Note: This blog has recently replaced my former-- jaimeinguinea.blogspot.com. See those few posts to understand how I got to this one!
Let's keep our fingers crossed for El Salvador!
I am excited to have a new country of assignment for my Peace Corps Service-- El Salvador, Central America.
My original nomination (a year ago!) was for Cape Verde, Africa in July 2009. Next came Guinea, West Africa for November 2009. Unfortunately, I was informed about a month ago that Peace Corps is suspending the Guinea program, due to the current political violence and unrest in the country.
My New Assignment
Country: El Salvador
Job Title: Municipal Development Volunteer
Dates: Feb 3, 2010 - April 1, 2012
El Salvador is known in the Central American region for the character and kindness of it's people. Nearby countries say that Salvadorans "son buen trabajadores".
As a Municipal Development Volunteer, I will be assigned to Mayor's office in a small-medium sized town. I will work with the local government on good governance isues, promoting transparency & citizen participation, and providing better service to consituents. I will work with local elementary or high schools, health institutes and other local agencies with the aim of "democracy strengthening". I will have the opportunity to influence people's lives by working to obtain scholarships for students, coaching sports teams, teaching English, and forming womens and youth groups. And I am REALLY excited about doing it!!
In 1999, the Small Business Development Project evolved into what is now called the Municipal Development Project (MDP) as a response to an increasing need to develop local governments and communities. In the late 1980s, El Salvador began the process of decentralizing government responsibilities and services from the national level down to the local. However, Municipal Goverments lack the legal and policy framework, techinical skills and financial means to play a broader role in democratic development. Smaller communities have little experience in managing services and charging cost-effective fees. There are ill-equipped staff and no training or capacity to carry out projects successfully. That's where I come in! The MDP is designed to address these issues. Improved administration and organization will allow municipal offices to better serve the community.
I am happy to be a part of this program and hope that I will have a lasting impact on El Salvador and its people.
I hope that this program will not fall through as the others have for me! I really want to get out there and help. That being said, let's keep El Salvador in our thoughts this week as, unfortunately, hurricane Ida has claimed the homes and lives of many Salvadorans.
Nov 15, 2009
"Salvadoran authorities say at least 192 people were killed by floods and landslides that swept through the country last week.
El Salvador's Civil Protection agency says in a statement that 89 of the victims were killed in the state of San Vicente, where days of heavy rains caused mud and boulders to sweep down the side of the Chichontepec volcano before dawn a week ago.
The agency said Sunday that dozens more remain missing. It says that more than 14,000 Salvadoran have been affected by the floods and mudslides that were indirectly linked to Hurricane Ida's passage through the region."
-The Associated Press
Note: San Vicente is where Peace Corps trains volunteers for the first 3 months, so let's also keep US Peace Corps Volunteers and their Salvadoran host families in our thoughts.
