About Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a small community of about 500 families in rural El Salvador. The community was greatly affected by the trauma of the 12-year Salvadoran Civil War. Since the war ended in 1992, conditions have improved greatly, and although poor, the community moves forward with great dedication. Today, Santa Marta is a vibrant, no longer war-torn, yet still impoverished, community. The poverty rate is near 70%, and 40% of adults are illiterate.
"In our community, [we have suffered profusely,
but] we have seen grow what seemed impossible
to see grow."
21 years old, second year Mathematics student
Santa Marta community members Vicenta Leiva, Carla Bonilla,and Carlos Bonilla recount the war experience and the promising reconstruction efforts that ensued:
On March 15, 1981, one of the most intensive military operations in the civil war began in our area. We were forced to flee towards the Honduran border with 7,000 people defenseless against the machine-gunning and bombardment. When we first became refugees in Honduras, the state of malnutrition was so extreme that seven people were dying daily.
From 1981 to 1985 life in the refugee camps was more or less normal. But in 1986, when budgetary cuts to refugee camps began, many families became desperate. We decided to organize ourselves with the objective of returning to our beloved home of Santa Marta, El Salvador. On October 10, 1987, in spite of the obstacles placed before us, we returned to repatriate our community of Santa Marta.
El Salvador in Numbers:
- 2 million youth ages 10-24
- 42% of youth live in poverty
- Avg. rural salary no high school: $79/mo.
- Avg. rural salary w/ high school: $275/mo.
- Rural illiteracy: 32%
After the Peace Accords were signed to end the war in 1992, many projects became available to our community. We were able to improve our education system and offered classes up to the ninth grade. Three years ago we were proud to create our first permanent high school. We are extremely proud of our students that have graduated from this high school and now seek further University education. If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to come visit us here in El Salvador, in the department of Cabañas.
Political History Leading up to the Civil War:
In 1932, Salvadoran General Maximiliano Martínez led a murderous campaign to eliminate
political organizing by peasants and workers, killing an estimated 30,000
Salvadoran citizens. Over the next 50 years, every Salvadoran president was a military officer, and those who
protested fraudulent elections were threatened, attacked, arrested or killed.
By the 1970s, Salvadoran citizens were forming armed political organizations to demand reforms.
When a final attempt to establish civilian government failed in 1979, five opposition
organizations united as the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
(FMLN). Twelve years of civil war ensued, during which time 75,000 were killed, mostly civilians.
Before the UN-brokered Peace Accords in 1992, there would be more than 1 million refugees.
More Information
Youth in Santa Marta publish a monthly newsletter called Abriendo Brecha (in Spanish). You may
follow the link below to read the most recent version: