Victory! Road Construction Under Way in El Carmen

Rural roads, sometimes impassable during the rainy season, are now being repaired due to public pressure by the farmers trained and organized by COFOA at the invitation of the El Carmen’s Anglican Church in El Salvador. Negotiations with the mayor’s office and the Ministry of Public Works, along with contributions of paving materials from the community, led to this victory.

Stage two will see the construction of a bridge across the Roldan River that will connect more than 500 families to services and increase access to national produce and livestock markets so vital to the livelihood of this isolated area. In June, leaders from several villages led a tour of the bridge site for the Ministry of Public Works and demanded an end to the years of delay for the promised construction. Public commitments were made by the Mayor, the City Council of Jaquilisco and the Minister of Public Works to complete construction by the end of 2015.

While monitoring progress, COFOA leaders are now planning to organize around additional priority issues.