Our first project in El Salvador was built in March of 2010 in the region of Coatepeque.  This was a community park complete with a soccer field, fruit tree garden, and playground games, benefiting over 120 families that live in the zone.

The Project was developed by the Inter-American Development Fund together with Asociación de Desarrollo Comunitario (ADESCO) and with the participation of Fundacion Coatepeque, and volunteers from Nueva Acropolis, Latinos on the Move, and the US Educational Programs Fellows (ABEU).

The Comunity
The region of Coatepeque is one of the largest volcanic calderas in Central America.  The village of Potrerillos de la Laguna is located above 1,000 meters over sea level, bordering Lake Coatepeque.   This is a community of farmers, producers of coffee, maize, and beans.  Home to approximately 120 families, this area does not have potable water, public electricity, or vehicle accessibility. 

Parque Coatepeque, as it was called, was built in the heart for the community, next to the local school, adjacent to a structure that will serve as a future community health clinic.  For the construction of this park a group of young volunteers from Latinos on the Move group from Michigan State University and George Mason University travelled to El Salvador and stayed in the community for a week.  These volunteers worked side by side with parents in the community to prepare the terrain and install the games.  Once completed, the community held a celebration with piñatas, awards, thankful messages, and much laughter.

Snapshots of the Project

Before                                                                                   During                                                                          After