Los Olivos Cis

Civil rights, democratic development, emergency aid, and advocacy programs: Los Olivos CIS continued to support 25 organizations in the CIS Community Network for Cooperation and Solidarity. CIS work is carried out by 19 permanent staff and 26 long term volunteers (3 months or more). *** CIS Clean Water and the Environment program. CIS trained and distributed water filters to 242 families, benefitting 1,116 individuals. CIS installed 2 Clean Water for the World Purification Units benefiting 252 individuals. CIS carried out organizational development work with eight local water committees, forty trainings were organized on health, hygiene, environment, and filter care and distribution, and maintenance and follow up was done with 36 Clean Water for the World industrial purification units. *** The CIS continued its art and mental health program in Paso Puente, Distrito Italia, Residencial Libertad, and Romero Community in Tonacatepeque as part of an integral approach to overcoming poverty and violence, while building community. The program gives youth an alternative to migration and joining gangs to survive and they are invited to dream ways they can contribute to building a better future. *** CIS advocated respect for human rights, due process, presumption of innocence, and to allow families to have visits and correspondence with the incarcerated. CIS provided support (moral, advice, food baskets) to 40 families who have innocent family members detained. CIS provided legal support to 30 families, the majority on the Holy Spirit Island where there are no gangs, as well as to former scholarship students and family members in other communities. CIS trained staff and scholarship students in human rights and to take sworn statements. CIS and its attorneys won the appeal of a minor condemned to 10 years in prison based on false testimony but had to do legal follow up to get him freed February 12, 2024, two months after being absolved. *** CIS coordinated two election observer missions with 54 accredited and trained observers in El Salvador and 46 accredited and trained observers in the United States where Salvadorans were allowed to vote for the first time.

Educational delegations and language and cultural exchange: CIS hosted five delegations to El Salvador with a total of 57 participants, which included sister relationships which are the base of the scholarship and leadership development program. Additionally, CIS representatives participated in six visits with 15 participants to the United States - scholarship students visited St. Elizabeth, Holy Spirit and other parishes in Kansas City and Dayton Ohio, participated in the International Columbian Festival in Washington D.C. with Salvadoran crafts coordinator, and the human rights delegation to Washington D.C. and New York. *** CIS imparted Spanish classes to 135 students- 59 in person, 13 private classes, 63 online from 14 different countries. *** CIS trained eleven volunteer English teachers online and in person to teach 101 English as a Second language students and covering four ten-week cycles. CIS provided partial scholarships to 15 students including three women freed from prison, two CIS staff, and 10 CIS university scholarship recipients.

Small business and women's development programs: CIS supported 17 women's businesses and artisan workshops in 2024: Las Delicias Bakery, Sausage to Go, El Espino Sausages, Divine Bakery, Holy Spirit Candies, Colorada Seamstresses, indigo dye and embroidered clothing, wooden crafts, organic coffee, and others. CIS provided one scholarship to a woman in the sausage businesses to study a technical degree in management of meat and dairy products and the son of an artisan that produces accessories with recycled materials in the Las Tinecas workshop. *** CIS crafts coordinator and women's business coordinator in conjunction with the Design and Communications Department of the Jesuit University and the Monica Herrera Business School facilitated a second year of training with a course in design principles. *** CIS supported 12 artisan workshops which generate income for 50 families by selling their products in our store including purses and accessories, coconut jewelry, organic coffee, painted wooden products, cards and jewelry made from recycled materials, indigo dyed clothing, embroidery, and other items.