El Tular Programme

El Tular is a subsistence farming community of about three hundred families, who live along the infertile sides of a valley in the South West of El Salvador.

The encounter with El Tular began in 1991, about the time of the signing of the peace treaty following the brutal repression and the rebellion of the Salvadoran people.

Through many visits and delegations the link has become crucial in our commitment to bring together a deepening of faith and the quest for a more just and caring world.

So far on the development side we have been involved in:

An education programme to enable the young people to continue their education beyond the age of 16. The school now has education up to age 18. Some young people receive scholarships for further education vocational courses.
Training to improve agricultural output.
A micro-business programme supported by a self sustaining credit fund.
Access to medical care.
Helping organise a programme of seismic resistant housing.
Some water programmes.
Emergency help following an earthquake and two hurricanes.

All these have been undertaken in partnership with the local community leadership and one or two Salvadoran development agencies, principally El Balsamo.

We call it a friendship/development programme, and we are convinced that persistent friendship has been as important as material help in creating confidence among the people. And that conviction is constantly reinforced by the people themselves.

In return, that personal friendship gives us inspiration, encouragement in our common struggle, and a realistic, unromantic picture of at least one Third World community.