• For our 2007 Progress Report, click here.

• See SHARE’s 25^th Anniversary Poster.

II. Local Development Program

The Local Development Program of the SHARE Foundation provides grants, advocacy support and technical assistance (i.e. help developing workplans, business plans, writing proposals and reports, tracking of grant monies, evaluations and outreach) to Salvadoran organizations. The local development projects that SHARE supports contain three integrating principles as outlined in our 2002-2006 strategic plan: they are women’s empowerment, citizen participation and leadership development.

Small and Medium Credit Programs for Women
Since 1995 when SHARE began working in the Micro-Region of Tecoluca, (expanded to include Zacatecoluca, Jiquilisco and San Agustin in 1997) SHARE has supported credit initiatives for men and women as a way to strengthen production and help to improve family income. In recent years SHARE has concentrated its credit support for women, improving their efforts to earn an income and contribute to family well being and stability. Small loan programs combined with ample business education provide women a point of entry into the community economy for women who would otherwise lack capital to do so. Women have shown themselves to be very responsible money managers, and often succeed in improving their family’s income. Investments range from small-scale agriculture to stores and door-to-door sales. Free trade agreements are challenging the ability of small-scale agriculture projects to be sustainable. One small farmer tells of losing her investment in cucumbers when the market was flooded with agribusiness cucumbers from neighboring Guatemala, and has to seek other means of repaying her loan so as not to default. Testimonies such as hers make the struggle for fair trade rather than free trade an even more important part of SHARE's overall vision of development.

Photo: Vilma Transito, MAM micro-credit recipient with her flock of chickens.

El Roble Cooperative
A mixed gender cooperative that serves the municipality of Tecoluca, El Roble has a line of credit for women supported by SHARE. In this third year of the program 57 women (15 more than last year) received credit for a total of $34,456. Most of the women have small businesses or work with livestock (e.g. chicken farming, stores, etc). A low 1.18% of the loans are in arrears. The Roble Cooperative credits this to the SHARE supported promoter who makes house visits and works with credit recipients to ensure success in their ventures. In addition, El Roble works with another SHARE partner, ASMUR, a women's group, to identify and train potential beneficiaries. The success of the credit program can also be measured through the credit applications for second loans in which the financial status of the applicants receiving a second loan is significantly better than first time borrowers. Another success for El Roble is the increased membership of women, 37% this year, and the election of a woman to Vice President of the Administrative Council, the highest level of leadership for the coop.

SHARE's support has also helped El Roble draft a business plan in which eight men and six women participated (all from leadership structures). The business plan and a strategic plan currently in the works will help the cooperative take advantage of the opportunities presented by the move to the new Municipal Market in Tecoluca (San Nicolas Lempa), also supported by SHARE (see below), where they will be in close, daily contact with small businesswomen. Low interest loans with longer repayment periods are of particular service to that community because currently their only lending options are loan sharks. The absence of banks in the market also gives El Roble a competitive advantage for its own long-term financial sustainability.

Women's Cooperative Association for Provision, Savings and Loan, and Consumption - Marta Gonzales (MUGAN)
One of the few cooperatives completely owned and operated by rural women, the Marta Gonzales Association is a shining example of how gender empowerment and economic production can be combined to work integrally towards women's empowerment. By 2003, two hundred and two women were members of the Association, and during this same year 253 credits were approved for members and beneficiaries, a slight increase from 240 in 2002. The cooperative will be incorporating 61 new members in their assembly in early 2004. In 2003, eight women fell into arrears (3%), but seven of them have rearranged their payment period with the cooperative and will in all likelihood repay their full loan

A new credit recipient receives $343 (USD) to purchase calves and material for their care. Depending on the size of the calves, she can buy two or three, two being normal, at an approximate cost of $140. Eight to nine months later she will sell them for $286. After paying the credit, she will have approximately US $165 profit – enough to purchase another calf free of debt. Since nearly all beneficiaries then enter subsequent cycles of credit and can receive up to US $1,143 to buy 5 or 6 calves, many women have accumulated small herds of their own that are free of debt, thus enhancing their income not only from the sale of cows but dairy products as well (milk, cream and several varieties of cheese).

