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Here is just some of what's happening in Chacraseca...
ELECTIONS... The bi-annual elections for the Pastoral Committee were held in February. This year, every sector elected at least one youth and at least one women to its leadership team! The newly elected officers of the Executive Board of the Pastoral Committee are:
Coordinator -- Juan Enrique Canales
Vice Coodinator-- Elba Luz Delgado Secretario -- Brenda Caballero Finanzas -- Noe Arauz 1st Fiscal -- Franklyn Parriles 2nd Fiscal -- Nimia Caballero 1st Vocal -- Lesbia Alstum 2nd Vocal -- Pedro Delgado
FARM HOPE...  Last fall devastating rains destroyed most of the bean, corn, and sesame seed crops in Chacraseca, leaving many farmers with no way to pay their microcredit loans and no funds for spring planting. In October, JustHope Partners helped 60 farmers save their farm crops, and now we are working wiith other solidarity partners to help the farmers who lost everything replant their spring crops. It takes an  average of $150 to plant one manzana of land... Our goal is to raise funds to assist 35 farmers replant -- $5250. Latham UMC in Huntsviille, Alabama has donated $2400; JustHope and Community of Hope UCC raised $1400 at our FarmHope concert, and we are continuing to raise funds until the planting season begins in May. Donate now to help farmers help themselves.  CLINIC... JustHope partners recently finished adding solar panels to the clinic and central office area. A few adjustments still need to be made and then electricity will be more reliable and costs will be reduced. Other Partners have done some important repair and maintenance work.  JustHope continues to support the clinic with $700 per month in medications and operational support. AND - with a $5000 gift from First Christian Church in Harrisonville, MO, we will soon be kicking off a project to create a small laboratory in the clinic building. Soon... women won't have to wait 3 months for pap smear results; and sick people won't have to travel all the way to Leon for a simple blood test. Interested in helping make the lab a reality? Emaill us at leslie@justhope.org.
MICRO-ENTERPRISE... The women's micro-credit project continues to grow -- 5 new women were recently added to the group -- and the project continues to achieve a 100% payback rate.   The women also joined together in partnership with JustHope to open the Dreaming Together Hardware Store... and are working hard on plans to open a "Cafetin" (small cafe) next door. Women are feeding their families and improving their lives at the same time they are helping their community! Donate now to support more micro-enterprise in Chacraseca. "BECAS" (Scholarships) The 2011 school year started in February, and thanks to JustHope who prov ided 120 scholarships and Community of Hope who provided another 135, 255 children had the support they needed to attend primary school. Each $40 scholarship provides a backpack, school supplies, and a uniform with shoes. If you'd like to help us send more children to school, please contact us at leslie@justhope.org. YOUTH PROJECTS  JustHope has funded a three month pilot project to explore (and hopefully expand) the opportunities for youth in Chacraseca. The leaders of the local youth club will be conducting surveys, visiting in sectors, and listening to young people talk about theiir lives, their hopes and dreams, and their ideas for building a viable youth program. Drug use, gang activiity, and suicide are all on the rise among young people in Chacraseca and we are hoping to support community efforts to provide some heallthy, hopefull alternatives.  AND the local high school band is wanting to expand the number of young people who can participate. All they need are more instruments. If you have used instruments to donate (or want to donate to a band fund to purchase them), contact Leslie at leslie@justhope.org. | 
