The Paulo Freire Journey with Latin American education partners

Report prepared by Alexandra Henao-Castrillon, Education Program Director.

CoDev organized an unprecedented exchange of Latin American education partners in Sao Paulo, Brazil, last November. With the solidarity support of the BCTF, sixteen union representatives from nine teacher organizations were hosted by the Paulo Freire Institute (PFI) to participate in the third edition of the Paulo Freire Journey (PFJ). The Journey focused specifically on international solidarity among Latin American partners and with Canadian teachers’ unions.

Union representatives and facilitators gathered in Sao Paulo last November to participate in the Paulo Freire Journey.

Other activities included lots of formal and informal conversations and discussions among Latin American participants about challenges that affect their teacher organizations and educational communities. During one of the first sessions, we heard from compañera Niurka Gonzalez, SNTECD’s Secretary General, about how health and education have always been a priority for the Cuban government after the revolution, responding to their social project. Without the onslaught of a neoliberal agenda, teachers, education workers, and SNTECD have had the opportunity to focus their work on the quality of education and the improvement of teacher professional development. She explained that, for instance, “the work of Paulo Freire is studied and researched extensively by many university professors.”  

In fact, those who have participated in the bi-annual Pedagogy Congress that SNTECD holds with international guests in Havana will remember that 90% of the presentations by Cuban teachers address pedagogical issues. In contrast, international guests often present on the challenges of privatization, educational vouchers, charter schools, the underfunding of public education, and so on. Niurka also highlighted how the U.S. blockade against Cuba has negatively impacted the living and working conditions of everyone on the island.

On the other hand, we had the opportunity to learn from compañero Jose Hidalgo, from FECODE, who invited participants to reflect on the great challenge teachers face today referring to how Neoliberalism has eliminated critical thinking from schools and imposed a standardized language, the language of productivity. As Neoliberalism has distorted the meaning of knowledge, of the curriculum, of the school according to the realities in Latin America, Jose highlights the importance of recovering pedagogy as the intellectual field of teaching, as the essence of teaching. He then explained:

“Neoliberalism has de-pedagogized the teaching profession. We must recover pedagogy as the essence of being a teacher, of the historical thinking of education, and of the dignity of the teaching profession. Neoliberalism has forced us to discuss the problem of severance pay, the problem of wages, the problem of survival, which is fundamental to the dignity of the teaching profession. But this struggle for survival has overshadowed and relegated the pedagogical struggle to a second place — the struggle for the meaning and content of education.”

— Jose Hidalgo, FECODE

Visit to the Florestan Fernandes National School of the Landless Workers’ Movement school.

Participants also shared common challenges, for example: Those from FMPR and Totlahtol Yoltok agreed on the need for decolonization, to confront U.S. imperialism for the former, and to change the foreign education system imposed on indigenous peoples for the latter. Participants from FMPR, SEC, and the Honduran Pedagogical and Social Collective shared the need to continue working to eliminate misogyny and homophobia within teacher organizations. Those from FECODE, FMPR, SEC, and SUTEP identified the need to defend public education from neoliberalism. Participants from ANDES, FMPR and SUTEP shared their interest in fair salaries and a dignified retirement for teachers and education workers. Finally, FECODE and FMPR participants encouraged others to create a regional power bloc, an international solidarity network to address and act together against challenges that affect them collectively, but where each member organization maintains its own political and cultural autonomy. Other challenges mentioned were migration, generational changes in teacher organizations, etc.

In addition, we heard from FMPR how their connection with local community groups grew and strengthened following the natural and political disasters of the past eight years, creating a solidarity network to coordinate efforts and respond to the neoliberal policies implemented by the government to address emergencies caused by hurricanes, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they have fought against the privatization of public services such as water, electricity, education and social programs in Puerto Rico. SEC also shared about their collaboration with different sectors of the society to protest against a privatization wave with the current Costa Rican government that is affecting public services, like education and health, while crime rates grow.

