Quaker Projects in El Salvador continued

THE PROJECTS TODAY
Now that Carmen has retired, the projects are ably administered by Robert Broz, Carmen’s son living in El Salvador, and a local committee of community leaders.

STUDENT LOANS
In the student loan program, the college-bound student pledges to either return services to the community or help pay another student’s way. $1,000 to $1,500 pays most of the expenses of one college student for one year: amazing, when you think about it.

College lasts from two years for technical training to as much as eight years for a medical student. Robert Broz has wonderful rapport with the students. He inspires them to perserve, and the retention rate is high.

As more students qualify, more sponsors are needed.

OTHER EDUCATION PROJECTS

STOVE WORKSHOPS
"Rocket" cooking stoves that burn a fraction of the wood of traditional ones are easy and inexpensive to make. Robert has organized several how-to workshops, and the idea is spreading. They reduce deforestation in a country that has lost all but 5% of its forests. They emit almost no smoke, and will alleviate the high rate of asthma.

ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE
The Projects have partnered with others to bring AVP (Alternatives to Violence) workshops to Suchitoto, the town where Robert lives. AVP’s a peaceable alternatives are needed because: The war long is over, but political violence has not gone away. Crime rates are high. Spousal abuse is high.

CRAFTS FOR ELDERS
Bren Darrow, a summer volunteer, helped a community to start a program for elders. Young people provide a periodic get-together for them. They learn to make crafts to sell and be more self-sufficient.

The idea has spread to other communities.

FOR THE VERY YOUNG
Visitors have brought preschool learning materials. When we Palo Altans brought childrens’ books in Spanish, we discovered that they had never seen colorful books to be read just for fun!

EYEGLASSES
Several adults who were reading the childrens' books were squinting at the print. Then, we realized the need for reading glasses for people over 40, and have sent many used pairs to the communities. This has been important to the crafts program, especially sewing.

TEACHING OURSELVES
Teens have traveled to El Salvador three times. The Teen Trips were ably organized by educator Barbara Babin. Most, but not all, were young Friends. They were very moved by what they saw, the friends they made, and the work projects that they participated in. “So this is the way most of the world lives!”

They have brought a fresh view of the Salvadorans and our projects back to their home meetings and Pacific Yearly Meeting.

The plan is to do another in 2011. Contact Barbara Babin, b_babin@yahoo.com