November 2005 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
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. ASODEMI (Asociación para el
Desarrollo de la Mujer Indigena) is a women’s organization located outside of Chichicastenango, Guatemala with goals similar to
New Hope’s.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
El Salvador Computer Center Expanded
A major accomplishment of this year’s El Salvador trip was the transport of 4 computers and 2 (heavy) monitors to
Ilobasco as part of the volunteers’ luggage. The additional computers replaced non-functioning equipment so that
each student can now work on his or her own computer rather than sharing a machine.
Happy computer students.
Planning for La Nueva Esperanza in 2006
The most successful class in the Ilobasco training center continues to be corte y confección or dressmaking.
Depending on demand, the center has sometimes offered two levels of this course and at other times only one. For
the last year, a single level has been offered, but in the annual planning meeting the board decided to include 2
levels of dressmaking in the coming year. Other new classes to be offered are more advanced instruction in hair
styling, giving injections, and additional instruction in machine embroidery.
Planning for 2006 in the Guatemala Project
Continuation of the- communal bank and the school supplies program, as well as provision of computer access to
members’ children, are goals for the Guatemala project for this year. The communal bank and school supplies
programs were carried out successfully, but the location of the computers turned out to be inconvenient. After a
problem solving session with association members the computers were moved to a different location more
accessible to community members. The success of this change will be evaluated during next year’s volunteer visit.
New Fundraising Activities
Last year the Maryland members of the Co-partners board mounted an exhibit of photographs they had taken on
their trip to Guatemala to work with the ASODEMI group in Chichicastenango. The photographs were first displayed
in the Everyday Gourmet coffee shop in Takoma Park and later in the Wheaton Library. A large number of the
photographs were sold in a very successful Sunday afternoon opening. Seeking something new for 200t5, the
board decided to try the crafts business. The volunteers who worked in El Salvador and Guatemala in June and
July of this year shopped for crafts they believed would be marketable in the US, purchasing items they hope to sell
for two or three times the original purchase price.
The first sale, at the Reston Multicultural Fair on September 17th resulted in sales of $457. A second sale at a
church brought in over $700, resulting in a profit of over 100%. The craft sale will be continued next year!
Peace Doves and Angels
If you would like to give charitable contributions rather than “stuff” as holiday gifts, Co-partners can help.
For contributions of $50 or more, specified as a “peace gift”, Co-partners will send a notice of your gift
accompanied by a colorful, made in El Salvador, wooden tree ornament. Both angels and doves (shown),
measuring 2-2½ inches are available. Just send us the name and address of the recipient, who will be included in
future newsletter mailings to be informed of the use of the gift. For delivery by Christmas, please order early!
2006 Trips
In 2002 and 2005 Co-partners combined the Guatemala and El Salvador annual visits, while in 2003 and 2004,
separate groups traveled to each country. Two of this year's volunteers have experienced both single and double
country trips and agree that a single country visit is preferable. Tentative plans are for a Guatemala visit in
February and a Salvador trip in June or July. One volunteer with knowledge of crafts production has committed to
the Guatemala visit. Volunteers who could teach brief workshops in small business development or craft design
and quality control are sought for the Guatemala trip. Volunteers with computer teaching skills are sought for the El
Salvador trip.
Co-partners of Campesinas, Board of Directors
Archer Heinzen, Chairperson
Michelle Schuster, Secretary
Jim Heinzen, Treasurer
Donna Breslin
Julia González
Claire Schuster
Marie Keefe
Joanne Murphy
Maria Pansini
El Salvador Assistant
Víctor Manual Ortega
Guatemala Volunteers
Catalina Ventura
Tomasa Guarcas Sis
La Nueva Esperanza, Board of Directors
Rosa Flores, President
Evelia Flores, Vice-President
María Delmy Bran, Secretary.
Maria Eduvina Peña, Treasurer
ASODEMI, Board of Directors
Ana Suar, President
Josefa Larios, Secretary,
Candelaria Ignatio, Treasurer
Sebastiana Toh, Vocal
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. ASODEMI (Asociación para el
Desarrollo de la Mujer Indigena) is a women’s organization located outside of Chichicastenango, Guatemala with goals similar to
New Hope’s.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
El Salvador Computer Center Expanded
A major accomplishment of this year’s El Salvador trip was the transport of 4 computers and 2 (heavy) monitors to
Ilobasco as part of the volunteers’ luggage. The additional computers replaced non-functioning equipment so that
each student can now work on his or her own computer rather than sharing a machine.
