Coatepeque Park inaugurated in El Salvador!

SAN SALVADOR. March 22 - Thursday March 11th was a special day for the community of Potrerillos de La Laguna and the volunteers of the Inter-American Development Fund. After months of preparation, Parque Coatepeque, was finally inaugurated.  Now all of the kids of this 150-family rural community have a fun and safe place to play.

The playground was built in three days in a cooperative effort between volunteers and members of the community who brought shovels, pick axes, and grape hoes.

“We built this park and playground side-by-side with members of the community in a way that we all took some ownership of the project”, says Rudy Perecin Mareño of the Inter-American Development Fund.

Together with him six university students also went to El Salvador, all members of Latinos on the Move groups at Michigan State University and George Mason University, to help build this playground.

"This was a life changing experience that I will remember for the rest of my life" said Crystal Stoll Alvarez, President of Latinos on the Move @ Michigan State about her trip.

The process of building the playground was also very important for kids of the community who were taught about health and the importance of keeping their hill-side community and playground clean, with actions as simple as throwing trash in the trashcan.

One of the Salvadorians who participated in this project, Jose Roberto Lopez Urrutia, also added, "just and beautiful is what will change the world into a better place to live in, we are in it together."

At last, the lesson remains the same for both kids and adults: together there is much that can be made to build this the land of our dreams.

A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Groups Involved
Latinos on the Move @ Michigan State University - Helped organize events to fundraise for this project and sent volunteers to help build it.
Latinos on the Move @ George Mason University - Helped organize events to fundraise for this project and sent volunteers to help build it.
Grupo Roble (Metrocentro) - Donated a giant ice cream cone and tea cup and a fruit loops jumping pool.
Nueva Acropolis - Colaborated with volunteers that helped clear the terrain and talk with the community.
Fundacion Coatepeque - Helped provide access to community.
US Educational Programs Fellows (ABEU) - Provided volunteers.
Hotel Villa Serena - Offered discounted for stays for all volunteers that participated in the project.

People involved
Over 60 volunteers and members of the community were involved in the construction site.  Approximately another 40 helped with the fundraising efforts. Over 520 volunteer hours were devoted to this project.

Fundraising and Costs
The project cost $1200 that were fundraised through activities by both Latinos on the Move groups.  This resources were enough to purchased swinsets, a slide, soccer goals, plant fruit trees, get the donated giant ice cream cone and jumping pool in place, and distributing toys and candy in the community.