Feb
CRIPDES Regional Support, Get Involved, Sister Cities
Dos Hermanas Volunteering in Suchitoto for CRIPDES-PROGRESO, Feb 2010
Since October 2009, there have been two volunteers from Lawrence, Kansas living in El Papaturro, Suchitoto, and working in the PROGRESO office. PROGRESO is a branch of CRIPDES working with 25 rural communities in the Suchitoto region. These sisters of solidarity, Jennifer Kongs and Sally Birmingham, will be in El Salvador until the end of March.
The first full year of Funes’ presidency also brings a new PROGRESO directive, who began their work this January. Like many directives in El Salvador, the members are voted in to serve a term of 2 years. The PROGRESO office is using this opportunity to re-vamp some of their projects in the region with renewed energy, as well as continue with projects that have been working so well in years past. Sally and Jennifer have been accompanying PROGRESO in their work, which includes the organization of a youth economic project for 13 communities, work in the No Violence Towards Women, work on AIDS and health promotion, and collaboration with other organizations, including CORDES, the mayor´s office and other organizations in the Cabañas-Cuscatlan microregion project.
Faces of the prior PROGRESO directive are still visible, as the girls have already seen each previous member either visiting in the office or working with other organizations or institutions. For example a hello visit from Lorenza, lunch with Fernando and a discussion with Pedro about his work in the Suchitoto mayor´s office. These visits show that roots run deep and the connections never end in El Salvador organizing. The volunteers have been proud to be a part of this work.
