May 2014 - cloudfront.net

Vol. 10, No. 1
April, 2014
“How can we make a better life for our children?”
SEW moms and grandmothers, like moms everywhere,
want the best for their children. Being a business partner with a SEW business has given women the opportunity to make that more of a reality. “I had to help my
family work in the fields, so I didn’t finish school; now
my children are getting an education.” “My daughters
see women managing a business and know one day that
they can too.”
What so many women didn’t realize was how much
planning and managing a business would mean to them
as well. SEW women have gained confidence, found
their voice, developed their potential, taken leadership
roles in their communities and gained the respect they
deserve.
What the moms are saying:
“It all starts in our family. Girls are not valued. They say, ‘Oh, you are
a women, you don’t need to study.’ Why? Are women not smart? We
want to value girls from a young age – give them respect and love,
encourage their growth and development.” Marina
“...women always get paid less even though they are doing the same
work as a man. When there was an errand to do at a distance for our
community council (made up of women and men) and a man did the
errand, he got paid the full day’s wages. If a woman did the errand,
they gave us only a half day’s wages. One of the women said, ‘This
shouldn’t be .’ And we worked to change it and did!” Marta
“We are women with dreams.” Crisabel
La Vaquita [The Little Cow] is SEW’s Cheese Producing Business. When this group began, the dairy farmer refused to sell them milk, telling them ‘women can’t run a business’. Now he’s their biggest (grateful) supplier.
Not only did the women learn how to make a variety of cheeses, they diversified with a small store in the corner of their storefront, added a second story to their building for storage, meetings
and computer training, and set up credit accounts for those who could not pay in
full right away. La Vaquita women also learned to purchase milk when less expensive, make cheeses that can be stored, and sell them when their profit is greatest.
From the beginning of working with SEW, each business
knows that they are expected to attain “selfsustainability”—when the business “graduates.” That
means the women
* have production and management skills
needed to be successful
* decide respective roles in the business and
develop needed leadership skills
* have clear marketing and bookkeeping
measures in place
* insure the group can make decisions jointly
* demonstrate commitment and collaboration
in their mutual planning and decision
making
* can identify personal and familial
indicators of changes due to their
work in the business
* no longer need the mentoring and assistance
of the SEW empowerment team.
Congratulations to Yessenia, Kenia, Crisabel,
Loly and Maria Isabel who have attained selfsustainability. At their Graduation, they spoke of
how much they have grown personally from working together, and how all the family is involved:
husbands transport goods, teens help after school
stocking shelves, cleaning up, and looking out for
preschoolers.
CONGRATULATIONS, La Vaquita on reaching your dreams!
2
TWO NEW BUSINESSES ARE ORGANIZING
Board member, Susan Saudek and
Anne Marie worked together in El
Salvador
late
February-early
March. Among the highlights of
their trip was meeting with two
groups of women organizing for a
new business. Here is Susan with
the 7 women who have received
training in baking breads and
sweet rolls. They hope to have a
bakery. Can you help them get
started?
These women are part of
a group planning a distribution center warehouse
that will stock the basics
needed by distant rural
stores. This would provide needed products at a
wholesale price and save
time and transportation
costs. Another good investment.
Meet the women who accompany SEW businesses and help the women make their dreams reality: left to
right: Susan, business partner Leslie Schuld, Anne Marie, Empowerment Team Delmy, Maira, Esperanza
(working with CIS) and Iris.
3
Alessandra and Hannah, have been a welcome addition to SEW. Their IT and language skills are second only to
their enthusiasm and deep commitment to making a difference in the lives of women who are willing to work
their way out of poverty. They bring hope to our world.
Alessandra Clará With a B.S. in Business from Johns Hopkins University and currently
pursuing an M.A. in Social Enterprise at American University, Alessandra is an energetic
and compassionate woman seeking to make a difference in society. Her bilingual skills, organizational and IT abilities have been a godsend for SEW.
“I decided to volunteer with SEW because their work combines my three passions: social
enterprises, poverty alleviation in El Salvador and women’s economic empowerment. During my time volunteering at SEW I learned how effective it is to help women create a sustainable way for them to financially support themselves and thus, give them the ability to
take control of their lives. As a Salvadoran woman myself, I identify with the SEW women,
and understand how SEW’s work is literally life-changing. I’m glad that even just for a few
months, I was able to take part in this amazing mission.”