Totlahtol Yoltok expressed their concerns about their need to integrate discussions on gender in the next proposal presented to CoDev as they are seeing growing numbers of femicides and gender-based violence against indigenous women in Veracruz, Mexico. And several hours more of exchanges among the Paulo Freire Institute and CoDev’s Latin American partners. They all agreed on the need to have more spaces like the Paulo Freire Journey to exchange with others facing the similar realities and challenges and to learn from each other’s fight.

Visit to Campos Salles Municipal Elementary School.

PFI also coordinated visits to educational projects that based their work on Freire’s principles and educational methods. We visited, first, the Florestan Fernandes National School of the Landless Workers’ Movement, which offers political education to its members and working-class organizers and educators from across Latin America and the world. Second, Campos Salles Municipal Elementary School, which has a history of promoting peace, democracy and social justice within itself but also in the neighborhood where it locates, Heliopolis. And third, UNAS (the Union of Centers, Residents’ Associations of Heliopolis), a non-profit organization that guides its work in the concept of the Educator Neighborhood, in which the neighborhood is a learning and teaching place and everything goes through education to build a more democratic and fair country. These visits allowed the international delegates to have the opportunity to chat with teachers and community leaders who have fiercely worked for the implementation and continuation of projects that seek to provide the conditions for more humane, inclusive and democratic teaching and learning experiences in both schools and communities.

In its third edition, the Paulo Freire Journey achieved its goal of providing a space for CoDev Education partners in Latin America to exchange experiences and knowledge, as well as foster connections and mutual support. Given that several partners work in isolation from other teacher organizations and/or discreetly within their own communities for various reasons, the exchanges in Sao Paulo provided them with a breath of fresh air and ideas. The Paulo Freire Institute generously offered its expertise to facilitate a space for dialogue, connections, and relationship-building among peers and colleagues, based on international solidarity.

As Padilha, one of the PFI facilitators, stated: "We need to create spaces for coexistence where people feel like subjects of history — subjects, not objects — and realize they can take the reins of history by reflecting on their own practice." Padilha then quoted Freire: "When a person does not oppose, they are in favor of the process of dehumanization."

It was an honor for CoDev to collaborate with the PFI and the BCTF to hold the Paulo Freire Journey, where we were able to deepen our understanding of a model of solidarity that involves actions based on a belief in one's own and others' dignity, and in the responsibility to fight for structural changes that promote mutual humanization. CoDev will continue to promote and facilitate international solidarity exchanges between Latin American and Canadian partners, and among themselves, so that they can strengthen their ties, learn from each other, and support one another.

Participant list:

• Jose Restrepo and Luis Leguizamon, from the CEID-FECODE (Colombia)

• Francia Briceno, the Women's Secretary, and Argerie Lopez, Executive Committee member, from SEC (Costa Rica)

• Niurka Gonzalez, the Secretary General of SNTECD (Cuba)

• Gloria Roque, the Women's Secretary, and Wendy Martinez, from ANDES 21 de Junio (El Salvador)

• Bessy Berrios, Vice-president, and Concepcion Sierra, from PRICPHMA (Honduras)

• Ramona Avila and Mirian Amador, the Women Teachers Collective, now called the “Berta Oliva de Nativi” Social and Pedagogical Collective (Honduras)

• Rosa Leyzaquia, Gender and Equity Secretary of SUTEP (Peru)

• Jeremy Rodriguez and Joshua Munoz, regional representatives of FMPR (Puerto Rico).

The Struggle for Occupational Health & Safety in Honduras and Central America

Report prepared by Nadia Revelo, Human and Labour Rights Program Director.

The multi-union delegation "Women Building Power in Central America" arrived in San Pedro Sula, the capital of the Cortés Department in northern Honduras, on November 20 at 11:30 PM.

