Five weeks ago, when I arrived in El Salvador, I never imagined feeling such a connection to a place as I do now. I have been lucky enough to travel to many beautiful places in the world and privileged to have met who I did along the way. But something here is different, and it stretches far beyond the postcard scenery.
As a national volunteer I admire and thank the UK volunteers because they are adapting to a lifestyle that is very difficult for them and a complete change to what they are used to. They are adapting to very difficult things, as well as the work which is very hard. It is difficult being so far away from your family. They have risked coming to our country to support a nation which needs a lot of international help to overcome, bit by bit, the problems it faces, such as those concerning the environment.
Progressio has been working on gender in El Salvador for several years. To celebrate International Women’s Day, Progressio’s El Salvador Country Representative, Carmen Medina, talks to us about being a woman in El Salvador.
What would you say are the main challenges facing women at present in El Salvador?
Gender violence and the feminisation of poverty.
How is gender inequality visible in El Salvador?
Rhiannon Clapham travelled to El Salvador in July 2014 for her International Citizen Service with Progressio. Here, she shares the story of the inspirational lady who hosted her.
The rural community of Santa Marta in El Salvador was almost destroyed by civil war. The lady who hosted us – our abuela – had suffered more than most. At 67, she had lived through 12 years of war, become a refugee, and lost her husband, parents, brothers and two of her children. She now raises her grandson singlehandedly after his father migrated to the United States 15 years ago.
With our art and work, with our sweat and passion for what we do. We will show to the world that only together as colleagues, friends, brothers, and sisters; we are able to make changes in the world. Organised, we can make a difference for our beloved land that gives us all without expecting anything in return.
Before we reached our destination we were still unsure at what we would find. We were aware that we would be working in the environmental field in the community of Santa Marta but knew nothing more about the community that would be home for 3 months. So, even though we had been prepared to be ready for practically anything, there were still many things about El Salvador that impressed us at first impact.
First of all, we were pleasantly surprised by how friendly and open the people were.
To show London a unique insight into the women’s rights movement in El Salvador, an ICS volunteer has opened the doors to a collection of work inspired by her time volunteering with Progressio.
On a three month volunteering placement in the smallest country in Central America - El Salvador, I stayed in a messy, green village called Santa Marta in the rural north. There on a lazy Saturday morning on placement I wrote on my thoughts, my surroundings, on the birds and banana plants and on lives here - specifically the lives of the youth I was working with. The programme we were involved with (Progressio ICS) sends groups of British volunteers to work alongside national volunteers of the same age, on issues of sustainable development put forward by the community.
The Committee Association Against AIDS (Cocosi) is a group of young people working to provide information to young people and adults in the prevention of HIV and AIDS. They are also aiming to create a change of attitude in people to achieve gender equality, and respect of sexual and reproductive rights.
One of the main objectives of Cocosi is to contribute to the reduction of violence based on gender. It also wants to create an environment free of discrimination against people living with HIV and the LGBTI group (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex).
Firstly I must confess that prior to my arrival I knew little of the small Latin American country known as El Salvador. I could no more point out its existence on a map than regale you with facts about the country´s rich history and culture. Since landing here, however, I have learnt so much and have come to love and respect the country and community I am calling home for these ten short weeks.
