Since 1992, CoCoDA has been connecting United States citizens, churches, service clubs, universities, and organizations with grassroots cooperatives and community development organizations in El Salvador. In 2016, we brought this same approach to Nicaragua.
500,000
BENEFITED PEOPLE
30
YEARS
30
SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY AND HEALTH CENTERS
2,500
TOTAL SUPPORTERS
10
COMMUNITY BASED WATER SYSTEMS
7
SOLAR POWERED SYSTEMS
ADES
Asociación de Desarrollo Económico Social, Santa Marta (ADES) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, formed on April 15, 1993, to attend to the economic and social needs of marginal communities, particularly the communities of repatriated war refugees in the northern zone of the department of Cabañas.
The objective of ADES is to contribute to the integrated development of communities in the department of Cabañas for the purpose of improving the quality of life and developing the organizational bases that will empower the communities to influence the definition and implementation of social and economic strategies on a local level. ADES works in the areas of popular education, women’s development, community health, community radio, and community organizing, with programs in five municipalities.
CRC
The Comité de Reconstrucción y Desarrollo Económico-Social de las Comunidades de Suchitoto, Cuscatlán (CRC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in November, 1988 by 11 communities resettled by people displaced by the war in the department of Cuscatlán. CRC served as a representative organization for these communities during the armed conflict, to help generate social, economic, political and moral support.
Since 1993, the CRC has worked to support the development of 30 affiliated rural communities, coordinating, facilitating, planning, promoting, and executing projects for integrated development to bring about an improved quality of life in the communities. The CRC has active projects in the areas of women’s development, popular education, community health, community radio, sustainable agriculture, reforestation and environmental conservation.
REDES
Fundación Salvadoreña para la Reconstrucción y el Desarrollo (REDES) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization with the mission of contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of the economically and socially disadvantaged population of El Salvador. Since 1988, REDES has worked with displaced and dispossessed urban and rural sectors of the Salvadoran population for post-war reconstruction and for sustainable social and economic development.
Guided by the principle that people need to be subjects of their own development, REDES manages programs on a national level in the areas of micro-lending and business training, land reform, housing, agricultural and livestock production, disaster relief and environmental conservation. CRC and ADES are both member organizations of REDES.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is CoCoDA?
Companion Community Development Alternatives (CoCoDA) is a non-profit organization based in Indianapolis that has done grassroots development work in El Salvador since 1991. In 2016, we expanded our programming into Nicaragua. You can read more about our roots on our History page.
We work with our sister communities and partner organizations in El Salvador and Nicaragua to fund and carry out democratic and sustainable development projects. We explain our mission and goals on our About Us page.
Our past projects include potable water projects, public health campaigns, scholarship programs, building community centers/schools/medical clinics, and setting up computer centers. You can review our projects on our Past Projects and Ongoing Projects pages.
How do I get involved as an individual?
There are a great many ways for an individual to be involved with CoCoDA. At a very minimum, we hope you’ll contact us and add your name to our electronic mailing list. Here are some other ways to be involved…
– Become a monthly donor and support our work. Even $5 a month makes a difference.
– Personally fund raise for a specific project.
– Advocate for the people and countries of Central America.
– Invite a CoCoDA representative to come speak to your group, church, university.
– Participate in our annual Friends of CoCoDA one week tour of Central America.
– Organize a delegation.
What is a delegation?
Delegations are educational trips around a focused theme. While many delegations also work on a project, this is a secondary focus. The goal of these trips is to foster solidarity with the people of Central America by raising awareness about their social, historical, political, and economic reality. Check out our various delegation Themes.
Delegation trips also familiarize our supporters in the United States with the projects they are assisting in Central America. The length, makeup, and specific goals of delegations vary dramatically, but most groups participate in home-stays in our partner communities and contribute to one or more service projects. We think CoCoDA has a Unique Approach to visiting Central America.
What kinds of groups participate in delegations?
We have hosted many groups from churches, universities, high schools, and civic organizations. Most groups are between 10-20 delegates, though we can accommodate smaller or larger delegations.
Here’s an invitation sent out by one of our recent delegations: “If you are interested in social justice, Central America, or service work, a CoCoDA delegation is an exciting, fulfilling, and transformative experience. If you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone, share the joys and burdens of living in rural Central America, and rethink the way you live in the United States, then this might be the trip for you. This trip is for participants who are willing to listen, learn, work, and serve with all their hearts.”
What else do delegations do?
Our delegations to Central America are highly educational and service-oriented. Delegation typically start and end in the nation’s capital, San Salvador or Managua, seeing some national and historic sites, learning about the country’s history, and becoming oriented to its sociopolitical situation today. These activities really help to contextualize the rest of the experience and the projects that CoCoDA funds.
Typical delegations spend the bulk of the time in a rural community living with host families, getting acquainted with the lifestyle of Central American campesinos (farmers), visiting the successful community-based potable water projects that CoCoDA has coordinated, contributing to a work project (for example, building a community center or Internet cafe), and meeting with different community organizations. Check out a Sample Itinerary.