We entered the airport, "Ramon Villeda Morales," which is currently undergoing renovations. Villeda Morales served as the president of Honduras from 1957 to 1963. He survived an attempted coup d'état in 1959 but was ultimately overthrown in 1963. This liberal president supported the revolutions in Nicaragua and Cuba and, among other achievements, inaugurated the Honduran Institute of Social Security (HISS) in 1959, which is responsible for occupational healthcare.

On November 21, we left our hotel in Downtown San Pedro and traveled in the rain to Choloma. Along the way, we passed by flooded slums, where the residents, drawn by the promise of jobs in the maquila industry, remained trapped in poverty. According to the Central American Observatory of Labor Violence, between December 2022 and June 2023, twenty thousand maquila workers lost their jobs in Cortés Department, Honduras.

In Choloma, we spent the day at the office of the Honduran Women's Collective (CODEMUH). For the first time, I had the opportunity to meet in person the members of CODEMUH, women whom I deeply admire. The first meeting was institutional, lasting around three hours during which we listened to CODEMUH's perspective. This feminist organization focuses on the health and lives of workers, particularly women who face significant oppression.

Maria Luisa Regalado, Director of Codemuh (right) with Julia MacRae, President of CoDev.

Demanding approval of the Health at the Workplace bill

For ten years, CODEMUH has been advocating for improvements to the legal framework regarding occupational health and safety, as the Honduran labor code has remained unchanged since it was passed in 1959. In 2022, their proposal culminated in a bill called "Health at the Workplace." This bill is based on the National Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Labor Code, and other national laws and regulations.

Banner: Congress, It is urgent to approve the Health at the Workplace bill.  Job Yes but with Dignity.

The bill aims to enhance Chapter V of the Honduran Labour Code by establishing a stronger institutional framework. This framework will facilitate collaboration among the Public Health System, the Honduran Institute of Social Security, the Labour Ministry, the Justice System, as well as workers and employers, creating an integrated system.

The "Health at the Workplace" bill seeks to improve mechanisms for preventing occupational diseases and work-related injuries across all economic sectors. It will increase the recognized occupational diseases from 44 to 242, establish a system of sanctions to enforce compliance with the law, and enhance benefits for workers who are disabled due to occupational diseases or work-related injuries.

During the meeting with CODEMUH's staff, I observed the deep respect the team has for the maquila workers. Many of the CODEMUH staff members have previously worked in the maquila industry themselves. This experience has heightened their awareness of women's labor rights through the initiatives developed by CODEMUH, leading many to become more involved and eventually join the organization.

Maquila women workers during the May Day Rally 2024.  Demanding the approval of the Bill Health at the Workplace.

Sharing collective empowerment

Ruth, Reina, Maria Luisa, Helen, and Ninibe expressed their strong indignation and frustration regarding the working conditions in the maquila. Despite this, they have not given up; instead, some of them are continuing their studies in law or health sciences. They spoke passionately about the collective empowerment process they share with the women workers, who often come to CODEMUH feeling defeated and humiliated by their employers. These workers have given years of their youth and felt betrayed by the state institutions that are supposed to protect their rights.

The courage of many women in the maquila rises from their struggles, like a phoenix rising from its ashes.

Members of Codemuh staff.

Three key concerns about the production practices in the Maquila industry trouble CODEMUH. First, the work schedules, which are organized as 4x4 or 4x3, require workers to work for four consecutive days (11.5 to 12 hours each day) followed by three or four days off. Second, the high production targets contribute significantly to work-related injuries due to the prolonged, repetitive movements that workers must perform without adequate rest. For example, a team of four or five workers is expected to sew 23 dozen t-shirts per hour, resulting in a total of 2,800 to 3,000 t-shirts by the end of an 11.5-hour shift. This combination of high production demands, long working hours, and wages tied to the quantity of garments produced creates a management system that effectively dehumanizes workers and treats them as disposable.

