Volunteering in El Salvador: No Act is Too Small
Myles McCormick is a volunteer intern on the 3rd month of a one year learning and work placement in El Salvador. Myles works with World Accord’s partner, ADCASMUS, supporting income generation and educational projects. His placement is a joint collaboration with the World Service Corps. Myles writes periodic blog entries and tweets for World Accord’s website
Who Myles Works With
ADCASMUS is a small non-government organization that offers support to small and overlooked communities. Communities that have been marginalized either intentionally at the government level (such as Tehuicho, denied paved roads), or merely unnoticed (Valle Dorado).
With very little, they have truly accomplished much. I am constantly surprised at how industrious the family and staff are here at ADCASMUS. They understand how to empower their fellow Salvadorans, are always looking to augment current projects with new information, and experiences (even setbacks) that they gain in the field always facilitate a more complete comprehension of the situations in which people are struggling to succeed. This is what makes the grassroots level social advocacy groups so effective. This is an organization of Salvadorans cooperating with other Salvadorans. Together they are: living along side one another; breathing the same air; sharing the same history; suffering the same losses and setbacks; cheering for the success of their neighbors; and even celebrating each other’s achievements.
When ADCASMUS collaborates with other Salvadorans they are lifting the country itself out of the option-less situation in which so many find themselves. ADCASMUS has a deep, personal connection that keeps their programs productive and sustainable; yet at the same time, affecting and being affected by the lives at the center of all their work. The way I see it, when we support ADCASMUS, we are supporting El Salvador, and we are supporting responsible, sustainable solutions to injustices. No act of reconciling injustices is too small.
ADCASMUS is active in three areas:
Micro-credit and Income Generation: Participants take out loans for agricultural inputs for programs that either complement income, diversify diets or both. Projects include organic fertilizer, vegetable gardens (hydroponic and in-home), baby chicks and baby pigs to raise, and the housings for animals such as chickens and pigs. For each input in which a participant has little or no experience, ADCASMUS offers training and monthly visits to ensure health of its investments.
Educational and Youth Programmes: ADCASMUS has a small library. The programme centre holds tutoring sessions, in the mornings and the afternoons, where students from neighbouring communities are encouraged to come during the school week. Studying at the centre is a preferable because it is free from the overcrowded and disruptive atmosphere in the schools and their homes. It is also a safe place in a country where security is an issue. Students are also encouraged to try their hand at art and crafts projects, such as bracelet making, basket or bag weaving or simple farming techniques. On Saturdays, the ADCASMUS staff hosts drawing and painting classes to keep the active minds engaged on the weekends as well. The centre also works what little land is available to grow organic fruits and vegetables that help feed volunteers and children during the week.
Environmental Protection: ADCASMUS staff volunteer time outside work hours to support the Lead-free Movement (Movimiento sin Plomo), a group representing a community contaminated by lead from a nearby battery recycling and manufacturing plant. The Movimieto is fighting for government support and clean up of the lead contamination that is 100 times higher than the maximum limit permitted by law in some cases. Thanks to their years of work, the Salvadoran government recently declared an “Environmental State of Emergency” for the area within a 1,500 kilometer radius of the closed battery plant.
