Well it is difficult to believe we are already almost at the end of our journey. Today is our last full day in El Salvador and they are taking us to the beach. Last night we spent the evening at a very retro bar called La Luna -- a mix of new and old, decorated like the coffee houses of the 60's -- five bands playing, we stayed for three sets and had fun experiencing yet another side of the culture in this vibrant country.
Yesterday Russ and Beth were able to find the house they built three years ago and leave the family with a framed picture of all of us. The family was there, and many of the little kids, although they had grown over the three years. It was quite an emotional moment... Petrona, the grandmother we built the house for, was working. The houses we worked on were all finished now and the community was still as bustling with life as we left it.
We had a meeting yesterday to debrief some of our findings and ways we could continue to help. This has been a very rewarding experience for all of us. Miguel, the coordinator for SalvAide here in El Salvador shared his passion and devotion for his people with us over the last few weeks and it will be difficult to leave. This country will remain in our hearts and we are committed to continue to find ways to help in any way we can.
Although we won't have too much trouble leaving all the refried beans, we will miss so much from this wonderful experience.
Love to all
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Northern regions
Hello friends
Here we are back in San Salvador after an enriching three days in the mountain region. Although they told us it may be colder, it was actually the warmest yet! The scenery was majestic and we continued to learn a lot about this beautiful country.
San Jose Las Floras was one of our favorite places -- a quaint small town with so much character and energy. Although only 2000 people or so, the town congregates around the square at night and you can´t help but get caught up in the activity. This is when we wish we spoke Spanish -- our translator is always close by but somehow we feel it would be great if we could just communicate a little better.
The night before last was a famous event in the village - the day of Mary´s conception - all holidays here are Catholic holidays as 90% of the population is of that faith. A band was playing and we danced in the square with the locals. We were the talk of the town and everyone came out to watch! :)
We met with the village council and an organization working with Salvade that do much great work in the region. One middle school visited left an impression on us -- the work they do is quite amazing with the little they have to work with. We would love to be able to help one of the classes - Grade 8 equivalent whose science lab is in great need of equipment - they have microscopes only so far.
Many of the groups we have met with and visited are co-ops, many women´s co-operatives that have such inspational stories of how they formed, keep themselves occupied and sell their wares -- and yes we have purchased some of their work. The co-operative movement in El Salvador is such a driving force for the small towns and villages and a great boast for the poor here that organizations like Salvaide, Criptes and Cordes assist with.
Tomorrow morning we are going to be visiting Panchemalco and hopefully see the Petrona´s house that a small delegation from our region built in 2006 - Russ thinks he can find it amongst the hundreds in the village. It seems like this time has passed so fast and already we leave Saturday. It has been an incredible journey, one that will stay with us for a long time... the only thing we wish is to have brought recording equipment for some of the stories, the struggles and the passion for their country.
Love to all
Beth, Russ, Lori, Kendall, Anna & Robert
Here we are back in San Salvador after an enriching three days in the mountain region. Although they told us it may be colder, it was actually the warmest yet! The scenery was majestic and we continued to learn a lot about this beautiful country.
San Jose Las Floras was one of our favorite places -- a quaint small town with so much character and energy. Although only 2000 people or so, the town congregates around the square at night and you can´t help but get caught up in the activity. This is when we wish we spoke Spanish -- our translator is always close by but somehow we feel it would be great if we could just communicate a little better.
The night before last was a famous event in the village - the day of Mary´s conception - all holidays here are Catholic holidays as 90% of the population is of that faith. A band was playing and we danced in the square with the locals. We were the talk of the town and everyone came out to watch! :)
We met with the village council and an organization working with Salvade that do much great work in the region. One middle school visited left an impression on us -- the work they do is quite amazing with the little they have to work with. We would love to be able to help one of the classes - Grade 8 equivalent whose science lab is in great need of equipment - they have microscopes only so far.
Many of the groups we have met with and visited are co-ops, many women´s co-operatives that have such inspational stories of how they formed, keep themselves occupied and sell their wares -- and yes we have purchased some of their work. The co-operative movement in El Salvador is such a driving force for the small towns and villages and a great boast for the poor here that organizations like Salvaide, Criptes and Cordes assist with.
