Beyond taking CIS language classes, there are many ways to learn about and contribute to the CIS’s mission and work.
Our progress towards transformative human and community development in El Salvador is due to building solidarity with YOU: Donors, Delegations, Volunteers and Partners!
See more below on these options!
Donate
Join a delegation
Volunteer or Intern with the CIS
Serve on an Election Observation Mission
Partner with the CIS
Delegations:
13 delegations with 88 participants in 2019.
Volunteers:
17 long-term volunteers from 4 countries taught in the Language School and organized the international election observation mission in 2019
Election Observation:
70 volunteer observers from 7 countries participated in the Election Observation Mission for the 2019 national elections: United States, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Great Britain, India, and El Salvador.
Partnerships:
52 international partner institutions, congregations, universities and organizations abroad and more than 6 partners in El Salvador, including universities, technical training institutes, nongovernmental organizations and government agencies.
Donate
Donations enable our community empowerment and solidarity work.
The last year has been particularly challenging. During the COVID-19 pandemic we have not generated the revenues from program activities -- the language school, the sale of fair-trade crafts, and the hosting of delegations -- that typically cover administrative costs.
Please consider donating here to one of the following priorities:
• Emergency Fund (COVID-19 & Tropical Storm Amanda)
• General FundClean Water and Environment Fund
• Dignified Housing Fund
• Youth Scholarships and Leadership Development
• Gender Scholarships & Human Rights
• Women’s Enterprises and Empowerment
• Election Observation Fund
• English Language Scholarships
• Planned Giving: Have an impact far into the future by including us in your will. See more here on bequeaths.
Join a Delegation
CIS delegations are visits of 5-14 days in El Salvador by small groups of individuals from organizations abroad with the mission of building understanding, friendship and support for joint work that overcomes social and economic marginalization and exclusion in El Salvador. The CIS has 28 years of experience hosting delegations.
Visit underserved communities and be open to listen, learn, share and build solidarity to advance social and economic justice through non-violent means.
We have long-term relationships of trust with the communities and with non-governmental organizations, governmental agencies, and foreign embassies that are key to providing for your safety and accessing these communities.
For most participants, both from abroad and El Salvador, it is a life-changing experience.
Volunteer or Intern
We are looking for people with passion for social justice and people-to-people solidarity to commit at least 10 weeks of your energy and skills in person or online in the following areas:
Teaching English (No Spanish required)
Marketing for the Language School - NEW
Election Observation Mission (fluent Spanish required)
Women’s Businesses and Empowerment
Marketing for Fair-Trade Crafts - NEW
Clean Water and the Environment
Youth Leadership Development and Scholarships
Serve on an Election Observation Mission
The CIS has organized election observation missions for every presidential and legislative election in El Salvador since the return of democracy with the signing of the Peace Accords in 1992.
Each CIS Election Observation Mission assesses the election proceedings and the implementation of existing electoral reforms, spotlights strengths and weaknesses in the electoral process, and and offers recommendations -- which have been used regularly as a basis for electoral reform proposals in the Legislative Assembly.
Election observers are volunteers who receive specialized training to observe and report on the quality of election processes and the implementation of election reforms.
Their service contributes to oversight of the electoral process and facilitates a safe environment that enables broad participation in the election.
Apply to observe the next (legislative) elections on Sunday, February 28, 2021!
Be a long-term volunteer (3 months): January 3 – March 26, 2021
Be a short-term observer (9 days): February 22 – March 2, 2021
Partner with the CIS
We have at least 52 international partners -- faith congregations, universities, institutions, and organizations abroad -- and more than 6 partners in El Salvador, including universities, technical training institutes, nongovernmental organizations and government agencies.
Our most significant achievements have been possible only with the solidarity, effort and financial support of our partners.
See our partners and consider becoming one!