solidarity,

Noel Andersen