Hannah Shultz Hannah brings to SEW Spanish language proficiency, amazing IT
skills, a B.A. in International Studies with an emphasis on Latin America from the
University of Iowa and her soon to be completed M.A. in Ethics, Peace and Global
Affairs from the School of International Service at American University. Hannah’s
work in El Salvador with the University of Iowa Wesley Foundation in 2008 and
2011 left Hannah with a lasting love of the Salvadoran people.
“I started volunteering with SEW just as soon as I heard about the organization. I
really like the model the organization uses and it has proven to be effective. For a
woman with a passion for empowerment and peacebuilding, SEW is a great example of how the two go hand in hand.”
SEW Director Sister Anne Marie Gardiner, SSND meets with Lindenhurst, NY Rotary President, Jackie Milton, Officer, Pat Chiodo
and twenty two members of the Rotary. They have been staunch
supporters of SEW women’s businesses. Rotary and SEW share
a commitment “to foster the ideal of service” and “promote the
development of women.”
We were both surprised and honored by the presence of Babylon, NY Councilman, Antonio Martinez, who works tirelessly
on behalf of Latinos on Long Island. He spoke of his own
roots in El Salvador and the significance he sees in SEW’s
commitment to helping women work their way out of poverty. Councilman Antonio presented SEW with a Certificate of
Appreciation “for providing 10 years of dedicated service
to women in El Salvador,” and a promise to work in collaboration with SEW in the future– a promise SEW welcomes!
4
Marie Chiodo,, Antonio Martinez, Anne Marie and
SEW President, Veronica Ticas-Ludewig
One Child’s Story. The road to a small community called Milagro de Dios ends at a well, where a barefoot girl
pumps water into a large black bucket. She says her name is Elisabeth. She is 8 years old. Four years ago,
Elisabeth nearly died. Her mother, Teresa de Jesus Aleman, says the problem was water from a shallow well.
Teresa says it used to produce clean water, but after the 2001 earthquake, it became contaminated. Not
able to afford bottled water, the family continued to use the well. She recalls that
Elisabeth, another daughter and many others got sick. “Elisabeth was diagnosed
with four classes of parasites, because of the well water.” (NPR)
But contaminated water is the result, not only of natural disasters, it
is due, as well, to mining ventures
by international corporations, specifically an American Company,
Commerce Group and Canadian/
Australian Company, Oceana Gold,
formerly Pacific Rim Corporation.
A 2012 study of the San Sebastian
river by a government agency
showed that the river contained 9
times the acceptable level of cyanide, and 1,000 times the acceptable
level of iron. As seen here the San
Sebastian river runs orange.
Thanks to CIS and SEW, women and their families
can now enjoy a filtration system that provides clean water
in their homes and in SEW businesses. SEW businesses
and homes are outfitted with a Sawyer “Point ONE” water
filter. Since using the filter, mothers have experienced a
marked improvement in their family’s health. Developed
using advanced kidney dialysis filtration technology, the
filters deliver enough purified water daily for a large family. Filtration stops when filters become dirty. A quick
wash of the filters restores their ability to purify water.
The filter, US EPA tested and approved, provides up to 500
gallons of potable water a day; weighs less than 8 ounces;
sets up in a matter of minutes. Filters last more than ten
years and cost approximately $70. For more information,
visit www.sawyer.com
5
90% of El Salvador’s surface
water is contaminated
98% of municipal water &
90% of industrial
wastewater is discharged to rivers and
creeks without treatment
60% of the rural population
has no access to a reliable water source
500 children die each year
from diseases caused
by tainted water





























Al and Pat Thomas by Betty Bell
For John and Paula Foley from Margaret Foley
My mother, Wilma Baumgartner, by Elisabeth Bergeron
Reverend John Hynes 74th birthday, from Mary Louise Chesley-Cora
The family of Andrew Miehl, from Michael and Roxana Miehl
Mary Allman by Sue Fox
Victor and Roberta DeMarco with love from Dick and Jennie Tinurelli, Pooh Bear and Holly
My mother, Mary Murray from Robert Vocke
To honor the parish team at Church of the Resurrection in Solon, Ohio, by Elizabeth Trombetta
Peggy McGaffney, Mary Peter Colantuoni, Corrine Gmuer, Ethel Howley from the School Sisters of Notre Dame
in Wilton, CT
