Community Leaders 

JustHope

Creating global partnerships, combating poverty, nurturing sustainable community... 

January 22, 2014 

   Join One of our Study Aboard/ Service-Learning Groups!

January 23-24

February 23- March 1

March 1-8

May 17-24

May 21-29

Click here for more information on any of these trips. 

In Chacraseca, being a community leader can mean many things... but for any leader it means a great deal of responsibility and time spent.  

     Pedro Luiz, a leader for the past 12 years, explains, "A lot of people are not willing to be a leader because you have to dedicate a part of your life to this work, at least 6-8 hours a week just for the basic things.  There's no pay -- it's all volunteer. So, people who work in factory jobs, can't do this work - they cant miss a day of work." Pedro has a small piece of land where he grows wheat, corn, and enough food to feed his family. His sons help out so he can do the volunteer community business.

    Each leader works on a different commission, sharing the load of community organizing for the 8000 people who live in Chacraseca.  Pedro is part of the Education Commission which is responsible for choosing the scholarship recipients. It's difficult to make choices knowing that almost every family really needs the support.  

"But when the kids get their scholarships, I can see the joy in their faces...that's one reason I keep doing this job." 

Over his 12 years of service, Pedro has seen many changes. 

 

"Before, there was no water and no electricity. Roofs were made of palm trees, and kids could not go to school. Now, we have water; kids can go to school... And people are getting better houses."