Photo: Cooperative member making cheese

A democratic structure allows the Association to make decisions together and to negotiate legal issues such as dividend distribution with the government oversight body, taking into account the Association’s philosophy as well as the governmental legal requirements. They also tackle issues such as how to work with women who are allowing their husbands to control all aspects of production from purchase to sale of the cattle. In addition, these monthly meetings with representatives of each community include updates on finances, relationships with outside funders, strategic and operational planning and evaluations, evaluations legal issues. House visits continue to be a major factor in loan recuperation and provide direct technical assistance to beneficiaries.

This year SHARE's support helped the Association to consolidate the Agroservice Store opened last year, legalizing its accounting system and training employees in the proper handling of the medications and other products sold there. The accountant (a woman) has also taken advantage of technical assistance to design an accounting program for the Store and the Association that has made the overall accounting system more up-to-date and accessible– especially important given the ever increasing legal requirements for the now legally incorporated cooperative and store.

A group of sixteen women is being trained to provide veterinary technical assistance to the beneficiaries, and proper instruments are being acquired to facilitate their work. In addition, SHARE once again helped to facilitate training with US based veterinarian students that included cattle illnesses, construction of a loading dock, gestation and post-partum care and castration. The women took the vets to the stockyard to see the conditions in which their cows are bought and sold as well. Credit recipients benefit from this inside technical assistance as well as from trainings on diverse themes from cattle care to commercialization.

Organizationally the Board of Directors carried out the trainings on cooperativism for all women who were members by December 2002. Fifty three new women became members in early 2003 and their training process began in October. The Equipo Maiz continued gender trainings for all members and the Jesuit Services provided assistance in accounting.

Mélida Anaya Montes Women’s Movement
One hundred and twenty five urban and semi-urban women from Tecoluca and Zacatecoluca, areas hard hit by the 2001 earthquakes, benefit from this innovative credit program that includes credit, plus trainings in business administration and gender as well as follow-ups as the women progress through the five credit cycles. The MAM has adapted the well known Grameen Bank experience to these communities, with solidarity circles being the central unifying principle for women who operate in the difficult informal economy. One of the most important criteria to become a participant is to follow the Ten Decisions of a Credit (solidarity) Circle: punctuality to meetings, punctuality in payment, request loans according to the needs and ability to repay and invest loans in economic activities, spread the word about the credit program and defend our rights, work in relationships of equality, sisterhood and solidarity with the other women, training and education for personal development, literacy and higher educational levels, stop violence in the homes, visit the doctor, including an annual Pap Smear, cleanliness and orderliness as well as taking care of the environment by planting trees and plants – these decisions incorporate factors important for success in business, respect for the community and self-esteem and self care.

Since November, 2001 284 credits have been given. In 2003, 33% of the recipients are new, replacing 16% of the overall base that left the program. Forty eight percent of the women who previously received credit have moved up to the next credit cycle. Their businesses include small restaurants, bakeries, sewing, candy making, chicken farming, stores, and sales of tortillas, empanadas, gas, hammocks, corn, firewood, juices, clothes, cashews, tamales, vegetables and more and operating funds vary from $57 to $229. Interest rates are 2% for 3-6 month periods, saving women $43 a month in interest for a $114 loan compared to loans taken with loan sharks. While 24% of the recipients are behind in their payments, arrangements have been made and so far no one has defaulted on their loan. The SHARE funds have rotated 1.4 times since inception.

Women’s Organizing for Social Change
In addition to credit programs for women, SHARE has supported different consciousness raising processes for men and women since 1995. Progress can be measured by looking at the different levels of women's participation and men's acceptance of this in areas where these processes are older versus newer processes where women are just beginning to reclaim their full rights. Several approaches to consciousness raising and participation for women can be appreciated in the projects SHARE supported in 2003.

