La Coordinadora – Asociación Mangle

San Nicolas Lempa, Usulutan, El Salvador

La Coordinadora – Asociación Mangle (LC-AM) is the partner organization of Team Monterey.  A memorandum of understanding between LC-AM and the Monterey Institute of International Studies was signed in January of 2009 creating a formal partnership between the two parties.  Supported financially by the Oakland, CA based Foundation for Self-Sufficiency of Central America (FSSCA), La Coordinadora-Asociación Mangle has had many impacting accomplishments.  As provided by the FSSCA website, La Coordinadora’s history, accomplishments, long-term vision and ongoing activities can be seen below.

History

The Coordinadora was formally established in 1996 by thirteen communities determined to survive the annual flooding of the Lempa River. It then turned its attention to building a sustainable, environmentally sound economy.

In accomplishing these goals, the Coordinadora faces many challenges: flooding disasters, poverty, insufficient food production, illiteracy, a lack of infrastructure, a lack of skills, community violence, dependency, and government indifference. Although it has made progress in all of these areas, considerable work remains to be done.

In 1998, in order to better respond to chronic violence in the region, the Coordinadora and its communities declared the region a Local Zone of Peace, committing themselves to work for peace as an integral component of sustainable development.

The Coordinadora has grown to include 86 communities, each of which elects two representatives to its general assembly. This popular, democratic movement has diverse leadership. It includes, for example, former FMLN guerillas, former members of the Salvadoran Armed Forces, women, Catholics, and evangelicals. Beneficiaries directly participate in project design and implementation.

Accomplishments

The Coordinadora’s recent accomplishments include:

• quick and effective disaster response following Hurricane Mitch and the 2001 earthquake;
• the construction of 90 homes and a Peace Center that withstood the earthquake;
• the development of local leadership;
• the creation of a democratic, representative organization in 86 communities;
• 160 community organic farms;
• twelve shrimp farms;
• 450 cottage chicken businesses;
• 1,200 campesinos trained in green agriculture techniques;
• the Local Zone of Peace;
• successful mediation between rival youth gangs; and
• the election of two municipal governments sensitive to rural needs.

An Efficient, Long-Term Vision

In 1999, the Coordinadora received $1,000,000 in project grants and relief aid in response to Hurricane Mitch, which caused $4,000,000 in damages. Although many relief agencies came to their region offering handouts of staple foods, the Coordinadora refused this type of help within months after the hurricane. Whenever possible, it transformed handouts into projects that would provide a long-term food supply rather than cause a disincentive to work.

Ongoing Activities

Today, the Coordinadora continues moving forward by promoting sustainable agriculture and participation in local government.

The Coordinadora provides training in conflict mediation to community members. Its micro-credit project is entering its second year, providing small loans to boost farmers and cooperatives’ production.

Their goal is that community members themselves become the teachers, allowing development and change to come from within the community.