The third concern for CODEMUH is the pattern of factory closures and re-openings. Workers, particularly those who have sustained significant injuries, are unfairly dismissed by companies that consistently violate labor and human rights. These companies often hire young workers to perpetuate the cycle of exploitation. By closing factories, they can evade their labor responsibilities while maintaining their power as either job providers or destroyers, all within a context marked by corruption, weak law enforcement, and dependence on foreign investment.

Meeting of the Injured Maquila Workers from Gildan San Miguel factory dismissed in June 2023 due to the closure of operations of the maquila.

After meeting with CODEMUH staff, we spent an additional two hours talking to maquila workers who had been dismissed by Gildan, Hense, and Fruit of the Loom. Their stories were heartbreaking, revealing the level of harassment, exploitation, and humiliation they endured. Two words that capture the contrasting feelings of these maquila workers are DISPOSABLE on one side and CARE on the other.

Canadian multi-union Delegation with injured workers affected by the wave of closures that are fighting for labour justice.

Lilian, Esperanza, Paula, Zaida, Maria, Onofre, Elsy, Sandra, Karla, Merlin, and Nolvia shared their experiences of work-related injuries affecting their shoulders, necks, backs, and wrists. They described the strategies employed by factory management to extract maximum productivity from them until they were pushed to their breaking point. For years, they endured relentless sewing, often crying in pain, only to be dismissed with vague explanations.

Many of the factory closures were announced over the factory speakers, with a manager delivering an unclear message about the reasons for the shutdown. Workers often fainted or broke down in tears upon hearing this news. As working people ourselves, we understand what it means to lose a job, especially when living paycheck to paycheck.

Injured workers from GILDAN San Miguel factory rally in front of Rio Nance factory. They demand to be reinstated or rehired by GILDAN.

The workers not only described the terrible labour conditions they faced but also shared their journey toward collective empowerment. The harsh experience of being dismissed while suffering from occupational illnesses taught them the importance of seeking justice, reparations, and non-repetition. Much like populations affected by crimes against humanity, the maquila workers are now advocating for their human rights, which transnational corporations have violated in collusion with governments that prioritize economic interests over the well-being of women. In that room, about ten workers had won legal cases against these corporations for unfair dismissal. CODEMUH leads cases in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) and the United Nations against the Honduran government and transnational corporations.

Workers affected by the closure of the Hanse Brand factory protest in front of the Labour Secretary in San Pedro Sula.

The visit concluded with a tour of the industrial complex, where we observed young workers leaving the factories, expensive trucks departing the facilities, and heavily armed security guards managing the entrance and exit gates. We also noticed street food booths nearby. The diverse layers of workers who contribute to the vast surplus appropriated by transnational corporations. The maquila industry is not only associated with labor rights violations; it is also reportedly linked to crime and environmental destruction in Honduras.

Gates of a maquila in Choloma, Cortes.

Before arriving at the hotel, we stopped at a grocery store in Choloma to buy some snacks. We noticed that the prices were the same or even higher than those in Canada, despite wages being much lower in Honduras. While we were in line to pay, we observed the supervisor mistreating the young cashiers. The day concluded with another example of the harsh reality faced by working people in the region.

forum: voices of women in the maquila

On the second day in San Pedro Sula, we attended the forum titled "Voices of Women in the Maquila." The audience included representatives from the local government, the judicial system, trade unions, universities, grassroots organizations, the feminist movement, and both unemployed and employed women from the maquila industry.

Members of governmental and non-governmental organization participated in the international forum “Voices of Women in the Maquila” in San Pedro Sula (November 22, 2024).

The Canadian delegation, which included members from the BCGEU - Andrea Duncan, HSA - Anne Weishman, and Arby Yeo as well as Julia Macrae, the president of CoDev, served as special guests. They presented to the plenary the role of international solidarity in the struggle of maquila workers in Central America, focusing on women's rights, occupational health and safety, and collective empowerment for women.

(Above, left to right) Andrea Duncan chair of the International Solidarity Committee of BCGEU, Anne Wichmann and Arby Yeo members of BCHSA share their experience in the forum.

