The Social Service Worker Program at the Perth Campus has partnered with Ottawa based charity, Salvaide as part of the students’ curriculum on global social welfare issues. A delegation of students will visit two rural communities in El Salvador on a two week study tour beginning February 22, 2006. El Salvador, a community that was ravaged by a lengthy civil war, earthquakes and hurricanes, continues to battle poverty.

The SSW students have successfully fundraised to pay for the trip with activities such as a dinner, dance and silent auction, Christmas Craft Fair, and sales of handmade Salvadorian items at Lanark County Festivals.

Support for the project has been excellent! The students were awarded a $5000.00 grant from the Canadian Bureau for International Education. Support from Algonquin College includes surplus Laptop computers and a projector provided by Glenn MacDougall. The SSW students will help a youth group set up the laptops in the St. Vicente area. A unique partnership with the Nepean Hotspurs Soccer Club has been created and the SSW students will be distributing soccer balls, uniforms, and first aid kits as a result of the generous support from Norman Keddo and Charles Singh of the Hotspurs. The Salvation Army Thrift Shop in Perth has donated suitcases to help transport the donated items which also include packsacks containing school supplies that have been collected at the Perth Campus. Businesses in Lanark County were extremely supportive with donated items for the fundraising auction which was lead by Smiths Falls’ radio personality, Wayne Cavanagh from Jack FM.

This trip would not be possible without the leadership and organizational skills of professor, Lisa Shaw-Verhoek, she will be traveling with the students. The delegation will link with workers from two Non Governmental Organizations, CORDES and CRIPDES while in El Salvador and planning for future projects will occur. This is an exciting opportunity for the SSW students and a wonderful example of partnerships that connect communities and countries.