Santa Fe Dreams Big with CEPAD
In Santa Fe, Nueva Guinea, community leaders wiggle with anticipation. They are just beginning a five-year process of accompaniment with CEPAD. They’re not quite sure what to expect, but they are ready to push the opportunity to its fullest. They are now organized into the four different areas: Strengthening Families, Sustainable Community Organization, Food Security and Environmental Protection, and Pastoral Leadership Training. We talked with Pastor Alexander David Valdivia Masiz, the vice president of the Community Development Committee in Santa Fe, and with Dorys Gonsález, who will be learning to grow a small vegetable garden and learn crafts and skills so she can earn money to support her family.
CEPAD: What are some of the biggest challenges you face in Santa Fe?
Alexander: We need to learn how to help the young people involved in drugs and gangs. We hope this will happen both in the youth leadership program and through pastoral training, because there have been a lot of problems.
Dorys: I agree. We also need to expand our education and help youth get involved in better activities.
Alexander: The other biggest challenge is, simply, poverty. There are months of the year when no one has enough to eat. It is so important for both men and women to learn how to grow better crops and also learn how to make some money in other ways.
CEPAD: Dorys, why did you decide to get involved with some of CEPAD’s programs for women?
Dorys: It will be so good to learn something that will allow me to support my family. For example, if I learn sewing, I can help make my family’s clothes and also earn money by sewing for other people.
CEPAD: How do you feel to be starting this new partnership with CEPAD? What are your expectations?
Alexander: I see so many blessings, they are not like any other organization. We expect to see a lot of changes happen with their help.
Dorys: I really like that it’s an organization dedicated to helping women and men. I hope that every day we can move forward to improve ourselves, our families and our community.
Alexander: I also really want to thank the churches around the world that are helping us. Bless you, and please know that your investments will not be in vain.
