Haiti’s national government has formally recognized OPODNE as a legitimate organization capable of undertaking improvement projects in the Northeast District. This recognition triggered a series of meetings with mayors from Capotille, Onenemithe and Phaeton, along with various NGOs seeking partners…
COFOA leaders in Guatemala are organizing a campaign to prevent crime and reduce violence in the City of Pastores. In coordination with local officials and central government ministries, a series of activities – public messaging through banners, posters, fliers; installation…
COFOA leaders from Barahona, El Salvador, have worked tirelessly to get their road upgraded to minimize danger during seasons of flooding. They recently met with Gerson Martinez, Minister of Public Works, to secure a solution to their problem. In that…
On November 22, 2013, leaders of COFOA from the La Paz Dept. of El Salvador organized a first-ever Presidential Forum that attracted over 1,000 people and was attended by four candidates. The goal was to hear the priorities of the…
At the urging of Mumeya leaders, Sano James, Director General for Ministry of Energy, Water and Resources, approved funding to bring water to the Mumeya clinic and surrounding villages. People from the five villages surrounding Mumeya have pledged labor and…
Nyange leaders, mostly women, have cleared the land, made bricks, and baked roofing tiles for construction of a new home for one of Nyange’s poorest villagers, Dorosela. She is a widowed member of the group who suffers from HIV/AIDS. Because…
Fr. John Baumann, PICO Founder, and Ron Snyder, Director of International Organizing, conducted a five day site visit with clergy and leaders who are building the PICO effort in Haiti. Leaders from Organisation Peuple Œcuménique du Nord-Est (OPODNE) Local Organizing…
At the invitation of Regina Pacis’ Fr. Conselateur and with leadership training by PICO-Rwanda, very poor women in Kigali have organized for self-employment through a co-op. Cooperative Abanyamugisha (which means blessed ones) is an organization of 110 women who have…
Ron Snyder and John Bauman visited PICO-Rwanda for two weeks in July. They were astonished at what Mumeya leaders continue to accomplish. Here’s what they saw: “Mumeya was incredible. The hospital is twice the size it was last time we…
This May, fifty COFOA leaders completed a six month training program on the social doctrine of the church, moral values and PICO community organizing. The seminar is designed to strengthen the foundation for leaders’ work in each COFOA member congregation…
