Faith in Action International delegation travels to Central America for learning exchange

“I am deeply moved by the stories shared by the leaders in El Salvador. I think we are ready to begin this work in Guadalajara Mexico.” – Fr. Joel Sanchez, Social Pastoral Ministry

Fr. Joel and seventeen other leaders from Mexico, Africa and the United States joined ninety COFOA staff and leaders from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to build solidarity and share learning on how they are putting their faith into action to address critical issues for their families.

Each leader came with their own needs and expectations. COFOA leaders came to strengthen their faith, political understanding and organizing skills in their fight for water, schools, roads, health clinics and land rights. Delegates from Mexico came to learn what is needed to start a new organizing effort in Guadelajara. Colin Gertze from Namibia came to learn the practice of building effective leadership teams. Delegates from Faith in Action affiliates in the California, New Jersey, and New York came to build their base in diaspora communities and develop strategies to address the root causes off migration. Everyone left with inspiration, new tools and a commitment to action.

After a deeply moving visit to the Bishop Romero Center and Jesuit Martyrs Museum  at the Jesuit University of America, the delegation engaged an informative exchange about the social political history and situation in El Salvador. Through meetings in El Trébol and El Paisnal communities, we heard the moving testimony of COFOA leaders and how they used organizing to secure garbage collection and electric service for their families. Following these activities and an exchange with COFOA staff and board members, we joined 90 COFOA leaders for a three day, deep-dive into the disciplined method of community organizing being utilized in Central America.

There we learned, through teaching and practice, how the disciplined use of 1-1 listening campaigns, house meetings and community assemblies builds community consensus and commitment; how research meetings with mayors and other officials exposes leaders to the use of their own political power; why collective; community action is needed to secure concrete improvements for families; and how personal and collective reflection at every step in the process strengthens our faith, ownership and the skills needed to move to the next local issue and join others in larger arenas of power.

In the evaluation at the end of the week, the delegation shared some powerful take-aways, including the deep ownership by leaders that organizing is their work, not a service or program provided by others. Faith values not only inform organizing, organizing is a powerful way to express our faith values. Grassroots organizing gives democracy a chance to succeed, even in increasingly autocratic countries.

Stay tuned for the next Faith in Action Learning Exchange opportunity