A Forum Hosted by The Institute of Governmental Studies
in collaboration with State Senator Liz Figueroa
and Community Service Learning International (CSLI)
Saturday, 28 April 2001
Description:
The purpose of the Forum, El Salvador Reconstruction: Emergency Plans and Long Term Partners, hosted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, in collaboration with State Senator Liz Figueroa and Community Service Learning International, is threefold: 1) to examine the Emergency and Reconstruction Plans in El Salvador developed in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes that left 1.5 million people homeless; 2) to present the interests of potential U.S. partners in the Emergency Management and/or Reconstruction Plans; and, 3) to determine i
mmediate NGO, governmental, university and community-based linkages between El Salvador and California that may lead to long term working partnerships in research and program development based in the methodology of community service learning.
The Forum, facilitated by IGS Director Bruce E. Cain, will host four leaders from El Salvador representing urban and rural community development initiatives. Participating will be Minister of Education Evelyn Jacir de Lovo; Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Ana Maria Majano; Reverendo Santiago Flores, President, Alfalit de El Salvador, a progressive community development NGO; and Rafael Benavides, Commissioner of Municipalities. In addition, CA State Senator Liz Figueroa will discuss her recent trip to El Salvador after the first earthquake, and Marth Becktell of CSLI with Santiago Flores will briefly present the community service learning model of program development employed by Alfalit de El Salvador.
The El Salvadoran panelists will present facts and priorities of their emergency management/disaster relief efforts, closing with the presentation of a comprehensive reconstruction plan by Alfalit de El Salvador. The afternoon will be spent in working groups with the Forum participants organized around topics of interest and expertise in the areas of emergency management, disaster relief, health and envrionmental research, and immediate and long range national education intiatives.