Association of Rural Women (ASMUR)
ASMUR organizes women in the Lempa River Region of Tecoluca, using literacy classes and trainings on women's issues to help women become protagonists in rural development and improve their own living conditions. In addition, they coordinate with other organizations such as El Roble Cooperative to help women access credit and this year are working with CRIPDES, SES, MES and Juventud Rural to integrate a women's council to ensure coordination and overcome duplications of efforts. Their literacy classes are “popular” in methodology and the Ministry of Education certifies participants. Currently ASMUR works with 15 community women's committees and has 10 women literacy teachers attending to 11 literacy circles. Approximately 375 women represent their communities in sector wide assemblies and in addition are invited to participate in leadership development activities including twelve workshops planned for the second half of this year.

Fifty one men and eighty three women between the ages of 13 and 55 participated in this year's literacy circles. Teachers meet monthly to share ideas and problem solve together and attend continuing education workshops. One teacher is coordinating with the Ministry of Education and other outside sources of support. The biggest problem faced in the classes is temporary desertion by men and women left to take care of household responsibilities and childcare while, at the same time, seeking paid employment.

In 2003 ASMUR began working in six poor communities in San Nicolas Lempa with women that were not organized before, during or after the war, and who tend to be ideologically conservative and anti-organization. The women are also used to a paternalistic approach, expecting that they will be given something in return for participating in the organization.

ASMUR has experienced significant difficulties and the process has been one of slow consciousness raising, steps forward and steps backward. Their methodology has included community assemblies (18 by mid-year), literacy classes (13 men and 22 women study in two level III circles), house visits (one member of ASMUR’s board is designated for this area), and consciousness raising discussions on themes such as: the importance of community organizing, women's rights, personal development and self esteem (a popular theme), venereal diseases (controversial – some women left the meetings), reproductive healthcare and gender. Four initial assemblies were held in February to present ASMUR and invite women to participate in the organization and the literacy classes. Twenty four subsequent assemblies were held from April to June in the six communities with an average participation of nine women per meeting. Operational plans for each community were written, Mother’s and Father’s Day activities were planned, and literacy circles were set up in these meetings, in addition to the consciousness raising discussions. ASMUR plans to continue its efforts in the San Nicolas area into 2004.

Women for Life and Dignity (Las Dignas)
Las Dignas, a national feminist organization, has worked in the rural municipalities of Berlin and Jiquilisco, Usulután to educate women about their sexual and reproductive rights and their right to a life without gender violence. In addition to educational and organizational campaigns in communities, Las Dignas and beneficiaries of this project play a significant role in educating public entities responsible for eradicating gender and domestic violence (court systems, police, healthcare system, etc.) about these rights and advocating for them to play a more pro-active role in the protection of victims of violence and the eradication of the violence itself. Among the achievements of this work are: women informed of the available tools for dealing with gender and domestic violence as well as alternative conflict resolution skills to help avert family violence; public officials better informed about their legal responsibilities in protecting and defending women's rights, and raising consciousness of said officials, inspiring greater commitment to the job; better community relationships with public officials; and availability of printed material to share with other women on their rights.

An average of 30 women from Berlin and Jiquilisco participated in two workshops to help them identify the local (public) institutions responsible for dealing with domestic violence. Participants learned how to denounce cases of domestic and sexual violence. Local police, health care professionals, human rights workers, judges and nurses were invited to the second workshop to work together with community women on specific actions to support victims of violence and defend women's sexual and reproductive rights.

To compliment this work, Las Dignas organized a series of workshops on sexual and reproductive rights, including the themes: history of the body, reproduction and maternity, sexuality as a social construct, international commitments related to women's rights. In addition to 30 female community members, representatives from the Police, the Human Rights Ombudswomen’s Office, the local Court and Basic Health System also participated. Women working for these public entities recognized the understanding community women had of the different themes and their ability to advocate for their rights and commented on their own renewed commitment to these issues.

As a way of strengthening women's abilities to defend their rights in the home and the community, two nationwide workshops on alternative conflict resolution were held in which nine women from Berlin and Jiquilisco participated. The Attorney General's office was in charge of the methodology. In addition to the workshops, the women were given material to help them reproduce the basic concepts from this national effort in their local communities.