After each presentation, participants engaged by asking questions and sharing comments. It was fascinating to see how the women in the audience connected their everyday struggles for rights throughout the continent. We discovered that generations of immigrant women in Canada continue to fight for better living conditions through their union and social movement activism, much like women workers in the banana industry who are battling against the exploitation of foreign companies.

We all recognize that violence against women is a systemic issue linked to both domestic and public violence, as well as labor exploitation worldwide. Furthermore, we agree that the women's movement and a feminist approach have significantly contributed to the advancements made by women in Honduras, Central America, and Canada. However, it is evident that global corporations and states collaborate to perpetuate unfair working and living conditions for women.

CODEMUH staff members and Canadian multi-union delegation after the forum.

State institutions often show negligence in enforcing laws. For example, they permit companies to violate regulations regarding work hours by approving contracts that extend to 11 or 12 hours a day. Additionally, the defunding of the Honduran Social Security Institution has resulted in Choloma being without a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine for over two years, which delays the diagnosis of occupational diseases. There is also a lack of professional staff in the Committee of Disability Assessment, causing significant delays—sometimes lasting years—in resolving cases of injured workers seeking disability pensions.

Local speakers highlighted the challenges of safeguarding women's human rights in maquila and free trade zones. Since the Central American countries endorsed the labor-intensive export garment industry in the 1980s through the Caribbean Basin Initiative established by the Ronald Reagan administration in the United States, the reliance of Central American labor markets on the precarious jobs offered by maquila industries has intensified. 

Women maquila workers rally in front of the Honduran Social Security Institute in Tegucigalpa demanding the Occupational Health Assessment of the injured workers dismissed in the wave of factory closures.

resisting factory closures and weak labour laws

The entire region is currently experiencing a surge in maquila factory closures as global corporations implement strategies to pressure governments during tax agreement negotiations. In this struggle, the dismissed maquila workers are often viewed as collateral damage. However, these workers refuse to accept this status. They are actively advancing a regional agenda to hold their governments accountable and advocate for new legislation that improves the power dynamics between workers and the owners of the means of production.

The Network of Central American Women's Organizations in Solidarity with Maquila Workers (The Network) presented the Agenda 2023-2033. According to a study conducted in four countries of the region—Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua—the most significant concession that these countries make to textile and clothing maquiladora companies, beyond tax benefits, is the dismantling of labour laws. This includes the deregulation of labour guarantees and the overall flexibility of labour rights, which leaves companies free to "adjust" labour relationships to fit the demands of the commercial market.

The Central American Network of Women’s Organization in Solidarity with Maquila Workers members and the Canadian Multi-union delegates.  The President of CoDev gave a recognition to the members of the Network for its unbreakable support to the women maquila workers and  celebrate the 28 years of partnership.

The violation of fundamental principles and rights should not be considered a legitimate comparative advantage. The governments of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua are violating the legal framework of Human Rights by permitting the erosion of labour rights for women workers.

In light of the power imbalance, The Network has adopted a strategy that highlights violence against women in the workplace and raises awareness in society about its continuation from home to work. Member organizations of The Network observe, document, and denounce the state's role in violating the rights of women working in maquilas. Simultaneously, they engage in activism, education, and organization among the workers. Maintaining international solidarity with The Network is essential for understanding the dynamics of power relationships between states, corporations, and working-class women.

The delegation departed from Honduras on November 23, committed to sharing insights from the women's struggle in Central America and mobilizing fellow union members to enhance international solidarity efforts.

Members of CODEMUH and women maquila workers protested outside Congress, demanding the approval of the "Health at the Workplace" bill.

Multi-Union Solidarity Delegation: Women Building Power in Central America

The multi-union delegation, Women Building Power in Central America, was launched in January 2024 to strengthen solidarity links between Canadian unionized workers and their counterparts in Latin America. CoDev extended an invitation to Canadian partners to join this significant journey. The last maquila tour, organized by the human and labour rights program in 2019, saw the multi-union delegation visit Nicaragua and Honduras. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the CoDev dynamic for almost five years. 

