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June 30 - July 8, Interfaith Builders to El Milagro, El Salvador, to help build another Casa Communal
August 18- 25, Tabernacle United Church members and friends to learn more about current conditions in ES and spend time in Las Anonas; Email: Tabernacle@tabunited.org for more information.
The Sister Cities Network Board and ES Staff, are meeting here in Philadelphia on May 12th and 13th. If you would like to help with meals, local transportation, or would like to stop by, please let us know.
Economic policies during the last ten years have left Salvadorans with few job opportunities. EVERY DAY, 500 young people leave El Salvador. During the last ten years, as many people have migrated from El Salvador as left the country during the 50 years prior to 1998. (this includes the period of the civil war.) What this means, is that more people are leaving looking for work now, than fled the country during the war. Those leaving are largely young community leaders.
In Guajoyo, sister community of Austin, TX, 78 former youth leaders have left the community in search of jobs in the United States. More than half of the 146 families of this community have lost a young person to immigration. Families gain an income in the form of remittances from the U.S. while the community loses the next generation of leaders in the struggle for a just economy.
Sister Cities is working to strengthen contacts with immigrants in the US and to define strategies together “to organize across borders and resist the forces of economic domination which drive youth out of their homes, and tear families apart.”
By Ron Morgan
Immigration has costs for families left behind and the workers who emigrate. RIC is beginning to explore the issue with our sisters and brothers in Las Anonas and those who now reside here while working.
We’ve had phone conversations with some of our friends in Las Anonas. (Cell phones have come to the Lower Lempa!) and we discovered that our communities are more deeply connected in another, disturbing way. We learned that young men from the community, several relatives of important community leaders, are now living in Boston, or Virginia, or Long Island.
These young men, whose families have contributed to the building of the relationship between our communities, are now a part of what many in our Congress have called our "illegal immigrant problem." By crossing the border in search of greater economic opportunity, they have gone from being the children of our friends to being "illegals."
The immigration issue is still in limbo in our Congress but may come up for action soon. Please check the Web Resources for updates.
“In our country the situation is more difficult every day, the social problems keep growing especially the poverty and unemployment. I have finished my high school degree, and I have still not decided where life will take me next, but thank you for your help.”
Juan Carlos, graduating HS
Sister Cities, through Philadelphia’s RIC and the Austin Committee, supports 14 scholarship students in the San Vicente region.
Youth from rural communities often do not have schools nearby, and must walk long distances to catch the bus to junior and senior high school. Without scholarships, these students would not be able to study, since the costs are prohibitively high for many rural campesino families.
The average scholarship stipend of $350 per year covers part of the costs for transportation, tuition, supplies and books Students and their parents provide the rest.
In exchange for the scholarship, students sign a contract committing them to achieve academic excellence, to communicate with their community Council and CRIPDES organizers and to participate in regional youth programs. These activities build leadership skills in addition to academic knowledge. The program also offers opportunities for the scholars to share experiences with scholarship students in other CRIPDES region.
This year marks the first graduating class of scholarship students, with five of the fourteen Sister Cities scholarship students graduating from High School. Their spaces in the scholarship program will be open to new students chosen through a selection process with CRIPDES San Vicente and community boards. Priority will be given to a certain number of students from Guajoyo and Las Anonas. Many of the graduates hope to continue studying, and have already become leaders in their communities.
I have finished my basic studies with many successes and satisfaction, achieving first place in the 9th grade in the school although not everything has been the color of roses because there are always difficulties to confront but despite all that, we continue in the struggle with faith and hope that very soon we will be a new El Salvador
Silvino, 1st year, HS
As they say, it is okay to dream and one of my great dreams is to be a professional, I hope that in my life this will not just be a dream; rather I hope that you can do me the favor to make my dream a reality.
Santos Isabel, 8th grade
I also thank CRIPDES and you our donators for supporting me with the scholarships, because if it had not been for you I would not have been able to finish my studies.
Felipe, graduating HS
The San Vicente program, with support from the SHARE foundation, has expanded to the university level and funded four students. The goal of the university scholarship program is to offer continued academic and leadership opportunities for rural leaders.
