We're proud to report that CISPES raised more than $13,000 for hurricane relief in El Salvador, which we sent directly to various organizations working to rebuild their communities (read more about the devastation of Hurricane Ida here .)  These contributions represent a physical demonstration of our solidarity with the people of El Salvador during this difficult time.  Those of you that sent donations helped support the commitments of the new government, as well as the Salvadoran social movement, to change national policy so that this level of crisis can be avoided in the future.  Please see below for more information about where your contribution went, or you can download the description of the projects as a PDF .

This fundraising drive is only one of many interrelated projects that CISPES is working on.  This year we are celebrating a tremendous victory for the struggle inEl Salvador with the election of the first leftist President inSalvadoran history! After decades of struggle against violentrepression and US intervention, El Salvador is now joining thehemispheric movement for social and economic change.  Meanwhile, two North Americanmining corporations are suing the government of El Salvador for atleast $177 million under CAFTA (the Central American Free TradeAgreement), claiming "lost profits" after El Salvador denied goldmining permits to these environmentally destructive companies.  CISPES is taking up the struggle in the US to demand that thesecorporations drop their outrageous lawsuits against El Salvador and toend economic policies like free trade and privatization that violatethe sovereignty of people in defending their land and livelihoods.

Thanks so much for your compassion, support, and solidarity!

Alexis Stoumbelis, CISPES Executive Director

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CISPES Education Fund sent contributions to…

CONPHAS (Concertación Popular por un País sin Hambre y Seguro / PopularCoordination for a Safe Country without Hunger), a coalition of unions,campesino organizations, churches, and community organizations.  Withthe money we donated to their relief efforts, they organized brigadesthat brought food packets containing rice, beans, corn, and sugar to 80families affected by the storm in Cantón Joya Grande.  Other brigadesbrought mattresses and sheets to shelters housing 15 families affectedby the storm in the communities in municipality of San Martín, SanSalvador.  A third brigade brought cinder blocks to the community ofCantón El Limón and worked with residents on projects to protect thecommunity from further damages caused by mudslides, benefiting 25families.

FSS (Frente Sindical Salvadoreño / Salvadoran Union Front) a coalitionof more than 20 progressive unions.  Two members of an affiliated unionwere killed in the storm in the community of Santa María La Esperanzain the municipality of Santiago Texacuangos, San Salvador.  Communitymembers also suffered major agricultural losses because of the storm. With the money we donated to their relief efforts, the FSS organizedbrigades that provided seeds for cultivation to over 75 families, tohelp make up for the lost harvests.

FMLN Party Relief Fund -The FMLN organized volunteer brigades to bringsupplies to affected communities as well as providing physical labor toclean up mud-filled homes and streets in communities affected by thestorm.  Volunteers from FMLN base committees from all over the countrymobilized to work in every municipality affected by the storm,coordinating directly with the affected communities to determine whattheir most urgent needs were.  The money we donated to the FMLN PartyRelief Fund went towards purchasing supplies and mobilizing volunteerbrigades to affected communities.