Rural Community Association for the Development of El Salvador (CRIPDES)
CRIPDES is a national organization that has accompanied communities of rural displaced people since 1984. SHARE has supported CRIPDES´s work with women in Tecoluca for 5 years as it seeks to empower women to be active participants in rural development and in the struggles for social and economic justice. In 2003 the women of CRIPDES concentrated on the organization of rural women and implementation of work plans for women's committees in 29 communities, leadership development with 60 people in planning, fundraising, impact indicators and gender focus, and finally, on education about the effects of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), Plan Puebla Panama (PPP) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) on women and the poor in general in order to generate active involvement in opposition to these neo-liberal plans. One thousand fifty five people from 29 communities participated in 29 initial community assemblies sponsored by CRIPDES to promote the project goals and inspire future participation.

Strengthening women's committees has involved designing specific workplans based on community interviews to determine the current needs of women and in coordination with other groups including ASMUR and Juventud Rural who work with women in Tecoluca. Exchanges with women from other areas in El Salvador have also helped to build confidence and share ideas about economic projects that women can start in their communities. While women's committees were restructured or elected in the 29 communities, CRIPDES also worked to ensure that women would be represented in integrated community councils with 40% of the membership. The unprecedented result was the election of women to 56% of community presidencies - the most important role in community leadership and development. Women are also represented in other posts of these community councils and another 56 women were elected to 15 diverse municipal wide bodies including regional leadership of NGOs and peasant organizations. Five of those women are members of the Municipal Council elected in March 2003.

Work included organizing participatory events ranging from commemorations of massacres to celebrations of Mother’s Day and other social activities, as well as educational community assemblies on such themes as: disaster management, leadership, public speaking, children’s rights, self-esteem, the three branches of government, community auditing, the Family Code, gender and sexuality, public policy advocacy, domestic violence and more, in which 20 to 30 women and 10 to 20 men participated in each community. Fundraising activities resulting in actual projects, risk management plans, book presentations and gender trainings were among the other activities women's groups took on in 2003.

Leadership development included trainings on community planning, project writing and impact indicators with a gender focus. One hundred and thirty women and 89 men have participated to date in six different thematic units on the PPP, CAFTA and FTAA and a group of young people came together to receive training to perform community educational theatre about these same issues. Women and men from Tecoluca have joined their sisters and brothers throughout El Salvador in marches and forums to protest these neo-liberal plans. In December 2003, communities from Tecoluca and Jiquilisco participated in two marches to protest CAFTA – the longest in duration was a five day march from the region to San Salvador. Reflecting about the diverse nature of this projects´foci, project coordinator Gloria Vilma Ortiz Nuñez notes, “one more time it has been shown that integral development for women is only possible if we open spaces for women to learn about and promote their rights and to be able to put them in practice in any situation, public or private.”

Multi-Sector Association for Economic Development and Social Progress (CIDEP) Domestic Violence Prevention Committees
After local diagnosis and consultation about community problems beginning in 1997, CIDEP helped to formulate 16 community based committees to prevent domestic violence and began a process of education, consciousness raising and advocacy with public entities who deal with domestic violence in order to prevent cases of family violence and improve services to victims. Since 1999, with SHARE support, the committees have been involved in community organizing, local education events, work with public schools and interactions with the Attorney General's office, the Human Rights Ombudswomen´s office, Youth Court, Women's Institute and the National Civilian Police (PNC). In 2002 the PNC reported an increase in the number of cases denounced, relative to the number of cases dealt with, which indicates that people are beginning to feel empowered to report domestic violence – a first step to helping victims and dealing with perpetrators.

In 2003 CIDEP facilitated the education of 35 members (18 men and 17 women) of local committees so they could reproduce the information in schools and communities and deepen the level of community understanding about domestic violence and the need to prevent it. These leaders received five workshops from March to October. Members of 42 Community Councils (140 people) also participated in project related activities including two seminaries held in 16 different communities that included an average of 35 participants, 60% of whom were men, the principal perpetrators of domestic violence.

