El Salvador

El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated of the Central American countries. It is a country of volcanoes and lakes, forests and beaches, crowded cities and friendly villages.

Peace Corps/El Salvador began in 1962 and was one of the agency's earliest efforts. Since then more than 1,500 Volunteers have served there. The program was closed in 1980 because of civil war and reopened in 1993, after the war had officially ended.

Today, Peace Corps Volunteers coordinate with local municipalities, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and community groups to develop better water systems, make health and sanitation improvements, provide environmental education, and assist municipal development projects. In the aftermath of earthquakes, Volunteers played a key role in providing damage assessments, which helped the government and local NGOs facilitate the distribution of resources to the most affected communities.

Just as important as the Volunteer's primary job is the cultural exchange that occurs with the Salvadoran people. Volunteers live together with Salvadorans and teach each other about their histories, languages, and cultures.

Last updated Sep 27 2008