With great hopes, Deanna Fasciani and I started thinking about the visit to our partners in Central America. In January, we invited the Canadian partners to visit El Salvador and Honduras. This multi-union delegation included El Salvador to see our long-standing partners, The Salvadorian Association for Inter-community Health and Social Services APSIES, whose last gathering was in 2014, and Honduras to join the Honduran Women's Collective CODEMUH and The Central American Network of Women's Organizations in Solidarity with Maquila Workers REDCAM.

For weeks, CoDev and our Central American partners diligently prepared the activities and logistics for the delegation's visit. Our Canadian partners also made internal processes to elect the delegates joining the trip.  Despite facing challenges, five delegates were selected to visit Central America. Members from BCGEU, CUPE BC, and HSA registered for the delegation; however, two had to drop out at the last minute due to unexpected issues. The good news is that CoDev's president, Julia Macrae, decided to take her vacation to join the delegation and meet our historical partners in Central America.

Preparatory meeting with Central American Partners

The CoDev delegation primarily aims to strengthen the solidarity links between Canadian unionized workers and working people in Latin America. We have realized that delegates become great International solidarity ambassadors in their local, regional, and national unions. Feeling the struggle of our Latin American partners helps to embody the meaning of solidarity and create a link between the struggles here and there.

The delegation started in Canada with two workshops where we discussed logistics and took the opportunity to get to know each other better. In the second workshop, we reflected on the contexts of our respective countries and the solidarity work that has been developed both locally and internationally.

The second phase of the delegation involved travel to El Salvador and Honduras, where we participated in activities organized by our partners. Finally, we will hold a debriefing session in which the Canadian delegates will share their reflections and action plans to support international solidarity projects in Central America.

Document prepared for the second workshop

On Sunday, November 17, we began the trip from Vancouver to San Francisco and arrived in San Salvador in the evening around 9 p.m. On Saturday, we had been alerted to bad weather in the region due to Tropical Storm Sara, which had hit northern Honduras a few days before. The weather looked more stable for Sunday, so we moved on and flew to San Salvador.

At the Saint Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez airport in San Luis Talpa, Moises, the executive director of APSIES, welcomed us.  It was raining, but it was warm.  I love that feeling of humidity and the warm and shiny green of the trees of the tropical zone.  We had our first dinner in Salvadorian land and enjoyed well-prepared food with delicious natural juice.  During our stay, we were hosted at a charming small hotel located near the University of El Salvador.

We noticed that El Salvador's living costs are quite high, since the economy was dollarized in 2001. The prices at regular restaurants are comparable to those in Canada.

Delegates with Moises at San Salvador Airport

On November 18, the delegation met with members of the Health National Forum (FNS), who gave us a historical perspective on the popular struggle for public health in El Salvador. The Health National Forum was established in 2010 as a platform for community participation in the decision-making process regarding health policies.

During our meeting, we learned about the 2010 health reform driven by grassroots movements that established a universal health framework focusing on primary care. The health system is structured based on the Bismarck model, which includes a social security subsystem for formal sector workers, funded by contributions from employers, employees, and the State.  In addition, there is a public subsystem, financed by the Ministry of Health, for informal workers and marginalized groups facing chronic underfunding and a private subsystem that offers services for those who can pay.

During the meeting with FNS, we learned about the increased privatization of the health system since Bukele took power in 2019, along with the loss of social participation spaces created by the health reform in 2010. The most concerning issue we discussed was the heightened repression faced by trade unions in the public sector, including mass layoffs and persecution of union activists, which have been facilitated by the erosion of the checks and balances system and the State of exception imposed by the Bukele government since 2022. Under this State, the police can arrest individuals without evidence and can hold them in detention for up to two years.

