Sixty-six grassroots leaders from Communities of Faith Organizing for Action (COFOA) in Las Brisas del Paraíso, El Salvador, met with Gilberto Mejia, an engineer from the national electricity…
2017 COFOA HIGHLIGHTS
COFOA also celebrates 10 years of work. The people of El Salvador continue to struggle with the legacy of war – violence, extortion, and fear. Political polarization results in continued repression, patronage, and corruption. Many people respond by hiding or fleeing. COFOA leaders are choosing another path – organizing to build a culture and practice where people are determining their own priorities, seeking partnership, and holding officials accountable to the common good.
Violence and environmental degradation are overwhelming issues impacting the daily life of every Salvadoran. While building effective local models for violence prevention and access to safe water, leaders realize they do not yet have the power to make needed national change. COFOA’s goal in 2018 is to expand into additional departments and work in collaboration with other faith groups to exercise power and impact presidential elections and secure a national water law.