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Trip Destination: El Salvador, Central America. Participants spend time in San Salvador, the capitol, and spend two nights in El Ocotillo, a rural village in Morazan, in the eastern highlands. Trip Dates: Approximately 7, 8 or 9 days toward the end of winter break 2009-10. Coordinating Organizations: Boston College Campus Ministry, in collaboration with Fundahmer, an organization that has hosted Boston College delegations for many years (http://www.fundahmer.org.sv/Website/). |
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El Salvador Trip Itinerary: Fundahmer, the program’s in-country host organization, designs the trip’s itinerary and coordinates each day’s activities, which include meetings and conversations with representatives of the Church, the government, political parties, and several non-governmental organizations involved with human rights, globalization and trade, post-war transition and reconciliation, among other topics. While learning about macro-level economic, political, social, and religious issues from various perspectives, participants also have the opportunity to witness first hand the joys and struggles of people profoundly impacted by war and by policies and situations they can’t control.
During the trip, participants learn about the life, work, and death of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was martyred in 1980; the four U.S. Church-women who were killed at the start of the civil war in 1980; and the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter who were murdered in 1989. Participants travel to Morazan, in the eastern highlands, to reconnect with Salvadoran friends in the rural community of El Ocotillo, which has graciously hosted BC delegations for several years.
During the trip, participants must expect to live simply. They likely will eat food that is not always familiar or plentiful, sleep in beds or other places that are often less comfortable than they might be accustomed to, bathe rarely, and experience limited personal space.
Prayer, reflection, journaling, and sharing with each other are core aspects of this experience before, during, and after the trip. Each participant is expected to share about her/his faith, in all of its joys and struggles, and to explore how faith, and the gifts they have been given, connect to living in solidarity with the Poor.
Language Proficiency: Although being able to speak Spanish is useful while on the trip, applicants do not need to be proficient in any language other than English to participate.
Safety: Boston College Campus Ministry seriously considers the U.S. Department of State’s published statements regarding public safety in a potential host country. For travel-related information and recommendations published by the U.S. Department of State, please check the U.S. Department of State’s website: http://www.state.gov/travel/.
Health/Immunizations: Boston College Campus Ministry requests that participants seriously consider protecting themselves before traveling outside of the U.S. with the immunizations and other preventative measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). For more travel-related information and recommendations published by the CDC, please check the CDC’s website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/regionCentralAmerica.aspx.