| Mid-year 2004 Newsletter |
| Co-partners of Campesinas |
| 901 Second Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-548-6713 |
| E-mail: heinzen@verizon.net www.copartners.org |
Co-partners of Campesinas is a US based, 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization that supports New Hope and other
associations working for women’s education and empowerment in developing countries in Latin America. New Hope (La
Nueva Esperanza in Spanish) is an organization of sixty rural girls and women from four impoverished communities near
Ilobasco, El Salvador, who meet weekly to learn income-producing skills and advance the education of members and their
children. To attend meetings members may walk for several hours or travel by pick-up truck. ASODEMUK (Asociación
para el Desarrollo de la Mujer Kichelense) is a women’s organization located outside of Chichicastenango, Guatemala with
goals similar to New Hope’s.
associations working for women’s education and empowerment in developing countries in Latin America. New Hope (La
Nueva Esperanza in Spanish) is an organization of sixty rural girls and women from four impoverished communities near
Ilobasco, El Salvador, who meet weekly to learn income-producing skills and advance the education of members and their
children. To attend meetings members may walk for several hours or travel by pick-up truck. ASODEMUK (Asociación
para el Desarrollo de la Mujer Kichelense) is a women’s organization located outside of Chichicastenango, Guatemala with
goals similar to New Hope’s.
Donated Computers Arrive in Guatemala
In March volunteers, Julia Gonzalez-Alonzo, Claire Schuster, and Michelle Schuster, members of Co-partners’ board, made
the annual consultation visit to Chichicastenango to work with volunteer leaders Catalina Ventura, Tomasa Huarcas, and
members of the Asociación para el Desarrollo de la Mujer Kichelense (ASODEMUK) in the communities of Chumuc and
Chutumul.
the annual consultation visit to Chichicastenango to work with volunteer leaders Catalina Ventura, Tomasa Huarcas, and
members of the Asociación para el Desarrollo de la Mujer Kichelense (ASODEMUK) in the communities of Chumuc and
Chutumul.
As has been Co-partners’ custom, volunteers traveled light on clothing and heavy on donations for the project, including
school supplies, books, toothbrushes, clothing, and two Pentium II computers with monitors donated last year by Westat, an
employee-owned research firm, in Rockville, Maryland, that provides research and evaluation services to federal agencies in
health and education. In consultation with Catalina and Tomasa the group decided to place the first of the ten computers in the
homes of the two volunteers who agreed to make the computers available to children of ASODEMUK members in the
afternoons. Although the two computers transported by the group were not sufficient to establish a “center” similar to the one
in El Salvador, placing the computers with the volunteer leaders had the advantage of giving computer access to both the
leaders and members’ children. The computers are especially important given the expansion of micro lending activity in the
Guatemala project. To date, Co-partners’ has supported both sheep and chicken projects in Guatemala, but micro lending,
that allows each woman to work in an area best suited to her talents and interests, has been most successful. The micro
lending activity will be highlighted in the end-of-year newsletter.
school supplies, books, toothbrushes, clothing, and two Pentium II computers with monitors donated last year by Westat, an
employee-owned research firm, in Rockville, Maryland, that provides research and evaluation services to federal agencies in
health and education. In consultation with Catalina and Tomasa the group decided to place the first of the ten computers in the
homes of the two volunteers who agreed to make the computers available to children of ASODEMUK members in the
afternoons. Although the two computers transported by the group were not sufficient to establish a “center” similar to the one
in El Salvador, placing the computers with the volunteer leaders had the advantage of giving computer access to both the
leaders and members’ children. The computers are especially important given the expansion of micro lending activity in the
Guatemala project. To date, Co-partners’ has supported both sheep and chicken projects in Guatemala, but micro lending,
that allows each woman to work in an area best suited to her talents and interests, has been most successful. The micro
lending activity will be highlighted in the end-of-year newsletter.
Volunteers Teach First Aid
The Guatemala volunteers conducted two activities during their visit—a community art project involving adults and youth in
drawing representations of their communities on large sheets of paper and a first aid course.
drawing representations of their communities on large sheets of paper and a first aid course.
Claire Schuster, a former Peace Corps health educator, who taught first aid during her Peace Corps tour, led the classes.
Before departure the group prepared packets of pictographic first aid instructions that would be appropriate for women who
do not read. The workshops covered interventions for choking, bleeding, sprains, and broken bones. Claire demonstrated
accidents, evaluation of injuries, and appropriate treatments. Participants then role-played accidents and treatments. Group
members particularly enjoyed the role-playing where they demonstrated dramatic talent as well as their new first aid skills.
Before departure the group prepared packets of pictographic first aid instructions that would be appropriate for women who
do not read. The workshops covered interventions for choking, bleeding, sprains, and broken bones. Claire demonstrated
accidents, evaluation of injuries, and appropriate treatments. Participants then role-played accidents and treatments. Group
members particularly enjoyed the role-playing where they demonstrated dramatic talent as well as their new first aid skills.