Canadian Delegation with Members of El Salvador's National Health Forum (FNS)

Meeting with FNS Members

In San Salvador, we had the opportunity to meet Antonio Pacheco and Saul Rivas, members of the Association for Social Development in Santa Marta (ADES), who were unjustly imprisoned from March 2023 to November 2024. Our conversation was profoundly touching.

Antonio shared his historical perspective on the Santa Marta community's struggle, detailing their experiences during the civil war, exile, and return to their territory in the 1980s. His insights into the theory and practice of education and critical thinking highlighted the ways these have empowered the Santa Marta community to resist the metal mining exploitation that has polluted and destroyed their water sources.  This collective development has enabled them to plan for the future while continuing their fight for social justice.  Below, Antonio Pacheco and Saul Rivas, members of ADES.

In the afternoon of November 18, the delegation visited the Canadian Ambassador to El Salvador, Mylene Paradis, who carefully listened to CoDev's Salvadorean partners and delegates. She learned more about the role of international solidarity among working people promoted by CoDev. It was the first meeting with grassroots organizations as the new Canadian ambassador, and our discussions impacted her understanding of the issues.   

Picture after the meeting with Ambassador Mylene Paradis in San Salvador

After the meeting with the Canadian Embassy, we joined the Movement of Laid-off Workers members. They shared their experiences regarding the recent repression faced by union members who participated in the White Rally on October 20. During this rally, social organizations and trade unions denounced the political and labour persecution by the state against union members and leaders who oppose the mass privatization of education and health services, as well as corruption cases and violations of labour laws by the current administration. The Movement warned delegates about planned cuts that will eliminate 15,000 public sector jobs in 2025 and requested the solidarity of the Canadian labour movement.

Meeting with the Movement of Lay-off Workers

On November 19, the delegation began its journey to the East. Along the way, we posed numerous questions to Moises, who patiently explained everything from the town names' meanings to the region's main environmental conflicts. Unlike the western and central areas of the country, the East appears more rural, and we noticed fewer stores and fuel stations after crossing the bridge over the Lempa River.  APSIES focuses on food sovereignty and women's empowerment projects and is well aware of the water struggles and the climate crisis's impact on this region. New government geothermal energy projects threaten water sources and the conversion of coffee-growing areas into urban and tourism developments.

In rout to Easter El Salvador

We arrived in Lolotique around 11 AM to meet with the APSIES Board of Directors. We were excited to hear Santiago discuss the foundation of the association during the intense repression of the military regime in 1986. The Health Science Association (HSA) was the first Canadian union to partner with APSIES in 1991. Santiago visited British Columbia in 1992 for an international solidarity event organized by CoDev and HSA. He emphasized the human aspect of the partnership and stated that friendship is essential, saying, "We are not alone; we have our Canadian friends."

Santiago explained the circumstances in which APSIES was founded.

In the 1980s, APSIES focused on providing health services in the region due to a lack of public investments and high morbidity and mortality rates among the population. Today, APSIES promotes social organizations to improve public health and social services. Other board members shared their journeys with APSIES, and the experiences of the women members were particularly significant. They described their empowerment journey, moving from domestic violence to becoming social leaders in their communities. Additionally, young people highlighted how APSIES' work has helped prevent migration to the USA by creating education and job opportunities.

APSIES board members with Canadian Delegation

In the afternoon, members of women's and youth organizations arrived at the APSIES office, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch of chicken and chipilin-vegetable soup. The representatives from the women's and youth associations discussed the essential role of APSIES as a coordinator between the community and public services, as well as its role as an educator for women and young people in the region. The guidance provided by APSIES has significantly contributed to the empowerment process of the rural population. As a result, the youth and women have decided to pursue their studies and remain in their community to initiate projects for the common good, actively discouraging irregular emigration to the USA. Community members expressed their desire to meet with us, the members of the organizations who have supported them for decades through international solidarity.

