As part of the International Sistering Exchange, there will be three simultaneous delegations in El Salvador from July 17-22 leading up to the International gathering in Arcatao. The delegations will provide an opportunity for those interested in international solidarity to meet several sistered communities in El Salvador as well as folks from different organizations

While we know some may prefer to visit “their” sistered community when they come to El Salvador, these special delegations will engage participants in the bigger picture of the work of the hundreds of CRIPDES communities throughout the country. Please choose one of the following three options:

Visit communities that have been at the forefront El Salvador´s popular resistance to mining. You will learn about locally administered water systems, stay with families that voted in their municipal referendum against mining, and take a dip in the rivers that are threatened by corporate greed for gold. You will also discover how the preservation of historic memory is a part of protecting future generations against the threats of damaging trade policies and irresponsible corporations.

Sunday July 17

Arrive in El Salvador

Monday July 18

AM                   Visit the Monsignor Romero Museum of the Martyrs at the UCA

AM                   Visit the Divine Providence “hospitalito” where Monsignor Romero worked and was killed

2PM                 Conversation with David Morales, the Human Rights Ombudsman about the nation’s struggle to protect the human right to water.

5PM                 Presentation and dinner in the hotel with representatives of all the regions of CRIPDES

Tuesday July 19

8AM                Depart for Teosinte, where we will visit Teosinte’s water purification project, the organic agriculture co-op, and water committee

4PM                 Go for a swim in the Teosinte river

6PM                 Dinner and overnight stay with host families

Wednesday July 20

7AM                Breakfast in Teosinte

10AM              Conversation with CCR, CORDES, and PROVIDA in Chalatenango City, followed by lunch

2PM                 Visit Radio Sumpul in Guarjila

3PM                 Visit San Jose Las Flores, meet with community leaders about community organizing

6PM                 Dinner and overnight stay in San Jose Las Flores

Thursday July 21

9AM                Visit Rio Sumpul and local museum in San Jose Las Flores

11AM              Leave for lunch with host families in Nueva Trinidad

2PM                 Forum with the community councils, town councils, and mayors who have facilitated Mining Referendums in their municipalities

4PM                 Walk through the community of Nueva Trinidad to see areas that would be affected by mining projects, as well as other initiatives in the community

6PM                 Dinner and overnight stay with host families in Nueva Trinidad

Friday July 22

AM                   Breakfast in Nueva Trinidad with Host Families

                          Depart for Arcatao, visit a swimming hole in El Bario on the way

Friday July 22 – Sunday July 24 will be spent in Arcatao in the International Solidarity and Sistering Gathering

Monday July 25

8AM                Press Conference at the CRIPDES office in San Salvador, then depart for USA!

Climate change is a fact of life for all Salvadorans, and especially for the farmers who make up 21% of the country’s labor force. Increasing natural disasters and unpredictable weather patterns coupled with damaging agricultural practices imposed by transnational corporations make El Salvador one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. Meet with the farmers in the Bajo Lempa and La Libertad whose lives are being threatened by toxic agrochemicals used to grow sugar cane and other cash crops, and learn about the alternatives that are already being put in practice to prepare for climate change and challenge the destructive practices of global mega-capitalists like Monsanto.

Monday July 18

AM                   Visit the Monsignor Romero Museum of the Martyrs at the UCA

AM                   Visit the Divine Providence “hospitalito” where Monsignor Romero worked and was killed

2PM                 Conversation with coordinators of the National Roundtable on Food Sovereignty about some of the most pressing difficulties and most impressive initiatives related to food sovereignty in El Salvador

5PM                 Presentation and dinner in the hotel with representatives of all the regions of CRIPDES

Tuesday July 19

8AM                Depart for San Vicente

10AM              Conversation with CRIPDES San Vicente and CORDES, followed by lunch

1PM                 Meeting with FundAzucar, the foundation created by the sugar producers

2PM                 Depart for the community of Las Anonas to meet with community leaders about their analysis of and response to climate change and monoculture of sugar cane