Tomorrow morning we are going to be visiting Panchemalco and hopefully see the Petrona´s house that a small delegation from our region built in 2006 - Russ thinks he can find it amongst the hundreds in the village. It seems like this time has passed so fast and already we leave Saturday. It has been an incredible journey, one that will stay with us for a long time... the only thing we wish is to have brought recording equipment for some of the stories, the struggles and the passion for their country.
Love to all
Beth, Russ, Lori, Kendall, Anna & Robert
Sunday, December 6, 2009
More adventures
Well this has been a great first week. Before leaving San Salvador, we helped sort all of the supplies that we brought as they were getting packages ready to take to all the regions affected by the recent hurricane and mud slides. They were extremely appreciative and we thank all those who donated items for this great cause.
We spent the past three days visiting and meeting with organizations and co-ops in the south of the country and it has been very interesting. A women's co-op that produces indigo dye product and embroidery, another project showed us how they farm turtle eggs and then let them out into the ocean -- and we dipped our toes in the Pacific!
Tomorrow we leave for the northern part of the country. Everyone is saying hello and sending their love!
We spent the past three days visiting and meeting with organizations and co-ops in the south of the country and it has been very interesting. A women's co-op that produces indigo dye product and embroidery, another project showed us how they farm turtle eggs and then let them out into the ocean -- and we dipped our toes in the Pacific!
Tomorrow we leave for the northern part of the country. Everyone is saying hello and sending their love!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Hello again to all
The days have passed quickly and we are having a great time and an incredible journey. We have spent the last few days in the region of Cinquera and met some of the organizations that have been involved in the SalvAide projects and it has been most inspiring! The groups have found ways to involve the youth as well -- so although they have great challenges, there does seem to be so much hope.
The team is doing well - some are tired of beans, the heat is quite overwhelming... and we are driving around in a 15 passenger van -- and the locals find it quite funny when they see a parade of ¨gringos¨walking through their towns (that is the affectionate name white people are given here).
Yesterday we climbed a small mountain... and the view from the top was worth it! Although we all found it difficult, we enjoyed seeing this forest conservation project, a place where the guerillas used to hide and plan for the reconstruction of their country. Today we visited a beautiful little town called Suchitoto and visited and chatted with a women´s cooperative where they work with indigo and embroidery and try to help women in their community sustain themselves.
Love to all back home
Beth, Russ, Lori, Kendall, Anna & Robert
The days have passed quickly and we are having a great time and an incredible journey. We have spent the last few days in the region of Cinquera and met some of the organizations that have been involved in the SalvAide projects and it has been most inspiring! The groups have found ways to involve the youth as well -- so although they have great challenges, there does seem to be so much hope.
The team is doing well - some are tired of beans, the heat is quite overwhelming... and we are driving around in a 15 passenger van -- and the locals find it quite funny when they see a parade of ¨gringos¨walking through their towns (that is the affectionate name white people are given here).
Yesterday we climbed a small mountain... and the view from the top was worth it! Although we all found it difficult, we enjoyed seeing this forest conservation project, a place where the guerillas used to hide and plan for the reconstruction of their country. Today we visited a beautiful little town called Suchitoto and visited and chatted with a women´s cooperative where they work with indigo and embroidery and try to help women in their community sustain themselves.
Love to all back home
Beth, Russ, Lori, Kendall, Anna & Robert
Monday, July 6, 2009
Our December Journey to El Salvador
Dear friends & colleagues,
We're members of a small delegation of Saint John business professionals going to El Salvador this December. Working with a Canadian not-for -profit called SalvAide, an organization bringing Canadians and Salvadorans together to foster social and economic development in El Salvador.
The team has varied interests in El Salvador and with this particular mission. To hear our stories please read our bios: Beth Kelly-Hatt, Russell Hatt, Anna Nisbet, Robert Michaud, Kendall McMenamon and Lori Weir.
