Pictures of El Salvador

Solar Panels bringing electricity to the poor in El Salvador

This is from Tim's Blog. Good example showing how local solutions can make a difference to the poor of El Salvador.

Sixty Days of Protest in Honduras

This is from Rights Action. It features a video from Real News on the state of resistance in Honduras 60 days after the coup.

The National Public Radio website has a photo slideshow of work by photographer Juan Carlos. His work shows a gritty side of the struggle in daily life for many in El Salvador.

This was posted on Tim's Blog
Tim's Blog is a wonderful place to pick up information on El Salvador

Partner Profiles - Development and Peace

To develop and sustain the Compadres Project you need partners. I will be featuring several of these partners over the next few days.

The first partner is Development and Peace.

Development and Peace is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis. Inspired by Gospel values, particularly "the preferential option for the poor," the goals of Development and Peace are to support initiatives by people in the Global South to take control of their lives and to educate Canadians about North-South issues. Our education, advocacy and fund-raising work here at home is carried out by Development and Peace members from coast to coast.

For more information please see http://www.devp.org/

Salvaide Fundraiser - October 22, 2009

SalvAide 12th Annual Fundraising Cocktail and AuctionTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009 Ukrainian Hall, 1000 Byron Avenue, Ottawa

Doors open at 6:30pm with Live Auction starting at 7pm Entertainment by: Esmeraldas de Colombiaand Carlos MorgadoTicket cost: 25$ before October 1535$ after that date

This year SalvAide is presenting its 12th Annual Cocktail and Auction, which has raised more than $145,000 toward the funding of projects for people in El Salvador since 1998.

Held at the Ukrainian Hall in Ottawa, the October 22nd event will feature music by Carlos Morgado, the beautiful dancing styles of the Esmeraldas de Colombia,many traditional Salvadorean treats, as well as other tasty snacks.

Laura Haylock, Executive Director of SalvAide, said the organization hopes to match or better the financial success of the event last year, its best so far.Like many development organizations, SalvAide has seen its government funding reduced in recent years, making the revenues raised by the dinner and auction more crucial than ever to sustaining the group's work."The work we do has a tangible and lasting impact on particularly the most vulnerable people of El Salvador," said Haylock. "SalvAide hopes to create a second phase of its very successful School of Leadership program for rural youth, among other projects in the country," she said.

Over the years the event has become a mainstay of the October social calendar for Ottawa's international development community. Items slated for auction this year include: fine art, travel, furniture and crafts from around the world. Revenues generated by the auction will go to SalvAide's leadership programs for rural youth in El Salvador.

Over the past 20 years, SalvAide has supported work to improve the health services and financial self-sufficiency of Salvadorans, as well as projects to build civil society and community infrastructure. Among the initiatives in which it has been involved are agricultural livestock projects, supporting the operation of daycares and schools, setting up community stores and establishing medical and legal aid clinics. As well, SalvAide has fostered lasting relationships through its twinning of Canadian municipalities with rural communities in El Salvador.

Tickets for this year's event are $25.00 in advance (before October 15) or $35 after that date. The Ukrainian Hall is located at 1000 Byron Avenue. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the live auction at 7:00 p.m.For further information please phone 613-233-6215 or Email: salvaide@web.net

Join us in 2010!

Join COMPADRES in El SalvadorSummer 2010Collective of Ontario Teachers Moving for Peace, Action, Development, and Relationship in El Salvador.

Unite with us for the third trip in forging sustainable links between Ontario Teachers and communities in El Salvador

Why?

“Because there is nothing more genuine and honest than being involved in communities taking charge of their own lives.” Maureen Bourke, Gr 12 religion teacher, Holy Trinity H.S.

“Because it’s a total rush seeing that social justice and economic sustainability is about survival and not just trendy catchphrases.” Wayne Ng, social worker, Student Services

Because you love adventure and learning outside of the box

Because you want to learn about meaningful partnerships with grassroots development agencies such as Development and Peace, Salvaide, CRIPDES, etc..

