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.”

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. They gathered many of the 260 families in the community for an assembly to learn about the approach. Residents formed a leadership team and reached out to every family in the community. They heard many concerns, but the need for a local school was powerful, and the community affirmed this priority at a second community assembly.

The COFOA leaders from Santa Isabel were unable to secure resources for a school from the Salvadoran Ministry of Education. So they worked with their Mayor, to approach the German Embassy. Though a series of meetings COFOA leaders were able to negotiate commitments from the Embassy and the local government to build the school, which will be operated by the government. Key to success was the commitment by community members to help with construction.

All told, the German Embassy donated $25,000 for materials; a construction management company $6,000; 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