The newly trained community leaders led five workshops reproducing the information for children in public schools, and established contacts to do the same in another three schools, helping them to reach 400 young people thus far. Contacts were also made with other local NGOs and the national Women's Institute and the Family Court in Zacatecoluca to advocate for full application of the law in domestic violence cases. The Zacatecoluca Municipal Council was informed about gender issues in policy making, a fair about domestic violence prevention was organized in another area municipality, San Rafael Obrajuelo, and committees participated in the Zacatecoluca municipal forum “Agenda for Social Development.”

CIDEP reports that in four years of work there is significant progress in community council knowledge and acceptance of the work, consolidation in the prevention committees themselves, increased participation of men in educational events and prevention work and greater coordination with local government in order to maximize the resources for domestic violence prevention.

CIDEP has been working with local anti-domestic violence committees in Zacatecoluca with SHARE support for several years, including 2001 when the committees’ previous work led to successful psychosocial attention after the earthquakes. In 2002, CIDEP focused on building the capacity of the local committees to advocate for government response to cases of violence and to continue the efforts to build a culture of non-violence amongst the communities. Results include the acceptance of a municipal gender equity policy by the Zacatecoluca Mayor, and an extensive radio, leaflet and banner campaign about domestic violence that culminated in the November 25th activity for the Day Against Violence Against Women in which over 75 people participated.

In addition to these campaigns, the CIDEP committees systematized the past four years experience in order to leave manuals in the communities for the work to continue. The manuals contain basic information about domestic violence and the steps to take to deal with this type of violence. The manuals will assist existing committees in continuing their work, as well as provide a tool for educating new committee members, teachers and other actors in Zacatecoluca.

Promoting Citizen’s Participation and Leadership Development at the Local Level: SHARE’s support for Municipal Development Councils (CDMs)
The possibility for integral local development is strengthened when the majority of social and economic actors (communities, NGOs, local and central government, churches, etc.) participate Municipal Development Councils bring communities and organizations together to plan, budget and implement development work to benefit everyone who lives there. This model of participatory citizenship has been a key element to SHARE's work in El Salvador as the “voiceless” populations become protagonists in the development of their country.

Tecoluca Municipal Development Committee (CDM of Tecoluca)
The municipality of Tecoluca is a model for El Salvador when it comes to citizen participation. Governed by the FMLN since 1994, Tecoluca´s municipal government has been successful because it has welcomed all actors and sectors to work together to prioritize needs each year and to spread out the municipal budget so that over a period of time every community has been reached with many projects varying from potable water to farm to market roads, schools, electrification, housing and more. Already organized and accustomed to working together, Tecoluca´s citizens came together quickly in the wake of the 2001 earthquakes and in spite of its devastating impact in the area, the municipality has bounced back and even flourished. In 2003 SHARE supported the CDM in its overall goal of strengthening organization and citizen participation, and specifically in electing and training the new governing council of the CDM and to work with producers on economic development issues good for farmers. One example is the recently inaugurated municipal market complete with a capacity for farmers to sell wholesale produce – a step towards job creation and economic development in the region.

In order to elect a new governing council for a three year period, seven assemblies were held to elect representatives from each geographic sector. A total of 148 women and 176 men elected seven new representatives (four women and three men), who then presented their candidacies for the coordination of the CDM in a municipal wide assembly in which 125 women and 175 men elected a woman as coordinator. The mayor's office, former council members and FUNDE, an NGO specialized in local development, then helped to train the new council in three sessions.

The new governing council then began working on a strategic plan in which communities, NGOs, the mayor´s office and others would prioritize projects for the next three years. Working groups for organization, healthcare, education, production, gender and technical support have been formed and a strategic working group made up of the Mayor, the Director of CORDES, the largest NGO in Tecoluca, the President of CRIPDES one of the longest established community organizations, the President of ASMUR, the largest women's organization, the Coordinator of the CDM and technical support from FUNDE meets monthly to share information about current projects, fundraising efforts and grassroots organizing work.

The New Municipal Market of Tecoluca
After the earthquakes in 2001, SHARE helped to finance a Municipal Zoning Plan for Tecoluca which in addition to looking at zoning laws that would help to prevent repercussions in future natural diasters such as earthquakes and floods, also studied possibilities for economic development in the municipality. One suggested project was a municipal market in San Nicolas Lempa which would give producers from all over Tecoluca a place to sell their produce to small venders and wholesale buyers and municipal residents a closer market for their purchases.

