Las Delicias

On Tuesday I was able to visit my praxis site where I will be spending two days a week for the semester. The area and town are called Las Delicias which technically means the delightful. It is a rural community with 7,000 inhabitants in the greater area. As we entered the town we passed two sweatshops but the majority of the people in Las Delicias work in the coffee fincas (farms). On the fincas people usually earn 25 cents for a 25-pound bag of coffee beans. Frequently children must stop school to work in the fincas so their family can earn enough money to get by.

In the town there is an area where a new community center was just constructed. There are three parts to the building. One for office space, another for general community use and meetings and the last room is going to be used for a computer room. They are just waiting for the computers. Behind the community center the community has started a giant greenhouse. They have been starting plants in the greenhouse and keeping them there until they are ready to be put into the ground. At which point they give them to the community members so they can start their own gardens at their homes. I think this is such an amazing project because it really empowers the members of the community by giving them a way to directly provide for their family. It also saves families money and allows them to have access to healthy food that they otherwise could not afford. I am very excited to be apart of this project and to help it expand to more of the community.

Close to the community center there is a biblioteca (library) for the children. They use the space for the children to work on homework and to get help if they need it. The space is also used to serve food from the comedor (like a soup kitchen) for the children from low-income families. I am not sure what in considered low-income exactly but I will find out soon.

During our visit we visited a few homes in the community. Las Delicias is located at the base of the San Salvador Volcano and the majority of the community lives on the volcano. We walked up the road and went up a small zigzagging path that was comparable to a goat path that lead to some of the homes. It was a steep and tough walk to reach their homes and it is incredible that they do that everyday.

After lunch we were able to just play with the kids so we played some soccer and ran around like kids do. It was energizing to act like a kid again and just be crazy. I am definitely looking forward to that this semester.

Overall the community was very welcoming and made us feel right at home. I am thrilled to be accompanying this community and to learn from the people especially the women. I will share pictures as I develop a better relationship with the community.

Nos vemos!

P.S. If you have any specific questions or comments or dudas, feel free to comment or email me at cwildcrea@gmail.com

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