Sylvia Diss, loving mom, honored by her son, Charles Diss
Honoring the Annapolis Solidarity Group for their efforts on behalf of SEW by Peggy Lynne Smith
Celebrating the wedding commitment of Jeffrey Chiodo and Kristin Brandi from Aunt Marie
Celebrating Daughter of Wisdom Jubilarians: 75 years: Rachael Bouchard , 70 years: Theresa Gibson (RIP); 60
years: Ann Nielsen, Claire Sullivan, Agnes McColgan; 50 years: Maureen Hurley, Evelyn Eckhardt, Rose Marie
Greco by Edna English, DW and Rita Finnen, DW and Marie Chiodo, DW
Prayer for healing for: Ellen Ryan, SSND, Phyllis Linzenmier by Jane Scanlon, SSND
Wendy and Antonio Vasquez from Lin Romano
Sue Clark, our friend at St Rose Parish from Maggie and Bob Quinlan
Paul Shultz, dearly loved father, son, fiancée and pastor—advocate of the poor and marginalized
Aunt Nora Di Felice, by Don and Pat Clausen
The sudden death of our niece, Jeanine wife and mother of Joe, 10 and Anna, 8 by Sharon and Bob Brady
In loving memory of my husband, José Arreola by Juliet Marlier
Flora Tinurelli and Mark Novak by Roberta Tinurelli
Honoring the memory of Isabel Calderon, SEW business woman and loving mother, by Deborah Kerwood
Marilyn Lieber by Diana McCabe
Anne Marie Cimonetti, Mom, by Paul Cimonetti
Nicholas Baccala, Sr. Vincent Brothers, SSND, Alberta Reinfelder, Eileen McFadden, SSND, Nicole Linsalata, Fr.
Robert Nugent by Jane Scanlon, SSND
Remembering Daughters of Wisdom: Margaret Quigley, Theresa Gibson, Mary June Morin, Kathleen Kane –
faithful women of Wisdom
Nan Brackley by Sister Patti Ann Rogucki
My childhood friend, Leon St. Marie on the 1st anniversary of his death – Maggie Quinlan
“From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that we are
here for the sake of each other - above all for those upon whose smile and well-being
our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate
we are connected by a bond of sympathy. ...how earnestly I must exert myself in order
to give in return as much as I have received.” - Albert Einstein
6
HELP US CONTINUE THE MISSION:
Celebrate the moms and nurturers you know
with a gift to SEW Moms
A card is enclosed for your convenience.
Some ideas of what your donation to SEW can provide:
______ $25 Filling for sweet breads
____ $35 Transportation for training
______ $50 Molds and wax for candles
______ $100 Feed for hens
_____ $ 75 Repair of sewing machines
_____ $200 Supplies for distribution center
Please accept my tax-deductible contribution of $ ___________ payable to Salvadoran Enterprises for Women or
S.E.W. For credit card donations, please go to the website http://sewinc .org and click the Donate Button
Name ___________________________________________________________________________
Street Address _______________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________________________ State/Zip ___________________________________________
Phone ___________________________________________e-mail _____________________________________________________
Salvadoran Enterprises for Women is a 501 (c) (3) organization.
Donations are tax-deductible according to law. Financial report available upon request.
Like us on Facebook: you’ll like what you see
https://www.facebook.com/salvadoranenterprisesforwomen
Salvadoran Presidential Election
After working with SEW staff and businesses, Anne Marie joined the CIS International Observer Mission to be part of observing the Presidential Election Run-Off vote on March 9. Observers' role is to note any abnormality or
interference in individuals casting a secret ballot. With women and men from
14 other countries, Anne Marie observed in two voting centers. At right, accommodation made in the ballot
box structure for those in wheelchairs; those who couldn’t sign
their name to the registry, used a
fingerprint.
Left, Anne Marie with Angela Sanbrano and Leslie Schuld wearing their official credentials as International Observers.
Salvador Sánchez Cerén, FMLN party, won the election.
VISIT US ONLINE: http://sewinc.org
7
See what you’re making possible.
Salvadoran Enterprises for Women
Sister Anne Marie Gardiner, SSND
416 Branch Drive
Silver Spring, Maryland 20901-2617
“A mother’s love is a blessing.”
Salvadoran woman,
worker and peasant
I sing to your hands
of tenderness and courage,
to your hands that know well
to make tortillas and to caress,
to your hands that work for a new society.
Salvadoran woman,
woman of faith and hope
I sing to the women of all Cuscatlan
The women who have repopulated
are the seed of the future that
we will reach together,
with God and hard work.
Mujer Salvadoreña - Pat Farrell, OSF
Used with permission
http://sewinc.org
8