Because your sense of social justice and analysis of the critical issues affecting people in the North and the South mattersBecause you want to witness El Salvadoran social movements as…

Communities attempting to protect their own land from Canadian mining ventures

• Workers defending their rights in maquila and agro-export plantations


• Farmers collectivizing over the impact of biotechnology on food security


• Peasants (campesinos) struggling to recuperate land


• Women struggling to fully participate in their society

Because you want to apply such experiences to the social teachings of the Church

Tentative dates: First week in July (depends on flight availability)

Time commitment: 1 pre-trip

orientation session, 1 formation day held in Ottawa

Length of trip and approximate costs: 12 days, $2200.00, all inclusive

Find out more: Paul McGuire, 613-224-8833, paul.mcguire@ottawacatholicschools.ca

Join us on Facebook – go to ‘groups’ and type in Compadres

2009 trip a great success

Hi everyone

This year´s trip has gone extremely well. We have a much better idea on what partnership looks like and we will soon be planning for next year´s trip. We have a new t-shirt design and we are planning on making the shirts in El Salvador. Good idea to sign on to the mailing list for 2010 trip, I will be preparing a detailed information sheet on the next step in the project.

July 2009 Schedule

DELEGATION OF Ontario Teachers - COMPADRES 2 – 14 July 2009.

Day One: Thursday, July 2 Pick up at the airport transport to guest house Pueblo y Pueblo.Flight Arrival: 7:45 PM approxOrientation meeting with Miguel Mejia.

Day Two: Friday, July 3 9 AM. CRIPDES. Meeting Lorena Martinez and Hugo Flores from CRIPDES/CORDES Visit the Romero Museum at the UCA Lunch at the National University

Afternoon: Meeting with Equipo MAIZ. Equipo Maíz : Denyse Brunet, Director equipomaiz@integra.com.sv T-shirts and posters and music available at their store.

Day Three: Saturday, July 4 Drive to Playa del Sol - beach

Day Four: Sunday, July 5 Mass in Mehicanos neighborhood at San Francisco church. Visit to Divine Providence church were Monsenor Romero was killed. Visit the memorial to civilian victims of the military repression and the war. Parque Cuscatlan.

Day Five: Monday, July 6 8 AM. Drive out to San Vicente province to the Lower Lempa river region. 10 AM. Meeting with Mauricio Orellana Regional Cordinator for CORDES in that region. He will give us a tour of all the administration facilities and the rest of business initiatives they have there, at the Solidarity Plaza. Visit to Heros de la Sabana museum. Lunch at their Restaurant Chinchontepec at the same Plaza. In the afternoon visit the Cashew tree project

Day Six: Tuesday, July 7 10 AM. Visit the school in the El Pacun Community or another one that CRIPDES suggests in the zone. Lunch.In the afternoon meeting with youth and students.Return to Hostel.

Day Seven: Wednesday, July 8 10:15 Meeting with teachers and principals. 12:00 Lunch, boat ride on the Lempa River to the sea

Day Eight: Thursday, July 9 10 AM. Drive out to Chalatenango Province to get to San Jose Las Flores community. It is a three and a half hours drive.Lunch at the community restaurant set up by the women of the community.We will rest a little in the Pastoral Center where we will stay for two nights.

3 P.M. Meeting with the community Directorate where they will speak to us about the history of the community and its development and their present struggle against the Canadian mining companies. Visit around the community projects such as: a bakery, seamstresses, etc.Dinner and time for rest.

Day Nine: Friday, July 10 7:30 AM. Breakfast Visit the community school and meet with some of the teachers and students there.We will also visit the Local High School where we will meet the students and teachers. 12: P.M. Lunch. AfternoonVisit to the local swimming pool, and the famous Sumpul River, so bring your bathing suits.

Day Ten: Saturday, July 117: 30 AM. Breakfast10 AM. Leave for San Salvador and we will stop at Chalatenango City for some handicrafts sold by local artisans organized by CORDES. Visit with Development and Peace partner: CDC http://www.cdc.org.sv/ : Armando Flores, director direccion@cdc.org.sv Return to the hostel

Day Eleven: Sunday, July 12 Mass at Cathedral – basement Visit Jesuit University where 6 Jesuit priests were killed in 1989. If there is time we can visit the Botanical garden.

Day Twelve: Monday, July 13 Visit UNES (http://www.unes.org.sv/) : Mauricio Sermeño, director mauricio.sermeno@unes.org.s AMFUNPROCOOP (http://www.funprocoop.org/index.php) : Mauricio Vanegas, director fpcsal@integra.com.sv PM

Day Thirteen: Tuesday, July 14 Delegation evaluationParticipants depart for various locations

Compadres Project

COMPADRES stands for Collective of Ontario teachers moving for peace, action, development and relationships in El SalvadorIt is a 12 day educational program for educators who are interested in learning about this politically and economically complex and beautiful country. Hosted by Development and Peace www.devp.org, and SalvAide www.salvaide.ca. The trip will expose participants to political, cultural, economic, and social issues -- through the eyes and voices of the people of El Salvador.