New World Outlook - Summer 2017 - Open - 46

46 N E W W O R L D O U T L O O K . O R G

Who Teaches Us the Most?
by Joseph Russ

hey have no electricity... Wow."
That's what one of our visitors said
after visiting the community of 30 de
Abril ("30th of April") in El Salvador. It's
true, the residents have no electricity in their
homes, which are primarily composed of sheet
metal and tarps bolted to bamboo. They have no
running water, and even the well water is severely contaminated. The only high school is miles
away across the highway, a dangerous journey in a
country with the most car accidents per capita. Yet
these homes are on land they fought hard for, and Joseph Russ in El Salvador
they are proud to have won the land in a struggle PHOTO: COURTESY JOSEPH RUSS
with the local government.
Several years ago, a massive flood displaced dozThe visitor mentioned above came to learn from
ens of families, leaving them homeless and with no them. He wasn't a tourist or a philanthropist who
other options. They pleaded for access to land from came to save the people of El Salvador, but a partithe local government, but they were met with si- cipant in a seminar on human rights and community
lence. Without homes, they squatted in a sugarcane development. This seminar, hosted by the nongovernfield, constructing shanties out of whatever they mental organization Cristosal, was an opportunity for
could find.
US citizens to learn about the community's advocacy
As the years went on, they began to organize as for their rights. It's not an opportunity to marvel at the
a community. They advocated for their right to safety poverty and destitution before them, nor is it a chance
and land, and finally, on April 30th, 2015, they negotiat- to solve the problems. Here, participants learn from
ed their rights to the space with the local government. people doing amazing grassroots organizing under exIt was a struggle, but the success and satisfaction of tremely difficult circumstances.
this accomplishment is commemorated in the very
When the participants say "Wow," they are marname of the community. While they may not have veling at the accomplishments the community has
many amenities, they have something invaluable: the achieved. They are amazed at how, without things we
skills to organize and advocate for their rights.
consider so basic, people continue to fight and win.
The next challenge is the struggle for clean water. They are inspired. They realize they have much to
Currently, the well water is undrinkable because of learn. This is the power of the human rights approach
contamination from nearby farms and the toxic chemi- to Christian mission. It honors the true work of Jesus
cals they use, such as pesticides and herbicides. The Christ in our world: a ministry and mission by the marcommunity board continues to organize the citizens to ginalized for the marginalized.
lobby their government for access to clean water, but
the fight continues. Their strength, perseverance, and Joseph Russ is a Global Mission Fellow from El Segundo,
organizing skills are inspiring, and they have a lot to California (Advance #3022225), serving with Foundation
teach all of us.
Cristosal in El Salvador.

http://www.newworldoutlook.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of New World Outlook - Summer 2017 - Open