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 became
aware of the dire poverty of some of the areas outside of San Salvador and started the
first program in Ilobosco in a church hall.  

Today, the organization has grown to include Chichicastanango, Guatemala.  There are
10 North American volunteers who carry out all the organizational functions.  There is no
paid staff.  All contributions are used for projects and communications through mailings
and the website.  There are over 50 women active in the Illobosco 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 Compesina's Assistance::

The Organization in Ilobasco now has its own donated space for classes in
dressmaking, computers, and other income-generating skills.  They meet
every Saturday.

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

Girls stay in school and have lower pregnancy rates.

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 assume organizational and community leadership roles.

Communities have more participation of women in development  projects.

Co-partners of Compesinas is a registered non-profit 501(c)3 organization.  All contributions are
tax deductible to the full extent of the law.