• To develop a deeper understanding of the threats to food
security for ordinary people – Canadians and Latin Americans.
This will include study of specific issues, such as: women’s
role in, access to and control over food production; the problems
arising from corporate ownership of land, water, and genetic resources
(including seeds); the challenge of protecting local markets from
low-priced imports; preservation of biodiversity; local investment
and empowerment; and more.
• To provide an opportunity for Canadian participants to
learn about the challenges of development in rural El Salvador,
and to establish solidarity links between Salvadorans and Canadians.
• To challenge Canadian participants to reflect critically
on the food systems they rely on, and to encourage social action
at home to foster food security and food sovereignty.
• To explore the possibility of ongoing experiential learning
opportunities, possibly for course credit, between the Social Justice
& Peace Studies Program at King’s University College,
and the communities we will visit.
Delegation Particulars
Who is organizing it?
The delegation is made possible by collaboration between Dr. Joan
Mason-Grant of King’s University College, Alfredo Marroquin
of SalvAide, and representatives of CORDES (The Foundation for Cooperation
and Community Development of El Salvador) and CRIPDES (the Association
of Rural Communities for the Development of El Salvador). SalvAide
is a nationally registered Canadian charitable organization working
with citizens of El Salvador on projects that foster bottom-up rural
development to achieve social and economic justice, democracy and
dignity for their people. CORDES and CRIPDES are SalvAide’s
primary partners in El Salvador, and have worked mutually to design
and deliver development programs in communities who strive to be
the protagonists of their own development.
Where are we going?
The delegation will focus on two regions in El Salvador: the Lower
Lempa region and Chalatenango. In the Lower Lempa region, we will
visit communities building a “solidarity economy” in
which the quality of life of people is at the centre of concern,
and the emphasis is on creating regional self-management. We meet
with youth, seniors and women and will visit projects such as production
and sale of organic fresh vegetables, organic sugar, and organic
cashews. In Chalatenango, we will visit a CIDA (Canadian
International Development Agency)-funded “Integrated Family
Farm Plan,” the focus of which is to address the challenges
of food and income security and gender inequality in the region.
We will also meet with artisan and marketing cooperatives, and visit
a coffee processing plant. See the draft itinerary below.
Do I need to have a special interest in food systems to go on this
trip?
Well, everyone has an interest in food systems because we all must
eat, and we all are implicated in global food production and consumption
systems. The focus on food during this trip will enable us to see
the real-life manifestations of and more clearly understand many
issues that anyone interested in social justice would be concerned
with: the creation of poverty, gender relations, the impact of free
trade and neo-liberal policies on rural peoples in Latin America,
environmental implications of our food system, the aftermath of
militaristic violence and, most importantly, community-driven transformation
and empowerment that will be an inspiration to each of us.
What is required of participants?
This is a study trip rather than a vacation (although we will have
plenty of fun along the way!)
Participants must commit to trip preparation through 4 pre-trip
meetings, including one pre-trip seminar.
Participants also must be willing to read relevant material provided,
to participate actively in discussions and de-briefings during the
trip, and to share their experience with others in their communities
upon their return.