Groups also have free time to shop and explore on their own. We usually include recreational activities in our program, including hikes, soccer games, and film screenings. Groups have the option to spend a day of reflection and relaxation at the beach or at another scenic location at the end of their stay.
Where do delegations stay and eat?
Delegations do almost everything as a group. While in the city, we eat our meals at restaurants that we know and trust. While the group is in the community, we eat all meals together. Our food is prepared by members of the community who have been trained to cook food that is safe for participants to eat. Bottled water is provided to participants at all points during the trip.
In the city, we stay at hostels or hotels that specialize in hosting service groups. These hotels are safe, clean, and simple. Most groups, while in the community, stay with families in their homes. Homestays are a great learning experience and give participants the opportunity to form relationships outside of the group. During community home-stays, two or three participants are matched with a Central American family.
How do delegations travel in Central America?
CoCoDA uses a trusted, licensed transportation service for all of our transportation needs. We will be traveling around the capital and to the community in a microbus.
Do participants need to speak Spanish?
No. Some knowledge of Spanish would help in a homestay, but our coordinators double as interpreters. Even if you don’t know a word in Spanish, you’ll be fine.
How many days is a typical trip?
Delegations typically run from seven to fourteen days, though CoCoDA can arrange a visit for nearly any length of time.
What does it cost to participate?
Costs vary according to activities, length, and accommodations. On average, a 7-day trip costs about $1000 plus the cost of airfare. CoCoDA will work with your group to setup an itinerary that meets your budget needs. Fees include all costs in-country, international health insurance, and administrative costs. For more details about planning a delegation, check out our Logistical Questions and Organize a Delegation pages
Our Mission
CoCoDA is a non-profit organization devoted to the mission of cooperating in projects for democratic, community-based social and economic development in Central America, and promoting awareness and social responsibility in the United States for more just relations with Latin America.
We have two simple goals…
- To build such strong relationships between the people of the United States and Central America that the United States will never again subsidize the oppression of Central Americans.
- To help rebuild the communities and infrastructure destroyed by United States dollars during the Salvadoran Civil War and Nicaraguan conflict.
In the process of accomplishing these goals, we also hope to transform the worldview of North Americans by helping them to understand both their privilege and responsibility as citizens of the United States and Canada
Our Values
Grassroots Organizing and Ownership
Salvadorans and Nicaraguans plan, organize and own all the initiatives and projects.
Relationship Building
North Americans and Central Americans working side by side, to become friends.
Ethical Engagement
We are committed to ethical collaboration and fair trade, without exploiting our partners.
Fiscal Responsibility
Every dollar donated to CoCoDA is intended to improve the quality of life for Central Americans and should be used as efficiently as possible.
Sustainability
All initiatives and projects must be sustainable using the resources and ingenuity of Salvadorans and Nicaraguans.
Cultural Sensitivity
All CoCoDA volunteers are expected to participate in historical/cultural orientations upon arriving in El Salvador or Nicaragua.
Volunteers spend at least part of their visit living with host families.
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More About Us
CoCoDA projects are identified, designed, constructed and ultimately owned by our partner communities. The role of CoCoDA and our North American partners is to support these projects with financial capital and technical expertise. While there are often opportunities for delegations to physically work on these projects, this is an act of solidarity and not of charity.
CoCoDA projects, in order to be viable and sustainable, often take years to complete. Our primary goal is to nurture the capacity of the community, thereby enabling them to sustain the project upon its completion. In our experience, projects that are “gifts” from North Americans are harmful both to the recipients and to the donors. CoCoDA projects are true collaborations.
We ask every CoCoDA delegation to commit itself to furthering the progress of a project. First and foremost, each delegate contributes $200.00 to our project fund as part of their delegation fee. In addition, every delegation is given the opportunity to personally hear the hopes and dreams of the community, to work side by side with them, and – upon returning home – to raise dollars to support their efforts.
CoCoDA was born in response to US sponsored violence in Central America. This timeline positions our work in that tragic history…
1979 The Sandanistas overthrow the brutal Somoza dictatorship
1980 Archbishop Oscar Romero is assassinated
1980-1988 The Contra War claims over 60,000 Nicaraguan lives
1980-1992 Salvadoran Civil War, claiming over 70,000 lives
1986 Building With the Voiceless (BVES) created to lobby against US support of the Salvadoran government
1989 Jesuits murdered in San Salvador
1992 El Salvador Peace Accords signed
1992 BVES becomes Companion Community Development Alternatives (CoCoDA)
1993 CoCoDA leads first delegation to Santa Marta, El Salvador
1993 – 2000 CoCoDA works on housing, land reform, public education and constructing schools
2000 CoCoDA begins to focus on water and sanitation as well as education and public health
2005 CoCoDA completes first water project in El Zapote, El Salvador
2009 FMLN candidate Mauricio Funes becomes President of El Salvador
2010 CoCoDA and Rotary International complete the first solar powered water project in Zacamil Dos, El Salvador
2016 CoCoDA expands into Nicaragua with first delegation to Zacataloza
2018 Archbishop Oscar Romero is sainted.
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The Companion is a bi-monthly news, opinion and story magazine on Central America, its resources and challenges, its culture and people, and the work of CoCoDA.