The youth in the area are very excited about the scholarship program. And folks here have been enthusiastic supporters of it. People have given gifts to the program to commemorate special events or the memory of friends and family. If you are interested in making a dedicated gift, please contact us.
RIC, as a member of the U.S-El Salvador Sister Cities Network, has some exciting developments in our network to announce.
After Philadelphia hosted the Sister Cities National gathering in October 2005, Sister Cities said farewell to one staff member and welcomed two new ones. Emily Carpenter began as U.S Coordinator this past May. She has been involved in Sister Cities as part of the Madison -Arcatao sister Cities project and served as an at-large Board member before being hired. Sister Cities also said farewell to Teresa Perez in July and welcomed Jesse Dyer-Stewart of Maine as our new El Salvador Co-Coordinator, not to be confused with Jesse Kates-Chinoy who many of us know for his wonderful support coordinating delegations over the past years. Jesse Dyer-Stewart served as a Sister Cities volunteer in Chaletenango for one and a half years before accepting the co-coordinator position. His work now includes coordinating between CRIPDES San Vicente communities and their sister committees in the U.S., including Las Anonas and the Romero Interfaith Center.
And our own, Vanessa Cardinale is serving as the co-chair of the Sister Cities Network. She brings to the board her enthusiasm and knowledge of the issues facing Salvadorans which she gained during her 18 months as a volunteer in Las Anonas.
The recent completion of six Productivo Houses replaced houses damaged in the 2001 earthquake. This means that most people in Las Anonas now have safer brick homes.
Las Anonas built its own “Casa Communal” last year. The regional government had promised to provide money for its construction but failed to deliver the funds. The people of Las Anonas succeeded by persistently reminding the government of its commitment. RIC provided $300. to connect the building to the power line.
An August 2006 letter from the Las Anonas Community Board reported new projects in micro credit, and farming. There were also repairs to latrines and water supplies on some family farm plots.
The Board identified difficulties they face: the lack of employment, some folks are not interested in organizing and the theft of the community’s generator.
They also wrote that they are worried about external events such as the Arena Government’s 14% hike of electricity rates and the military’s accusation that Lower Lempa towns are hosting guerrilla-training camps.
All of these concerns make some fear that there may be a repeat of past conflicts. They ask for our continuing support in their struggle.
In March, 2006 Maria Ester Quintanilla and Mauricio Menjivar were murdered in their home. You may have met Maria because she had cooked for the Philadelphia delegations. The Philadelphia Interfaith Builders Group raised funds to help pay the funeral expenses. Maria’s three children now live with relatives in other communities. The murderer and motive remain unknown.
April 18, 2006 marked the 15th anniversary of the creation of the Community of Las Anonas de Santa Cruz. People from Santa Cruz in the Usulutan Mountains across the Lempa River were relocated and given title to the Las Anonas land as an early step in the peace process. RIC sent a letter of solidarity celebrating our relationship as sister communities for this significant celebration
In the fall of 2005, after heavy rains, Hurricane Stan hit the area and the people of Las Anonas evacuated to poorly equipped shelters. Those in the shelters worried about the safety of family members left on guard in the community. All survived but they lost 75% of their crops. The community was frustrated with the government’s lack of response to all the natural disasters.
In October 2005, RIC hosted the National Gathering of the US - ES Sister Cities Network in Philadelphia. Approximately 30 representatives of US Sister Cities Committees along with a few of the El Salvador staff met and shared information while enjoying food and fellowship. Thanks to all who helped host the event!
During the Philadelphia Gathering, St. Vincent’s’ Congregation invited Elsi Orillana to speak at a Mass about the recent natural disasters. In response the Congregation raised $3000. for emergency relief efforts.
All the RIC faith communities have been generous in their support of RIC. The Tithing Committee of Saint Vincent’s recently gave funds for the Scholarship Program. Mishkan Shalom partnered with Saint Vincent’s through the very active Interfaith Builders Group quickly raised funds to help with funeral expenses. Tabernacle United Church’s Mission Team has consistently provided significant funds for programs in the Las Anonas area. And Central Baptist, which directly supports another community in El Salvador, continues to assist RIC in many ways. We (the RIC Executive Committee) thank all the Congregations very much!
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