Our trip to Central America has given US organizers a lot of time to connect with Central American leaders who organize in their communities. The deep level of ownership we have seen leaders live out in their local organizations of…
Eight PICO USA staff and leaders shared an intensive two-week immersion in PICO Central America’s work in Guatemala and El Salvador from August 2-16, 2012. They met with leaders, church representatives (including bishops in both countries) and public officials, and…
PICO-Rwanda leaders are working on the final set of rooms to complete the health center, after gaining government funding earlier this year. Over 20 Mumeya residents are employed to complete construction, working alongside professional builders and gaining skills which will…
Can you reconcile an entire country in which an unimaginable bloodbath took place? Live again with a neighbor, even when he has killed someone and was not sent to prison? Rwanda shows that you can. Although reconciliation is in fact…
I appreciate the opportunity given to me to share my experiences and challenges, first as a woman and second as a COFOA leader in ongoing training. In Guatemala, just being a woman is a challenge. Culturally we are raised to…
Martha Gomez Vda. Batres is COFOA’s coordinator at St. Peter Catholic church in San Pedro Nonualco, a small farming community of about 7000 people. Martha, who is 52 years old, is a widow who has taught kindergarten for the last…
We have an exciting agenda for this trip, including time with PICO Central America staff and leaders in both El Salvador and Guatemala, as well as some R&R/sightseeing time! You will have a chance to hear from leaders about their…
Fatima Martinez is 18 years old and one of COFOA’s younger leaders, active in St. Peter’s Catholic church COFOA ministry in San Pedro Nonualco. She is one of COFOA’s key leaders in the United Neighbors, Safe Community campaign in her…
Polina Usabyeneza is an experienced PICO Rwanda leader from Mumeya. Polina visited Nyange and offered testimony about her experience with community organizing in Mumeya: “I was born in 1978 in Mumeya, and I grew up without a clinic, a school…
Octavio Polio has served as a parishioner and leader in the San Luis Rey de Fracia parish social ministry, San Luis Talpa, for years. Now he is working with COFOA, and he played a key role at their candidate’s forum…
