EL SALVADOR

Dates: Monday, May 24 - Thursday, June 3, 2010 (this includes a one-day retreat prior to departure)

Cost: $1400.00 - Plus cost of passport (if participant does not have one), immunizations, and spending money for souvenirs

Immersion Site:
El Salvador borders the Pacific Ocean between Guatemala and Honduras. With a population of approximately 5.8 million people, it is the most densely populated nation in Central America and is undergoing rapid industrialization. The income of an average Salvadoran household is $5800 and underemployment is a significant problem.

El Salvador has a complex history of civil war (1977-1992) which pitted the right wing military government against the FLMN, a coalition of 4 leftist and one Communist guerilla group. The Catholic Church found itself caught in the middle, but under Archbishop Oscar Romero, the position was taken of criticizing the government and advocating for the poor. As a result Romero and numerous other church leaders were assasinated by the Salvadoran military which was supported by the United States. These events have permanently shaped the psyche of El Salvador and it is impossible to visit without feeling the impact they have made.

Community Partner:
We will be traveling to the small village of Chiltiupan which is about 2 hours by car from the capital city of San Salvador.  On a map, you may be able to find the costal city of La Libertad.  From La Libertatd, our destination is about 20 minutes along the coast and 20 minutes up a mountain.  Chiltiupan is home to Santo Domingo parish, a mission supported by the diocese of Cleveland.  Sr. Rose Elizabeth, an Ursuline nun from Cleveland, does pastoral work in the parish and will be our host for the week.

Service:
Our work will be to meet the people of Santo Domingo parish and the surrounding communities, to form relationships with them and learn about their lives, and to assist them in any way possible.  We will participate in a variety of activities which may include working with school children, visiting people in their homes, and doing construction or renovation work. Another important part of the the trip will include visiting the sites where Oscar Romero lived, the Universidad Centroamericana where the Jesuit priests were killed, and the site where the four church women were killed.

Accommodations:
During our stay in Chiltiupan, members of the community will be opening their homes to our group and we look forward to this interaction with the Salvadoran people. The food will be simple and you will have the opportunity to enjoy local dishes. For a portion of the trip we will be staying in a hotel in La Libertad which offers better access to San Salvador as well as beautiful ocean views.