It's no secret that soccer is the world's favorite sport. And unsurprising that the kids at La Chacra wanted one thing...more of it! But, we asked, why don't you play more now? You have a field right outside your classroom, and there's plenty of time after school to play. Their answer was simple. We need jerseys, balls, and new soccer goals. The goals they had were old, small, and rusty. That's it? we thought. Now that's something we could change. We got a refresh of soccer balls for the kids, along with brand new jerseys - Real Madrid vs. Barcelona! And then the big kahuna...new soccer goals. Those were a bit puzzling to put together - how many ARC teammates and Catholic Sisters does it take to assemble soccer goal?? But with a little elbow grease, the help of our friends from the Global Shapers El Salvador hub, and just a little luck, the pieces were finally in place and the goals ready for play. It was a team effort...good practice for all the games ahead! … [Read more...] about How We Roll

When we sat down with the kids of La Chacra, we asked about their ideas to make their community safer, better, and brighter. They had so many incredible thoughts, eagerly sharing with us and the Catholic Sisters who run their school. But one idea stood out, loud and clear. BOOKS! More novels. More textbooks. More English/Spanish dictionaries. The more books, the better. For the past few months, we've spent a lot of time with Catholic Sisters and their communities, working together to cook up big ideas for how to amplify the incredible work they're already doing. The result of these conversations? We're calling it the Color Movement. The Color Movement is all about bold, beautiful, bright colors - about feeling joy through creation. And about putting real resources into the Sisters' hands. So, we thought, what better way to bring these kids into the Color Movement than by doing something that incorporates all three - creating little libraries - and having the kids … [Read more...] about Reading Rainbow

In the La Chacra community of El Salvador, family activities almost always take place indoors. The streets aren't safe - violence can occur suddenly. There aren't many public, outdoor spots to gather with peace of mind and a sense of security. But there's one exception. A school and community center run by Catholic Sisters. Inside its grounds, kids and families alike feel a sense of sanctuary. They can take a deep breath, they can relax a little. One thing the kids at La Chacra are really craving? Some quality time spent outside with their families. When we asked some youth in La Chacra about their ideas to make the space even more family friendly, it's no wonder that one of their most popular ideas had to do with being outdoors - picnics! "We'd like the opportunity to sit outside and eat a meal together," said one of the kids. "We can do that here." We did some sleuthing and determined the items needed for a proper picnic in El Salvador, and then we got to work! … [Read more...] about The Great Outdoors

The Centro Arte Para La Paz in Suchitoto, El Salvador is more than just an art center. It's a place for people to gather - on the weekends, in the afternoon, with friends and with classmates. There are lots of things to do and to learn. But sometimes, just hanging out and playing games is meaningful, too. Having a safe space to spend time with friends and simply relax isn't always the easiest thing to do in towns struggling with gang violence and healing from conflict. So for today, we're helping students and adults alike have a different way to spend some time. Who doesn't love board games? We picked up something for everyone - Cranium for the brainiacs, Pictionary for creative types, Jenga for thrill seekers, and Dominoes for something calm, and more! The games are something really simple. But they're not activities that are easily accessed by a lot of the kids who live in and around Suchitoto. They'll not only help young people learn a little differently, they'll … [Read more...] about Winning Big

The energy at the Centro Arte Para La Paz is always high. There are kids creating art, teens playing music, visitors at the museum, community events...phew! All that activity is wonderful - but it can also get really hot. While we were visiting, we noticed that none of the classrooms had fans - or if they did, they looked pretty old and a little bit broken. So we thought we'd do what we could to make those classrooms a little cooler. The quick answer? More fans! These fans aren't necessary to create beautiful, vibrant art. But they don't hurt! A little breeze will help kids and adults alike keep cool, calm, and collected as they discover their creativity, talents, and the simple joy of being together. … [Read more...] about Keeping Cool

