Introducing Our Newest Volunteer, Rachel

Hi, I’m Rachel. This summer, I have been presented with the great opportunity of volunteering with US-El Salvador Sister Cities. I am in El Salvador to improve my Spanish and am currently enrolled in the Zulma Tobar School for Students Who Can’t Speak Spanish Good. Language aside, I am interested in the importance of solidarity, the history of displacement, and the impacts of US immigration policy (but most importantly, how delicious pupusas are, or so I’m told). Here, I will spend time in the office learning from co-directors, Zulma and Mario, about development work and solidarity before spending time with various committees in rural communities. I am honored to be granted insights into the Salvadoran reality and look forward to all of the experiences I will have the next four weeks in San Salvador and surrounding communities.

My trip has been made possible with the help and guidance of Molly Todd, a National Member of USESSC and professor at Montana State University. Her research on the Salvadoran civil war and refugee crisis sparked my interest in displacement and immigration.

With funding from the university, I will research the history of Salvadoran civil war refugees alongside Molly and another student in Bozeman and El Salvador in the upcoming academic year.

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