Happy computer students.
Planning for La Nueva Esperanza in 2006
The most successful class in the Ilobasco training center continues to be corte y confección or dressmaking.
Depending on demand, the center has sometimes offered two levels of this course and at other times only one. For
the last year, a single level has been offered, but in the annual planning meeting the board decided to include 2
levels of dressmaking in the coming year. Other new classes to be offered are more advanced instruction in hair
styling, giving injections, and additional instruction in machine embroidery.
- Yanira Flores who learned to sew in Co-partners’ classes displays a skirt,
one of an order for four skirts, for El Salvador’s Día de la Patria in October.
Planning for 2006 in the Guatemala Project
Continuation of the- communal bank and the school supplies program, as well as provision of computer access to
members’ children, are goals for the Guatemala project for this year. The communal bank and school supplies
programs were carried out successfully, but the location of the computers turned out to be inconvenient. After a
problem solving session with association members the computers were moved to a different location more
accessible to community members. The success of this change will be evaluated during next year’s volunteer visit.
New Fundraising Activities
Last year the Maryland members of the Co-partners board mounted an exhibit of photographs they had taken on
their trip to Guatemala to work with the ASODEMI group in Chichicastenango. The photographs were first displayed
in the Everyday Gourmet coffee shop in Takoma Park and later in the Wheaton Library. A large number of the
photographs were sold in a very successful Sunday afternoon opening. Seeking something new for 200t5, the
board decided to try the crafts business. The volunteers who worked in El Salvador and Guatemala in June and
July of this year shopped for crafts they believed would be marketable in the US, purchasing items they hope to sell
for two or three times the original purchase price.
- Harriotte Heinzen (assisted by 4-year-old Lily Osmer) and
board member Joanne Murphy attend the booth at the
Reston Multicultural Fair.
The first sale, at the Reston Multicultural Fair on September 17th resulted in sales of $457. A second sale at a
church brought in over $700, resulting in a profit of over 100%. The craft sale will be continued next year!
Peace Doves and Angels
If you would like to give charitable contributions rather than “stuff” as holiday gifts, Co-partners can help.
For contributions of $50 or more, specified as a “peace gift”, Co-partners will send a notice of your gift
accompanied by a colorful, made in El Salvador, wooden tree ornament. Both angels and doves (shown),
measuring 2-2½ inches are available. Just send us the name and address of the recipient, who will be included in
future newsletter mailings to be informed of the use of the gift. For delivery by Christmas, please order early!
2006 Trips
In 2002 and 2005 Co-partners combined the Guatemala and El Salvador annual visits, while in 2003 and 2004,
separate groups traveled to each country. Two of this year's volunteers have experienced both single and double
country trips and agree that a single country visit is preferable. Tentative plans are for a Guatemala visit in
February and a Salvador trip in June or July. One volunteer with knowledge of crafts production has committed to
the Guatemala visit. Volunteers who could teach brief workshops in small business development or craft design
and quality control are sought for the Guatemala trip. Volunteers with computer teaching skills are sought for the El
Salvador trip.
Co-partners of Campesinas, Board of Directors
Archer Heinzen, Chairperson
Michelle Schuster, Secretary
Jim Heinzen, Treasurer
Donna Breslin
Julia González
Claire Schuster
Marie Keefe
Joanne Murphy
Maria Pansini
El Salvador Assistant
Víctor Manual Ortega
Guatemala Volunteers
Catalina Ventura
Tomasa Guarcas Sis
La Nueva Esperanza, Board of Directors
Rosa Flores, President
Evelia Flores, Vice-President
María Delmy Bran, Secretary.
Maria Eduvina Peña, Treasurer
ASODEMI, Board of Directors
Ana Suar, President
Josefa Larios, Secretary,
Candelaria Ignatio, Treasurer
Sebastiana Toh, Vocal