Practicing first
aid skills.
aid skills.
Staff Change in El Salvador
La Nueva Esperanza president, Rosa
Flores and promoter, Carmen Rivas, post
signs announcing the search for an
association assistant
Flores and promoter, Carmen Rivas, post
signs announcing the search for an
association assistant
Two years ago the San Salvador volunteer who had been backstopping the Association La Nueva Esperanza was forced to
suspend her weekly trips due to health problems. Although the founders had hoped that Co-partners would remain a purely
volunteer organization, the lack of a replacement volunteer made it necessary to hire a part-time organizer to serve as a liaison
with the U.S. and to help with administrative and financial record keeping. For this role, the association members selected
Adriana Carmen Rivas, pictured right above. She worked every Saturday morning and other days as necessary for two
years. Recently, she was appointed to a job as a health promoter in the campaign to combat Dengue (a mosquito born illness
that had been claiming victims in El Salvador). The intensity of the anti-dengue campaign limited the time Carmen had
available and made it necessary to find someone to replace her.
suspend her weekly trips due to health problems. Although the founders had hoped that Co-partners would remain a purely
volunteer organization, the lack of a replacement volunteer made it necessary to hire a part-time organizer to serve as a liaison
with the U.S. and to help with administrative and financial record keeping. For this role, the association members selected
Adriana Carmen Rivas, pictured right above. She worked every Saturday morning and other days as necessary for two
years. Recently, she was appointed to a job as a health promoter in the campaign to combat Dengue (a mosquito born illness
that had been claiming victims in El Salvador). The intensity of the anti-dengue campaign limited the time Carmen had
available and made it necessary to find someone to replace her.
During Co-partners annual visit to Ilobasco, Archer Heinzen and association president Rosa Flores reworked the job
description, changing its title to give greater emphasis to administrative skills such as report writing and bookkeeping, posted
announcements of the job at key locations, conducted interviews, hired and oriented a replacement, and recognized Carmen’s
two years of work in a farewell ceremony during the weekly association meeting.
description, changing its title to give greater emphasis to administrative skills such as report writing and bookkeeping, posted
announcements of the job at key locations, conducted interviews, hired and oriented a replacement, and recognized Carmen’s
two years of work in a farewell ceremony during the weekly association meeting.
New Twists in Income Generation
Since its founding ten years ago, La Nueva Esperanza has offered classes in skills that members consider good potential
income producers. Dressmaking and tailoring have been given every year and have been most successful in increasing
members’ incomes. This year members have requested classes in two new skills—making handbags of plastic canvas,
covered in synthetic raffia, that are the current rage in El Salvador, and in hairstyling! Following Co-partners philosophy that
group members are the best judges of income producing opportunities, these classes will be offered before the end of the
year. The hairstyling class will not involve cutting, coloring, or perming, rather it will focus on peinados or fancy up-dos, using
large amounts of hairspray that are de rigueur for wedding parties in El Salvador. More on hairdos and raffia handbags in the
next newsletter!
income producers. Dressmaking and tailoring have been given every year and have been most successful in increasing
members’ incomes. This year members have requested classes in two new skills—making handbags of plastic canvas,
covered in synthetic raffia, that are the current rage in El Salvador, and in hairstyling! Following Co-partners philosophy that
group members are the best judges of income producing opportunities, these classes will be offered before the end of the
year. The hairstyling class will not involve cutting, coloring, or perming, rather it will focus on peinados or fancy up-dos, using
large amounts of hairspray that are de rigueur for wedding parties in El Salvador. More on hairdos and raffia handbags in the
next newsletter!
Co-partners of Campesinas, Board of Directors
Archer Heinzen, Chairperson
Michelle Schuster, Secretary
Jim Heinzen, Treasurer
Donna Breslin
Julia González
Claire Schuster
Archer Heinzen, Chairperson
Michelle Schuster, Secretary
Jim Heinzen, Treasurer
Donna Breslin
Julia González
Claire Schuster
Guatemala Volunteers
Catalina Ventura
Tomasa Guarcas Sis
Catalina Ventura
Tomasa Guarcas Sis
El Salvador Assistant
Víctor Manual Ortega
Víctor Manual Ortega
La Nueva Esperanza Board of Directors
Rosa Flores, President
Evelia Flores, Vice-President
María Delmy Bran, Secretary
Maria Eduvina Peña, Treasurer
Rosa Flores, President
Evelia Flores, Vice-President
María Delmy Bran, Secretary
Maria Eduvina Peña, Treasurer
ASODEMUK Board of Directors
Ana Suar, President
Josefa Larios, Secretary
Candelaria Ignatio, Treasurer
Sebastiana Toh, Vocal
Ana Suar, President
Josefa Larios, Secretary
Candelaria Ignatio, Treasurer
Sebastiana Toh, Vocal