Meeting with members of the Women and Young people Associations

Canadian delegates with members of the young people Association

Members of the Women’s Association and APSIES staff with Canadian Delegates

APSIES office in Lolotique, San Miguel

We visited the Nueva Guadalupe community, where the women's association manages a children's development center that was at risk of being closed by the government. Around 40 women and their children gathered to share their challenges and successes. The Nueva Guadalupe Women's Association participated in several training workshops and established a loan fund for women's productive projects with support from APSIES. As a result, single mothers have been able to support their children's education, and many members of the association now have sons and daughters attending university. Additionally, adults have improved their lives through health education and enhanced social conditions.

Meeting with the Nueva Guadalupe Women’s Association

We ended the day by spending the night in Alegria, a beautiful small town located on a hill. There, we enjoyed exploring the craft stores and indulging in delicious pupusas. The following morning, we visited the El Triunfo Women's Association, led by Exaltacion, its president. There were around 15 women who showcased a variety of products they manufacture from their family farms, including shampoos, herbal and root teas, and handcrafted tote bags. They shared their journey of empowerment and discussed the importance of gender equity with their partners and children. It was particularly touching to hear the teenagers express their desire to join the Women's Association once they reach the age of majority. In the photo, they present us with tote bags that they learned to make during their first workshop organized by APSIES.

Meeting with El Triunfo Women’s Association

Member of the Women's Association presented tote bags that they made to the delegates

We travelled from El Triunfo to Estanzuelas, where a group of women welcomed us from at least four generations. The Estanzuela Women's Association is focused on agriculture.

They have worked diligently to produce food for their region and were recognized in a national competition for the exceptional quality of their crops. They proudly demonstrate to their community that women can also excel in organic agriculture.

A young member of the Association showing the food they produce.

Estanzuela Women’s Association and Canadian delegates

We returned west from Estanzuela, making two important stops before heading to the airport to leave the country. Our first stop was in Cojutepeque, where we delivered a letter to the Appeal Court. In this letter, CoDev joined national and international efforts advocating for the freedom of the "Five of Santa Marta" and requested the court to reaffirm the innocence of the five Salvadoran water defenders: Teodoro Antonio Pacheco, Saúl Agustín Rivas Ortega, Miguel Ángel Gámez, Alejandro Laínez García, and Pedro Antion Rivas Laínez, citing the ruling from the Sensuntepeque Court dated October 18, 2024.  We navigated through a traffic jam in the town's central square to successfully deliver the letter. Unfortunately, days later, we learned that the Cojutepeque court accepted the appeal from the Attorney General's Office, reopening the judicial case against the Five of Santa Marta.

CoDev delivering the letter to Cojutepeque Court

Our final stop was San Marcos, one of the first tax-free areas for the maquila industry in El Salvador. This region has an airport that facilitates importing and exporting raw and manufactured materials, exempt from taxes. The Salvadoran Women's Movement Association organized a meeting with a group of maquila workers at their children's development center, "El Jacalito," a daycare established to support the families of maquila workers.

Dora Pastor, the president of the SITSCES union at the Apple Tree maquila, led the workers. They expressed their anger over the dehumanizing treatment of the maquila owner, the high production targets, and the very low wages. Class struggle unions face significant obstacles in maintaining their legal status, and governmental institutions often take a long time to issue necessary certificates to executive board members. Without these certificates, unions are unable to take action. Leaders and rank-and-file members risk arrest if they promote street actions like rallies. Despite these threats, this group of women was organizing an action inside the factory for November 26.

Dora displays the names of the brands for which her maquila operates

Flyer inviting everybody to support Maquila in their struggle for their rights in the Tax-Free Area of San Marco.  It will be held on Tuesday, November 26th, at 7 a.m. in front of the Apple Tree Factory.

We left El Salvador with a deep admiration for women's power. A delegate said, "This experience gives me hope that we can bring about change." Our next destination was San Pedro Sula, the center of the Maquila industry in Central America.

Mural at FNS facilities honoring Margarita Posada, a defender of health rights in El Salvador