El Salvador: A new school opens in Santa Isabel

 “I want to tell you that I’m grateful to God and grateful to all the people who supported this project. I have five children here who are studying, so it’s a joy for me because they have the blessing of being able to attend this new school.” – Blanca Carias, COFOA leader

On March 26, Blanca and other COFOA leaders were joined by Mayor Zavaleta, German embassy representative Lena Schwarm, School Director Maribel Ruiz and one hundred twenty-eight community members, students, teachers, and allies to celebrate the ribbon cutting for their new school center. The school had been a dream for the community since 1999. Now it is a reality that will serve more than 90 boys and girls in the small community of Santa Isabel called home by 260 families in Sonsonate Department.

The effort was made possible through a year-long organizing effort by COFOA leaders who brought together a broad partnership to complete the construction of the school valued at $74,750.  But the greater value is the investment in the children of Santa Isabel. In the words of the school director, Maribel Ayala, “more than anything, we are happy today for the children who will have their school.” … it is project where COFOA helped us coordinate and organize our thoughts so that we can be leaders.

After the ribbon cutting, COFOA leaders proudly shared the story of their work with members of the Faith in Action Board of Directors who were in El Salvador to observe, learn and encourage the powerful work of grassroots organizing in the United States and the twelve other countries that form the Faith in Action global network.

This story of organizing in Santa Isabel emerged in much the same way it has in the 161 other COFOA organized communities in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.

Local community leaders in Santa Isabel learned about COFOA from friends in a neighboring community and gathered many of the 260 families in a community assembly to learn about the methodology of building a local organization. After committing to the process, the leadership team reached out to every family in the community and heard many concerns, but the need for a local school was powerful, and the community affirmed this as their priority through a second community assembly that created a research team to find resources needed.

After visiting the local mayor, COFOA leaders learned that, while engaging the Salvadoran Ministry of Education would be the normal channel, because money was so difficult to access from the national government, a better method might be to approach the German Embassy that was financing other projects in the Sonsonate Department. Though a series of meetings COFOA leaders were able to negotiate commitments from the various partners. Key to success was the commitment by the community itself to provide volunteer labor for construction.

The German Embassy donated $25,000 for materials; the construction management company $6000; the Sensuanapan hydroelectric company provided two masons for six months at $10,000; the community contributed labor for four months at $20,250; and the Mayor’s Office provided a crew of 15 workers for two months at $13,500. The Director of the School got state approval for the construction.

“As the representative of the German Embassy, I am pleased that we have created these connections with COFOA because we know that, as a donor, we provide financial support in many projects, but we are not on the ground and do not know the communities. It is important to have connections with people on the ground, who has the information, and who know the communities” – Lena Schwarm, German Embassy Community Coordinator