Photo: SHARE Foundation Board of Directors
with the CDM and mayor at the inauguration of the municipal market.

“Mayor Carlos’s address to the assembled crowd concluded the proceedings. He was outstanding! He spoke of Tecoluca’s future, the need to continue to progress, to continue the sense of community and unity, to enable the poor to gain dignity and improve their lives materially but also spiritually. It was a magnificent testament to the ability to turn adversity -- Hurricane Mitch and the earthquake -- into a promise of a better life for all.” -- Peter Davies, SHARE Foundation Board Member

SHARE has worked in Tecoluca since 1995 supporting production as well as citizen participation, and the market was a logical step in the move from social, community and municipal infrastructure projects to economic development. SHARE supported the Tecoluca with US $39,000 to finance the technical personnel behind the construction of the new marketplace, which has a total value of US $700,673. The Basque government and Tecoluca municipality shared the costs of feasibility and zoning studies and global construction costs.

Today the market is up and running. Farmers in the area who produce papaya, cashew fruit and nuts, sesame, plantains, cucumbers, chile and other vegetables are able to sell locally. More than 30 communities come through this area on their way to larger cities, and the market is strategically located on a main highway that connects the capital San Salvador to the Eastern part of the country. Local women and men operate the market and small businesspeople operate the stalls for local consumption. SHARE partner the Roble Cooperative has a local office to facilitate credits to producers and vendors in the zone. Futhermore, there is future potential in the immediate area for eco-tourism and the municipality is currently raising funds for a site along the Lempa River, not far from the market. Plans are also in the works to build a municipal slaughterhouse and meat market for local cattle owners to buy, sell and slaughter their livestock.

The Tecoluca CDM has begun to host exchanges with other municipal CDMs to share their experiences and ideas for social and economic development, something they have offered to do in SHARE's new target area. The municipal market in Tecoluca is a visible sign of how citizen participation can multiply local dollars into a strategic economic project that benefits all.

San Agustin Municipal Development Committee
Changing municipal governments from one party to another have complicated the work of San Agustin´s Municipal Development Committee, who have been faced with changing relationships and different views on the importance of citizen participation in municipal development. In 2003 the CDM managed to get the mayor to participate in some of their activities, but there is no coordinating relationship. Hence the CDM works to organize communities to identify their needs and then present them to the mayor's office or other appropriate entities. Without a strong relationship with the mayor, the CDM and communities often find themselves in the role of pressuring the mayor's office to respond.

In the first half of 2003 the CDM focused on organizing and empowerment. The decision-making body for the CDM is composed of a working group of elected community This leadership body organized assemblies in 15 communities in which a total of 292 men and 260 women participated. Consciousness raising, legalizing community councils and identifying needs are among the assembly activities. The working group also carried out 30 community visits which have been a means to empowerment. As a result, four communities are participating in the CDM activities at full capacity, while nine are beginning their process of empowerment and citizen participation. Two communities disagree totally with the CDM´s approach and feel that any pressure on the mayor or central government constitutes a terrorist activity. The CDM has worked on its relationship with the parish priest this year, which has helped to open doors in many communities. The CDM reports that overcoming fear and believing that defending ones rights is okay has been a major achievement this year. Among the themes being discussed is what effect CAFTA will have on small producers in the community. Most have begun to analyze that they are too small to export to the US and feel there will be a negative impact on their livelihoods. A women's roundtable and a youth group also organized activities of consciousness raising, economic production and recreation.

Leadership development activities have also been important. Outside consultants have helped the CDM study such themes as maintaining a community organization (19 men and 16 women participants), leadership, empowerment and advocacy (20 men and 17 women participants). Twenty three women also learned about women's right to recreation, a theme that motivated the women to request further studies in women's rights. Two exchanges with other municipalities with CDMs rounded out the training and education during the first part of the year.

2003 Program Report:

Contents:

• Introduction: A Review of our Programs and Institutional Priorities
• Advocacy Program
• Local Development Program
• Grassroots Program
• Organizational Update
• Summary

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