Our Projects:

The Binghamton El Charcón Arts Initiative: This project arose from a discussion between artists and organizers from the Binghamton- El Charcón Sister City Project asking what they could do through the arts to improve the situation for impoverished rural communities in El Salvador while gathering material for their own artistic endeavors.

Artists from Binghamton have begun to travel to El Salvador to share their skills while learning from our Salvadoran friends how the arts can heal, create, uplift, promote and support our joint vision of community and solidarity.

Back home this tradition of integrating the arts in popular education and community development can translate into projects that involve young people in creating art that enhances their own communities.  We also hope to bring Salvadoran artists to area universities and to the local arts community to share their work and ideas.

Area artists, particularly those who speak Spanish or have skills in crafts as well as fine art, and grant writers, are encouraged to become involved in this exciting project.  For more information about future Arts Delegations to El Salvador, contact Suzanne Geoghegan suzanneg@stny.rr.com. For more information about the local components of the Arts Initiative, contact Mik Tulumello fuzybadger@cableracer.com.  See the full project description here.

Scholarships: Each year we support four students who have demonstrated academic promise as well as a commitment to improve conditions in their villages, to enable them continue their education beyond the highest grade locally available to them.

Regional Youth Project: We fund a regional Youth Project to foster leadership training, education and soccer leagues for young people in eight rural communities.

Community Organization:Today we support the village's governing board, youth group and women's group, for leadership training.

Visits by Community Leaders: Representatives from El Charcón have traveled to Binghamton to meet with students, politicians and local groups, bringing messages of hope, affection and inspiration.

Other Delegations: Other Delegations Since 1994, various delegations have visited El Charcón, the most recent one being a Summer 2006 Arts Delegation.

Disaster Relief: The Greater Binghamton Area responded to Hurricane Mitch and the earthquakes of Jan - Feb. 2001 with material and financial aid. Last year Hurricane Stan destroyed the suspension bridge across the river that cuts through El Charcón. Our thanks to the engineering firm of McFarland Johnson for covering the cost of materials needed to rebuild this bridge

Chapel: With the funds we raised for building materials, El Charcón built itself a chapel, consecrated Nov.'97.

Organic Farming Project: A generous private grant funded an organic agriculture project to grow plantains in two neighboring communities in La Libertad.

The Tailoring Workshop: Through a generous grant from Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church, BECSCP raised $1,300 to buy and improve a building for a sewing workshop and store front. The workshop trained village members in tailoring skills.

Visit by El Charcón Representatives: During a two week visit in April 1995 Antonio Molina and Encarnación Guardado, representing El Charcón, met with local leaders, students and politicians, bringing their message of hope, affection and inspiration to the Binghamton community.

Observer Delegation to El Salvador: In March of 1994 ten members of the BECSCP joined people from around the world as international observers of the March 1994 election. They also visited El Charcón and the local community clinic.

Truck Caravans: Supported by many people and organizations, BECSCP participated in two truck caravans, sending donated clothing, medical, school and sewing supplies (including 4 sewing machines) to El Charcón.

A well and delivery system for potable water: As its first project, the BECSCP raised $12,600 to help the people of El Charcón install a system that delivered potable water to the entire community. Instead of drawing water from the polluted Comasagua River, the villagers now had safe drinking water, thus significantly lowering the incidence of intestinal parasites. (Unfortunately the lack of clean drinking water is once again a problem for the community).

We invite you to join our Sister City Project. You can contribute to the rewarding work of supporting a courageous people determined to create a better life for themselves and their children. Join us in promoting education and leadership training, self-determination, participatory democracy and human rights in this small but important Central American country.