One of the key elements to SalvAide's mandate is to develop Canadian awareness about the social and economic development challenges that Salvadorans face. As volunteers of SalvAide, we will connect with two grass-roots Salvadoran non-governmental sustainable development organizations with whom SalvAide has worked since 1985-- CRIPDES and CORDES. During our time in El Salvador, we will work with initiatives like Fair Trade Coffee Co-ops, Organic Cashew producers, forest conservation projects, several eco-tourism projects, a women's microcredit program, and an appropriate technology irrigation project.
I'm sending this email to you to ask for your support with a donation to SalvAide. Your contributions will support SalvAide's work to help people build a better life for themselves, their families and their communities, empowering those in need to ascend out of poverty. You can find more information at www.salvaide.ca.
Join us and become an active partner with the people of El Salvador as they strengthen their communities and build hope for the future. Cheque or money order: Saint John SalvAide c/o Aquila, PO Box 6895, Saint John, NB E2L 4S3. (Please include your full name and address for them to send your receipt) Or On-line at: http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s27589. You should be at "SalvAide screen", and then click on "Donate Now", and on the next window that opens select the "New Brunswick Eco-Development Delegation" from the drop-down list under "Fund/Designation". Charitable tax receipts will be issued automatically for donations of $10 and more. We are also accepting toys, clothes, etc to bring with us if you would like to donate any practical items like these. Please make note on all donations our delegation name: The New Brunswick Eco-development Delegation.
Thank you so much for any help you can offer. We will send stories from the trip when we return in December. Please keep us in your thoughts.
Love and thanks,
Beth & Russ
with other participants Anna, Robert, Kendall and Lori
"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share
your riches but to reveal to him his own." ~ Benjamin Disraeli
Our Delegation bios:
Russ & Beth Hatt: As some of you are aware, we have been on a few building programs with Habitat for Humanity Canada. Our first build was in El Salvador and our second in Zambia, Africa. For us, to experience the authenticity of a place, and to engage with the people and the culture is what travelling is all about. At the end of our journeys, we always found that despite all we had given, we received and brought back much more. With El Salvador being our first trip, the beauty of its people has called us back, and this time, our small delegation is going to work with a Canadian not-for -profit called SalvAide. SalvAide brings Canadians and Salvadorans together to foster social and economic development in El Salvador, and being business professionals, we hope to be able to make a meaningful contribution to the businesses we meet with as well as to bring back more understanding of the challenges they face. We look forward to travelling with this awesome team and learning all we can so we can share our experiences with you on our return.
Lori Weir and Kendall McMenamon: As entrepreneurs in management consulting and technology, we are excited to work with fellow entrepreneurs and business people in El Salvador. This will undoubtedly be a life changing experience for us both, and for those we consult and work with during this initiative. SalvAide has created a program to allow professionals like us, to help them with their mission. With lots of pre trip activity and post trip follow-up, the in-country commitment is only 2 weeks. This isn't the first trip of this nature for either of us, and it would appear we've got the seven year itch! In 2003, Lori travelled to Haiti with Healing Hands for Haiti, which focuses on improving mobility through therapy and assistive technologies. Being part of a group that delivered prosthetics and wheelchairs to grateful children, adults and seniors was a powerful experience. In 2002, Kendall travelled to Colombia and has done business in other Latin countries including Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Chile. We are excited to be travelling with such amazing people, and know that our collective experiences, knowledge, skills and passion truly will make a difference.
Anna Nisbet & Robert Michaud:
This will be our first experience working as part of a volunteer delegation, and we are thrilled to be part of such a wonderful team, and to be supporting SalvAide. Our educational background in adventure tourism had a strong focus on environmental sustainability. That, along with our experience working with local tourism operators in New Brunswick, will be beneficial while working with the many businesses throughout El Salvador. We are looking forward to helping the people and businesses of El Salvador; however we are greatly looking forward to learning from the Salvadorans, as much as they will be learning from us. We hope to continue working in partnership with SalvAide and the Salvadoran partners long after our time spent visiting their country. We also hope to bring the Salvadoran culture and business practices back home to Canada, and spread awareness of SalvAide and our experiences during our mission.
New Brunswick Eco-Development Delegation
From left to right: Beth, Russ, Kendall, Lori, Anna and Robert
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