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Roberto, the report. Neil. As you will have seen on the rest of the website, Life-Line has been set up to try and counter some of the many problems the people here are forced to deal with on a daily basis. It is important to recognize that it is not one of these companies run from England or America who charge exhorbitant fees from the volunteers and then pass on little or none of those funds to the places where they are needed. This project is run by, and for, El Salvadoreans. There are no hidden costs and the money you pay for your upkeep goes only to the families you stay with, and not into the pockets of western 'entrepeneurs'. Most of the facts you need should be on the website already, so I will limit myself to how I found the project and my experieneces here. Firstly I found it a shock to find myself so far off the gringo trail. Apart from the other volunteers on the project, I have seen no foreigners here at all. After Mexico and Guatemala, this was a strange but not unpleasant. The lack of tourists also means a lack of tourist infrastructure, but an experienced traveller should have no difficulties here. As for the projects themselves, the one I was on was a great experience. Involved mainly in teaching English to orphans and street kids I found the children keen and curious, and the institution supportive. The need here is great, I had no idea how much the country was still suffering from the after effects of the war and the earthquakes. More than most countries I have seen, this place needs help. Being here was a massive learning experinece for me, and I am so pleased I came. Roberto and Bessie (the organisiers) are lovely people who really go out of their way to make sure things are ok for you. They are good people, family people, who love having people in their house and in their lives. The places that you will work are also welcoming and friendly. When I arrived I doubts mainly about the safety of El Salvador. This place has a repuation for great danger, partly because of the horrors of the past war and partly because of the great social problems born of it and still in evidence today. However, although you have to be careful at nights in the streets (best not to be in them), I have had no problems and found the people to be open, warm, and welcoming. You will have a good time here if you come. -- Neil Stevenson dogboy@fastmail.fm
Paul Voss Neil Stevenson pvoss78@hotmail.com dogboy@fastmail.fm
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