6PM                 Dinner and overnight stay with host families in Las Anonas

Wednesday July 20

7AM                Breakfast in Las Anonas, then depart for the Island of Monte Cristo, a tangle of mangroves where the great Lempa River opens out into the Pacific Oceans, to learn about one of the most delicate and crucial ecosystems in the country, and what folks who live there are doing to protect their environment. Lunch by the water

1PM                 Depart for La Libertad, making a stop at APRAINORES, the organic cashew processing factory sourced by coastal communities in San Vicente

3PM                 Conversation with CRIPDES SUR and CORDES

5PM                 Welcome in Chilama, followed by an evening of cultural events (pupusas and baile!!!)

                          Stay overnight with host families in Chilama 1 and Chilama 2

Thursday July 21

8AM                Visit the Organic Kitchen Gardens that are part of the CRIPDES / Sister Cities / SHARE project promoting food sovereignty

11AM              Head out to the Walter Thilo Deininger Park for lunch, a presentation about sugar cane and organic agriculture, and a walk through the pristine preserved area

4PM                 Go to the community of El Charcon, official welcome by community members

PM                   Dinner and overnight stay with host families in El Charcon

Friday July 22

7AM                Breakfast on the beach, then depart for Arcatao, stopping for lunch on the way at UCRES

Friday July 22 – Sunday July 24 will be spent in Arcatao in the International Solidarity and Sistering Gathering

Monday July 25

8AM      Press Conference at the CRIPDES office in San Salvador, then depart for USA!

Get inspired by the twenty-somethings of organized communities in Suchitoto and Cinquera who have their own ideas about confronting structural violence and sustainable development in their communities and country. Youth are the population most vulnerable to the delinquency that has become increasingly dangerous throughout El Salvador over the past 10 years, but they are also the ones who offer real solutions. See how scholarship programs, ecology projects, clown groups, and more can be part of the change!

Monday July 18

AM                   Visit the Monsignor Romero Museum of the Martyrs at the UCA

AM                   Visit the Divine Providence “hospitalito” where Monsignor Romero worked and was killed

2PM                 Conversation with coordinators of INJUVE, the National Institute for Youth in El Salvador, about some of the challenges and initiatives related to Salvadoran youth.

5PM                 Presentation and dinner in the hotel with representatives of all the regions of CRIPDES

Tuesday July 19

8AM                Depart for Cinquera

10AM              Welcome with scholarship students and ARDM members in Cinquera

12PM              Lunch in the Eco Forest

1PM                 Conversation with the young ladies who patrol the park about ecology and preservation

2PM                 Hike with local historical and ecological guide

5PM                 Dinner with Don Pablo and learn about the history of community organizing in Cinquera

7PM                 Cultural Presentation with the Cinquera youth committee (dance, music, comedy…)

                          Overnight stay with host families in Cinquera

Wednesday July 20

8AM                Visit San Nicolas, one of the cantones of Cinquera, and their school garden projects and other youth initiatives

12PM              Lunch by the lake in the community of Agua Caliente

2PM                 Theatre / clown presentation by the Agua Caliente youth, and presentation about their experiences with youth organizing

5PM                 Dinner with Sister Peggy and overnight stay in the Center for Art for Peace in Suchitoto

Thursday July 21

8AM                Meeting with ESARTES, a youth performing art collective based in Suchitoto

10AM              Visit the Permaculture Institute with young leaders from El Papaturro

12PM              Lunch in the community la Bermuda (also known as Marianella)

1PM                 Meet with young coordinators of the Marianella local radio station

2PM                 Visit the various youth groups in El Papaturro: Ecology, local tourism, local radio, scholarship, and all-youth community council

PM                   Dinner and overnight stay with host families in El Papaturro

Friday July 22

9AM                Visit ACOVISU, a youth-run handicrafts co-op and store in Suchitoto

10AM              Depart for Arcatao

Friday July 22 – Sunday July 24 will be spent in Arcatao in the International Solidarity and Sistering Gathering

Monday July 25

8AM                Press Conference at the CRIPDES office in San Salvador, then depart for USA!