Letters to sustainers

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April 2005

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October 2006

Dear Sustainer

We did not imagine in 1981 that we would still be here 25 years later – that we would still be needed. The war itself lasted twelve years, and the rebuilding of a true and lasting peace is taking much longer.

Our accompaniment of Salvadorans organizing for social and economic justice is as crucial today as it has ever been.

Later this month people from El Salvador and all over the United States will be gathering in Washington, DC to celebrate SHARE’s 25 years of solidarity and, more importantly, to commit to another 25 years of accompaniment.

Over the last 25 years we have had many highlights and achievements to celebrate. I remember when SHARE received the request from the Salvadoran refugees living in Mesa Grande Honduras to help them go home in 1986. We launched the GOING HOME Campaign to accompany 20,000 refugees to leave the inhumane conditions of the refugee camp.

The journey was extremely difficult because the refugees wanted to go back to their homes, though still in the middle of a war zone. These determined people, predominantly women and children, had to cross land occupied by the Honduran military, the US military, the Salvadoran military and the guerrillas. But they succeeded; they went home and rebuilt their homes and communities.

We learned there is nothing impossible to the organized people of El Salvador.

And many of you responded in solidarity. We organized hundreds of people to travel to accompany the refugees in their journey home. The network of support expanded to include churches, Salvadoran communities and people of justice all over the country. Together we raised thousands of dollars for the refugees to rebuild their homes and communities and generated pressure to hold the U.S. and Salvadoran governments accountable.

The refugees played a critical role in bringing a conclusion to the hostilities. Returning to their places of origin forced an end to the war. This also provided a crucial personal lesson to their children. As Esperanza, a former refugee stated, “we can not teach our children to be refugees, we have to teach them how to be peasants and we can not do that in the refugee camp, we have to go home now.”

SHARE contributed to ending the war with a strong national network pressuring the U.S. Congress to stop military intervention and to support a negotiated political solution to the conflict. SHARE was also instrumental in implementing the agrarian reform initiated by the Peace Accords, where some 35,000 families secured land for their families – a complex and challenging undertaking that required the experience of years of accompanying the mobilization of the people.

But this reform was only the beginning. As Inez, one of the beneficiaries, stated, “This piece of land has cost us many lives and now we need to make the best of it. I am planting corn, beans, vegetables and fruit trees. Now we need to move the democracy process forward, continue organizing the community and secure the mayors office, the deputies and one day the presidency of the country.”

The million dollar question is, are the people of El Salvador better off now than during the war? The answer is Yes and No.

Many things have improved since the war. For example, the Treasury Police that used to kill people indiscriminately is no longer in existence, and people can participate in elections and secure offices when they win, like the recent elections for mayor of San Salvador.

On the other hand, there are ten people assassinated every day, and some 700 people are leaving the country for the U.S. on a daily basis. Salvadorans are reeling from the effects of the dollarization of the economy and the implementation of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

Lower incomes are putting less food on the table, and people are desperate to survive. Political assassinations are returning, and repression is seen more often.

We are proud of SHARE’s contributions to the communities in El Salvador over the last 25 years. We continue building a new El Salvador each day, and because the resources are scarce, we do our best to maximize the output.

We are changing every year and adjusting to the new realities and needs. We are currently supporting efforts to prevent Canadian companies from mining gold in El Salvador. These companies would further destroy the environment, contaminate water sources and violate the rights of many workers. We need your help to prevent this tragedy from happening.

Furthermore, natural disasters continue to pummel the land of El Salvador. Since the Peace Accords, the Salvadoran people have suffered through Hurricane Mitch, the 2001 earthquakes and Hurricane Stan. SHARE is collaborating with other NGOs to coordinate emergency relief efforts and advocate for increased emergency preparedness on a national level. Your support ensures our ability to provide basic necessities and invest in long-term reconstruction efforts when the next disaster hits.

We continue to work with women’s cooperatives and associations that are challenging the system and searching for alternative sustainable solutions. These women start at the very basic level learning how to read and write and just as crucial they are receiving trainings about gender policies and women’s rights. Then they tackle the harder problems of how to generate income for their families. Help them prevent their sons and daughters from leaving home and heading north to the U.S.

We celebrate 25 years and would like to invite you to commit with us to continue for another 25 years – one year at a time.

I invite you to make a generous gift on our 25 th anniversary. You are part of the dream of building a new El Salvador. I thank you for being in solidarity with the people of El Salvador. As the Mayan people say 400 (many) thanks.
In Solidarity,

Jose Artiga

Executive Director

P.S. We are also planning 25 th anniversary events in Milwaukee, San Salvador and San Francisco in 2007. We hope you will join us at one of these celebrations! Please see www.share-elsalvador.org for more details.