El Salvador Interest Group (ESIG)
Mission Statement:
As children of God, we seek to grow in faith an in union with Jesus Christ and with one another. Through ecumenical outreach, education, and action we seek to accompany the people of El Salvador in building and sustaining a nation of peace and justice. We endeavor to support the people of Comunidad Segundo Montes, in particular, in rebuilding and sustaining their community. By developing intentional relationships between the community of St. Peter’s and the community of Comunidad Segundo Montes, we hope to raise the awareness of our parish and the people of Charlotte about El Salvador and its connection with the United States.
Here's What's Happening...
Meeting Schedule:
ESIG meets the third Sunday of the month at 10:00 AM. Check the parish bulletin for location.
Steering committee members:
Goals:
* To stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Comunidad Segundo Montes.
* To send delegations to El Salvador arranged by Voices on the Border.
* To support the pastoral team in Comunidad Segundo Montes.
* To educate ourselves and the parish on the issues of El Salvador.
* To instill awareness of El Salvador and other third world country farmers through the sale
of Fair Trade products (Buying Fair Trade enables families to support themselves)
* To arrange fundraising events to support the activities and needs of our partners in
Comunidad Segundo Montes and to help with delegations.
About "Voices on the Border" (VOTB)
February 2011 VOTB Update
Voices on the Border (Voices) is a non-profit, grassroots network of individuals and organizations promoting just and equitable development in the departments of Usulutan and Morazan in El Salvador. St. Peter's has been a US Partner community with VOICES since 1990.
Voices began its work in 1987 as a project of accompaniment with over 10,000 Salvadoran refugees in Colomoncagua, Honduras and in other refugee camps during the Civil War that ravaged the country from 1980 to 1992. In 1989 and 1990, Voices accompanied these refugees as they returned to El Salvador. Upon their return, many refugees founded Comunidad Segundo Montes, in the northern department of Morazan, while others moved to the Lover Lempa region of Usulutan.
Voices on the Border - Roddy Hughes, Director (our US connection to El Salvador)
Rosie Ramsey, Staff in El Salvador
Jessie Reilly, Volunteer in Ciudad Segundo Montes
Please visit their website at www.votb.org.
Want to learn more??
About the ESIG and Upcoming Delegations to El Salvador??
Please contact one of the Steering Committee members, or join us on the third Sunday of the month at 10:00am.
About El Salvador in general??
The Steering Committee recommends the following:
The CIA World Factbook
(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html) The site has facts, facts, and more facts about El Salvador (and every other country in the world for that matter!!).
Wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Salvador) El Salvador as only Wikipedia can!! It's got history, politics, departments ("states") and municipalities, geography, economy, demographics, culture, and education -- and plenty of pictures to boot.
Tim Muth's El Salvador Blog
(http://luterano.blogspot.com/) He has a great book, movie, and blog list, if you want to read or watch more about El Salvador.
Photos from El Salvador
(http://www.travelpod.com/photos/0/El%20Salvador.html) People who have visited El Salvador have uploaded their photos. TONS of pictures!!!! See what you're missing!