At Centro Arte Para La Paz, Sister Peggy has helped to turn one small art center into a proper tourist attraction. People from all over the region - and the world! - come to learn at the museum, see works of art in their gallery, and eat delicious meals at their cafe. The cafe is an important part of the center. Not only because it keeps visitors full and happy, but also because the profits from the cafe are reinvested back into the center. The more papusas and rice people order, the more art can be made! But they're always running into one problem. "We don't have enough tables and chairs!" said Sister Peggy. "If we could fit more people inside, it would help with our profits." More tables and chairs to help keep this incredible place alive? No problem! We went out and purchased three long tables and enough chairs to almost double the amount of people who could sit comfortably at the cafe. The art center is a special place. And anything we could do to help more people … [Read more...] about Space for More

Suchitoto was at the heart of conflict during El Salvador's civil war. Since then, the town has done much to find peace and rebuild. And much of that healing is due to the vision of one Sister Peggy O'Neall. Sister Peggy runs the Centro Arte Para La Paz in Suchitoto. “This is a healing space," she said. "Our aim is to help people remember what it is to be human.” Armed with the deep belief that art and music bring out the very best in humanity, Sister Peggy is a tireless advocate for the arts - especially for young people. Splashes of color and bold sculptures fill the halls. But that also means that teachers are always in need of one thing - more supplies. So, we figured, that was something we could help with! We gathered a bunch of supplies - markers, colored pencils, different types of paint, paper, brushes and more. From beginners to more experienced artists, there was something for everyone. Javier, one of the art teachers and a longtime dear friend of Sister … [Read more...] about Creating Peace

No matter who or where you are, music feeds the soul. Listening to music has the power to comfort and lift up. And learning how to make it can transform lives. No one knows that better than Sister Peggy and her students in Suchitoto, El Salvador. At the Art Center for Peace she's been running for the past 30 years, music rings through the halls as young people practice their craft. Colorful art hangs from the walls. And for a few hours each week, students find peace, comfort, and purpose. The center has a really terrific piano program. But there are so many eager students wanting to learn, that sometimes there aren't enough keyboards to go around. That's where we stepped in to help. "These kids live in poverty," said Sister Peggy. "But when they walk to and from this place with a guitar on their back, they stand a little prouder." In the spirit of encouraging such creative expression and confidence, we got the center three more brand new keyboards. Now, there's just a … [Read more...] about In Tune

Catholic Sisters around the world take a vow of poverty. They not only work in some of the toughest neighborhoods out there, they live there too. In one neighborhood in San Salvador, El Salvador, gang violence and extreme poverty paralyze communities. Many people don't feel comfortable walking freely through the streets, instead staying inside as much as possible. But at the community center run by the Sisters, everyone is welcome. "The young people here face unbelievable challenges," said Sister Veronica. "But older people do, too." One of the activities they have for older folks? Pinata making and embroidery! It's a way for seniors to connect to their culture, provide value to their families and friends, and make a little extra money, too. But the Sisters often run out of supplies for these makers to do their thing. So for Day 184, we're helping fuel their work with new pinata-making and embroidery supplies to last them through the year! Sister Veronica and her … [Read more...] about A Big Hit

El Salvador can be a tough place to grow up. With the highest homicide rate in the world, gang violence makes neighborhoods in the country’s capital of San Salvador lethal. Young people are targets of that violence – and targets for gangs who want them to inflict it. But there’s another truth. That hope is hiding in plain sight, within and throughout those same communities that face oppressive fear and brutality. That hope is brought to life in Javier. For Javier, it’s all about attitude. “I believe that attitude and the way you face the world is the way to open doors,” he says. “You open doors to different places and people. A positive attitude…it’s the most important thing.” Javier is a coordinator at the Youth Center in Apopa run by Catholic Sisters. They’ve seen his growth over the past few years, as he went from a participant to a leader in the group. “He has struggled and overcome,” said Sister Conchi. “He works hard and never asks for anything.” He sells … [Read more...] about Making Dreams Come True