Since the late 1980s, Voices has been hosting groups coming from the US. Delegations usually run from 7-9 days and offer participants the opportunity to learn about the country’s history and its current important social movements for justice, peace and development taking place.
→ TYPES OF DELEGATIONS
→ GROUPS WE HOST
→ TOPICS WE DISCUSS
→ COST AND LOGISTICS
→ POST DELEGATION
TYPES OF DELEGATIONS
General Delegations
Delegates will accompany Salvadorans in commemorating significant historical events for El Salvador and the world. Events like the martyrdom anniversaries of Oscar Romero, Rutilio Grande, the four U.S. Churchwomen, and the UCA Jesuit Priests. Towards the end of every year, Voices’ local partners communities Ciudad Segundo Montes in Morazán and Communities Octavio Ortiz and Amando López also celebrate the repatriation and birth of their respective communities. You will be not only be celebrating the legacies of these martyrs but learning about the continued progress for peace and justice in El Salvador as well.
Themed Delegations
Delegates can also come to El Salvador to learn about a specific issue such as the environment, youth, or women. They will accompany Salvadoran leaders, communities and movements working for justice on these of said topics and learn about past and current struggles. Most of these themed delegations include a more interactive and extensive approach then the general delegation. Delegates will be expected to have some sort of specific interest and or relationship to the specific topic. To get a sense of the five main topics we work on visit Our Work page.
GROUPS WE HOST
Educational Institutions
● Middle Schools
● High schools
● Colleges
● Universities
● Alumni Associations
● Educators and Faculty
● Campus Groups
Faith-Based Groups
● Traditional Churches
● Non-denominational Churches
● Religious University Associations
● Church Youth groups
● Priests, Pastors, Ministers
● Seminary Students
● Missionary Groups
Theme-Specific
● Public Health
● Environmental Justice
● Immigration
● Violence Prevention
● Women’s Health and Reproductive RIghts
● Formal and Popular Education
● Investigative Reporting
● Salvadorans in DiasporaSpecial Groups
Are you an individual or apart of a group that is not mentioned?
We’d love to hear from you write to us at voices@votb.org.
TOPICS WE DISCUSS
- THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION
- WATER AS A HUMAN RIGHT
- POLITICAL ADVOCACY
- COMBATING GENDER VIOLENCE
- ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
- YOUTH LEADERSHIP
- SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
- US POLICIES IN LATIN AMERICA
COSTS AND LOGISTICS
1. Cost
Each delegation varies therefore we will customize a budget for yours, based on the activities and duration. Please note, our average daily fee per person is between $110USD to $130USD. This fee includes costs like transportation, lodging, translation and food, and activities.
2. Pre-delegation
Your participation in the delegation begins long before you get on the plan to come here. You may be asked to attend meetings, participate in group activities, and assist in fundraising efforts. Be open to reflecting upon political, economic, and faith-based issues from a variety of perspectives.
You can also do a little background research! Having prior knowledge of the issues facing Salvadorans and their lives today can help you ask better questions and have deeper interactions with the people you meet.
3. Housing
Delegates will have the opportunity to stay overnight in the homes of rural community leaders. These communities are far from the capital, very small, poor with profound histories. Though you will not have the basic amenities you are used to back home –running water, a mattress, privacy, or big meals– we are certain you will share some of the most meaningful experiences of your trip there. You will live not only amongst these people but live as they live. During your time in the communities you will meet with the community council, tour the community, and spend quality time with your host families.
4. Security
Currently, El Salvador is experiencing an alarming wave of violence, specifically gang and gender violence. Voices will take every precaution necessary to ensure that dangerous situations and/or environments are avoided. We have 30 years of experience working with our Salvadoran communities, and keeping our staff and delegates safe. Ultimately, the most obvious way to stay safe is to be aware of and adhere to the safety issues and procedures discussed in both the pre-planning meetings and the in-country orientation with our staff.
5. Health
We hope you don’t get sick and will do everything in our power to prevent this. However, as sanitation, hygiene and medical standards in El Salvador are not what they are in the US, certain precautions MUST be taken. Three important steps you should take before coming is 1) Consult your physician for recommendations 2) Completely fill out our delegation health form and 3) Decide whether to vaccinate yourself. Please visit the CDC on Central America
Recommended Immunizations
Update diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), polio vaccines, Hepatitis A and Typhoid and your yearly flu shot.
Suggested/Optional Immunizations
● Yellow Fever ● Cholera ● Malaria
Special Advisories
There have been outbreaks of Dengue, Zika Fever and Chikungunya, all mosquito-born viruses. There are no immunizations except to protect against mosquito bites.
POST-DELEGATION
Due to the nature of our commitment to accompaniment, and depending on your type and group, we will ask you to not only spread the humanity you witness here but use your experiences and apply what you learn to your own movements, whether they be educationally, politically, religiously or socially based. Though the world may dub El Salvador as “en desarrollo” or developing, the Salvadoran people have had centuries of success in resisting oppression, local development, popular education, environmental justice, empowering women and others you will no doubt learn about while here.
INTERESTED? Contact us today via email at voices@votb.org.
OUR MOST RECENT 2017 DELEGATION