Projects
Casa comunal
For my two years of service, I have been
assigned to a small farming community,
located in the country's most northwest
region. It is a charming village brought to
life by its white-washed adobe houses,
distinct culture, and expansive views of
a valley below. Perhaps the only thing
exceeding its true natural beauty is its
people; hard-working, motivated, and
unbelievably generous in spite of all the
odds that seem to be against them. With
little to no education and only the most
basic health care, the community
struggles to complete day to day tasks
but still manages to pull together for the
betterment of their lives. The people's
vision for a better community is unique,
and the village has an overabundance of manpower and ingenuity. For the past year, the
community has been working hard to bring to the town a casa comunal, a community
center. In a country where the preservation of culture is so important, a lack of a space
where cultural events can take place has a debilitating effect on a community. Weddings,
funerals, quince eras, local elections, community meetings, all communal rites of passage
that as of now, residents must export to other towns or simply forego altogether. The
people have already made remarkable headway into the project. Land for the community
center has been donated, blueprints have been drawn up, and enough community
members have offered their help in the construction that labor will virtually be free of
charge. Moreover, almost 500 dollars has already been raised through bake sales,
soccer tournaments, and movie nights, which have all been organized and executed by
the youth.
Unfortunately, this is as far as the people can come to realizing their goal before they are
stifled by the surmounting costs of building materials and a lack of in-country help.
Computers in the School
This community is extremely lucky to have a small school with grades kindergarten
through 9th grade, as most schools only have up to grade 6. However, many of these
schools lack a computer center where the children can learn how to type, do research,
and maintain a computer. This is extremely important because the only local high school,
located in a bigger town about 20 minutes away, requires that students enter with at least
a basic knowledge of computers. Families that can afford to send their children to
computer classes in this town do so, but the majority of families can not afford the
financial costs. Because of this, we are working very hard to raise money to obtain
computers for our students. We are currently working with an amazing organization called
World Computer Exchange (www.worldcomputerexchange.org) to bring up to 15
computers into the school. Each computer is used, refurbished, and sold to communities
in need at the price of 85 or 100 dollars. Fund raising has already begun completely
organized and initiated by the grade 9 students, having 'movie nights' in the school and
selling soda and popcorn. The profits have already been flowing in!
Becas
Through the help of Aid El Salvador, an NGO created by an ex peace corps volunteer, I
was able to help send 4 girls to high school. To attend high school, there are actually no
administration fees; there are, however, many other financial responsibilities that the
students have. Transportation, uniforms, books, notebooks, pens and pencils are all very
expensive. A high school student needs about 300 or 400 dollars a year, an amount that
most families could not even dream of affording.
To help with this project, visit www.aidelsalvador.org and be sure to make checks payable
to Aid El Salvador, with a memo that says Peace Corps Volunteer Emily Clyne, Santa Rita
Metapan.
Casa comunal
For my two years of service, I have been
assigned to a small farming community,
located in the country's most northwest
region. It is a charming village brought to
life by its white-washed adobe houses,
distinct culture, and expansive views of
a valley below. Perhaps the only thing
exceeding its true natural beauty is its
people; hard-working, motivated, and
unbelievably generous in spite of all the
odds that seem to be against them. With
little to no education and only the most
basic health care, the community
struggles to complete day to day tasks
but still manages to pull together for the
betterment of their lives. The people's
vision for a better community is unique,
and the village has an overabundance of manpower and ingenuity. For the past year, the
community has been working hard to bring to the town a casa comunal, a community
center. In a country where the preservation of culture is so important, a lack of a space
where cultural events can take place has a debilitating effect on a community. Weddings,
funerals, quince eras, local elections, community meetings, all communal rites of passage
that as of now, residents must export to other towns or simply forego altogether. The
people have already made remarkable headway into the project. Land for the community
center has been donated, blueprints have been drawn up, and enough community
members have offered their help in the construction that labor will virtually be free of
charge. Moreover, almost 500 dollars has already been raised through bake sales,
soccer tournaments, and movie nights, which have all been organized and executed by
the youth.
Unfortunately, this is as far as the people can come to realizing their goal before they are
stifled by the surmounting costs of building materials and a lack of in-country help.
Computers in the School
This community is extremely lucky to have a small school with grades kindergarten
through 9th grade, as most schools only have up to grade 6. However, many of these
schools lack a computer center where the children can learn how to type, do research,
and maintain a computer. This is extremely important because the only local high school,
located in a bigger town about 20 minutes away, requires that students enter with at least
a basic knowledge of computers. Families that can afford to send their children to
computer classes in this town do so, but the majority of families can not afford the
financial costs. Because of this, we are working very hard to raise money to obtain
computers for our students. We are currently working with an amazing organization called
World Computer Exchange (www.worldcomputerexchange.org) to bring up to 15
computers into the school. Each computer is used, refurbished, and sold to communities
in need at the price of 85 or 100 dollars. Fund raising has already begun completely
organized and initiated by the grade 9 students, having 'movie nights' in the school and
selling soda and popcorn. The profits have already been flowing in!
Becas
Through the help of Aid El Salvador, an NGO created by an ex peace corps volunteer, I
was able to help send 4 girls to high school. To attend high school, there are actually no
administration fees; there are, however, many other financial responsibilities that the
students have. Transportation, uniforms, books, notebooks, pens and pencils are all very
expensive. A high school student needs about 300 or 400 dollars a year, an amount that
most families could not even dream of affording.
To help with this project, visit www.aidelsalvador.org and be sure to make checks payable
to Aid El Salvador, with a memo that says Peace Corps Volunteer Emily Clyne, Santa Rita
Metapan.
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