There are Many Ways to Make a Difference

So you’re ready to help but don’t know where to start. Maybe you're not ready to pick up your life up and move to a rural community in El Salvador ...

Don’t fret! You DO have what it takes to make a difference!

There are as many ways to help as there are people willing to lend a hand. They involve differing degrees of time, money, energy, resources and skills. It all depends on what you have to offer and what you’re comfortable with! The following list is just a jumping off point -- and keep in mind that new ideas and ways to be involved are always surfacing!

• Donate!  Whether you can offer $5 or $500, donating funds is one of the easiest, most basic, and most helpful ways to give your support.

• Volunteer in El Salvador !   Experience 10 weeks of life in a rural community through our Summer Immersion Program! Or spend 15 months working alongside our Salvadoran partner organizations as a long-term volunteer!

 

•   Make a wish come true!   We have developed a "wishlist" of items that are in constant demoand for the projects and communities with whom we work, as well as our own CRISPAZ team. Take a look! If you would like to donate something off of the wishlist but aren't sure how to get it to El Salvador , contact us and we can probably help!

 

•   Take action!  The following are just a few examples of links to action and advocacy sites, where often making a difference is as simple as sending a note to your congressman or your local grocery store! We will be adding more links and information to this list, so please keep checking – and please contact us with any suggestions of links that we should post here!

Campaign to Stop the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
http://www.stopcafta.org/

Campaign to Shut Down the School of the Americas
http://www.soaw.org/new/index.php

Campaign for Labor Rights
http://www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org/ 
http://www.usleap.org/
http://www.workersrights.org/
http://www.maquilasolidarity.org/

Check out our Fair Trade Action Sheet (pdf document – click here to get
Adobe Reader )

 

•   Buy craftwork Made by Salvadoran artisans!     Colorful and unique Salvadoran crafts make beautiful holiday gifts and are a great way to support the hard-working artisans. CRISPAZ’s line of crafts, The People’s Market, is available for sale online as well as in a variety of stores throughout the U.S. and Canada . You can also organize a craft sale as a fundraiser – for more information, contact us!

 

•   Buy responsibly!   Choosing fair trade products demonstrates your commitment to a fair wage and just labor conditions for the workers at all levels of production. Look for the fair trade label when buying, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, chocolate, fresh fruit, and other products! For more information about fair trade, what products are available, and where to find them near you, check out the links below:

http://www.fairtradefederation.com/memret.html
http://www.equalexchange.com/products/products.html
http://www.transfairusa.org/content/shop/products.php
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/
 

•  Come on a delegation!     Ready to get your feet wet on the ground in El Salvador ? Our El Salvador Encounter program offers 7- to 10-day educational tourism trips that introduce you to the country from the roots up. Read more about this program and contact us for more information!

 

•   Spread the word!     Tell your friends about El Salvador and CRISPAZ! Encourage them to visit our website, www.crispaz.org, or sign up for one of our publications – subscription is free!

 

Share your stories with us!    Been to El Salvador ? We are looking for stories, photos, reflections, links, and anything else that you’d like to share with us about your time in El Salvador, whether you came on a one-week delegation or spent two years as a volunteer. Please send along any of the above to salvanet@crispaz.org, and let us know if we can them on our site or in one of our publications!