About Co-partners of Campesinas
Co-partners of Campesinas was founded in 1997 by a small group of U. S. women
volunteers who had lived in San Salvador, El Salvador for many years.  They had become
aware of the dire poverty of some of the areas outside of San Salvador and started the first
program in Ilobasco in a church hall.  

Today, the organization has grown to include Chichicastenango, Guatemala.  There are
approximately 10 North American volunteers who carry out all the organizational functions.  
There is no paid staff, and volunteers pay their own travel expenses.  All contributions are
used for projects and communications through mailings and the website.  There are over 50
women active in the Ilobasco program and 40 women in the 3-year old Guatemalan program.

Co-partners’ program is based on three tenets:
Girls’ education is one of the most effective development interventions. Mothers
are the key to keeping girls in school; therefore supporting mothers is a highly
effective approach for furthering girls’ education.

Rural women, despite limited education, are capable of designing, running, and
evaluating their own small development projects.  In so doing they are powerful
role models for their daughters.

Girls' and women’s opportunities can be developed best through women’s
associations. Small skill training centers, located in borrowed quarters,
compatible with rural women’s schedules are effective in skill training.
Results of Co-partners of Campesina's Assistance:
The Organization in Ilobasco now has its own donated space for weekly
classes in dressmaking, computers, and other income-generating skills.  

Families are enrolling more children in school.   Over 100 school supply kits
and 50 transportation scholarships have been distributed.

Girls are staying in school and have lower pregnancy rates.

The local economy has improved.  Through training and small loans,
members initiate small, income-producing projects to finance family needs, for
example, some women sell purses, hand-made clothing, embroidery and do
special occasion hairdressing which is  now in vogue in El Salvador.

Women are assuming organizational and community leadership roles.

Communities benefit from more participation of women in development  
projects.
Co-partners of Campesinas is a registered non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
 All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
This is our "wheel", which illustrates how the consulting, mentoring, and
material support we provide to women's groups in Central America radiate
into all facets of their lives and those of their families and communities.
Co-partners of Campesinas
Women helping women in Central America
Non-profit support of projects in Guatemala and El Salvador
Co-partners of Campesinas, 901 Second Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA