Embedded Files
Here is a report direct from our local committee in El Tular
Credit and Micro-business Committee.
“We have to let everybody in the community know what we are doing, so that they can take advantage of all the Wellsprings activities. So we produced a mural with photos of important activities".
Jewellery
Eleven young people graduated in the course on making jewellery. Everyone completed the course and got a diploma. For advertising, the young people had designed a logo to distinguish their work from that of other groups. The group is now part of the Cuisnahuat Young Jewellers Association . That helps them to market their products and get components. On the 19th August the chair and treasurers of the group, Manuel Clara, Aminta Reyes and Nery Ayala were involved in buying seeds, crystals and various plastic components from the Balsamo Association. They will produce and sell ear-rings, bracelets and necklaces in El Tular and surrounding areas, in order to get the seed capital to start seriously in business.
Women’s Micro-Business
The agronomists from Balsamo (our partner agency. Ed.) conducted a training workshop for 25 women in the preparation of organic food for hens, those that are for fattening and those that parade the patio. They provided information, practice and soya to prepare the concentrate. The Women’s Business Group has now applied for a loan of $400 for these raw materials. More women are asking for funding for their own micro businesses, particularly in the production of pupusa pickles. That is the situation with Dominga Pintin.
The total of credits allocated has risen to $1267.62. At the same time the amount outstanding in late repayments has risen to $700.00 with ten people behind in their repayments according to the latest information available. [Last year’s harvest was reduced to less than fifty per cent, and we agreed that people should be given time to repay their loans. Ed.]
Thanks to the provision of an accounts book, and some training in its use, it is now possible to keep a double check on the allocation of credit. The Committee also produced a request to Wellsprings for $1000 00 to augment the fund, which now stands at just $186.09.
The Reactivation of the Bakery
Thanks to some help from Trocaire [an Irish church aid agency] the Milagro Nuevo Bakery has restarted. A new cylinder which greatly improves the dough for bread rolls has helped production and at the same time the bakery has acquired two bicycles to help with distribution beyond the boundaries of El Tular.
Health Committee
There had been no requests for emergency help until the illness which overtook Dan Miguel, husband of Flor Flores on the 18 July, and which sadly proved fatal. Other deaths to report are those of Esther Hernandez mother of Lucía Agapito , and Gladis Abarca Ayala who died of diabetes, and a two-year-old boy who died in Los Pintines.
We are continuing to give assistance to Evelyn who is now in her second year of control in her recuperation from leukaemia.
From July until September there has been something an epidemic of respiratory and gastric infections. The people of Los Pintines in particular [the poorest area of El Tular. Ed.] suffered a great deal from chest infections, but there have been no fatalities this month.
One result of the epidemic was that the Health Fund has been very much reduced.
Ana the wife of Lucio was admitted into the emergency hospital with appendicitis which turned into peritonitis, but she is fully recovered.
Orlando Perez and Yamileth rejoiced in the birth of a son, to be called Anderson Orlando.
The Computer
The computer was returned for necessary improvements including the addition of a video element, installation of OFFICE 2007 and removal of viruses. It cost $35 because the guarantee did not cover software. The committee has now arranged Internet with the phone company TIGO at a monthly cost of £35. Maria Pintin is overseeing the responsible use of the computer.
Six students are currently receiving basic classes in the use of Microsoft Office, and typing skills.
Steps are being taken to protect the computer from viruses.
The 6th Maize Festival
The whole community took part in the sixth Maize Festival. Because of inclement weather it was necessary to hold it on the road into El Tular. El Balsamo helped with the loan of equipment, like the canopy for instance, and some finance. What was special was the enthusiasm of the young people with this traditional cultural event, and their joy in re-enacting the origins of the festival. The involvement of very young children in the traditional dance called “the Dappled Calf” was special.
A Day Out
On the 31 July 39 people who are involved with Wellsprings programmes had a day at the beach.
PLANNED ACTIVITIES
1) A drawing event for 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH grades in the school on “How do we care for the environment in our community”.
2) Training on the computer for young people and adults.
3) Training for the bakery to extend the range of products
4) Visit to the David Guzman Museum
5) Screen printing classes.”
Thoughts from the Trustees
When we remember that 15 years ago this was a community abandoned by a church development agency because of its “assistance culture, always depending on hand-outs” it gives us so much joy to see our friends taking the responsibility for a whole range of projects that they themselves have chosen. Add to that young people in university, with others equipped to replace them when they graduate this year, and participation in the local social and political life, not to mention their huge and sincere affection for us, and we really do have a lot to be thankful for. The Asociación El Bálsamo, our partners, organising training and supervising, have been so faithful, honest, and co-operative, qualities not always to be guaranteed with Salvadoran development bodies. What we do for them, with our annual grant, is enable them to pursue long-term goals in El Tular. That is a rare privilege for them, since most donor agencies limit their projects to five years in any one place, with the misguided idea that that ensures “value for money”.
BUT
We are suddenly short of money!
Until now we have always seemed to be a few months in advance, but you may remember that last year we sent some £5000, to help with hurricane relief, in addition to our normal programme. We have responded to the requests from the Credit Fund and the Health Committee (see above), but we now find ourselves without the means in the bank to provide the scholarships for the A-level scholars and the further education courses in the coming year, or to make our grant to Balsamo.
Many of you respond generously to this autumn newsletter each year and I am asking you to do so again. The Trustees have found bankers orders particularly helpful, as they enable us to budget better. So I am enclosing standing order and tax refund forms in the hope that you might feel able to complete them and send them back to David, our Treasurer.
We are very aware that you are bombarded, particularly at this time of year, with worthy causes seeking your help. But if I might add a personal note, my own way of responding to that situation is to support three or four causes, to which I can commit and keep myself informed, and then trust that other people will be called to do the same in response to other world needs. We shall be more than grateful if you can include Wellsprings-El Tular among your priorities.
Next year you can see it all for yourself. There are still a few places available on the Delegation. About 13 august to 1 September (depending on flights). Cost £1100 to £1200. Contact Brian for further information.
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