Hello!
My name is Rick Mack and I am the founder/coordinator of the Berea-Midpark Solidarity Group. The group came about after some of my athletes heard about a couple of church trips I thad taken to Zaragoza, El Salvador (I am a retired special needs teacher, but still coach track & XC). There was enough interest and parental trust, so the Midpark Solidarity Group was formed. When the two high schools in our district merged, our name changed…but the mission remained the same: To take young people to the developing world in order to create a better understanding of the people and problems that are faced on a daily basis, while figuring out ways to work together, in solidarity, to create a more just world.
The 2015 will be our 7th trip to the town of San Jose’ Villanueva, El Salvador, where we work through the organization Epilogos Charities (www.epilogos.org). We operate very simply:
-100% of the monies collected go toward the building project & equipment. Each home + latrine costs $6,500 to build. Due to increased crime/violence in the area, there is a security fee this year of approximately $300. The remaining funds are used to provide the family with an Ecocina stove & water purification tank, along with some other household necessities.
-Each participant pays her/his own way. Each year, every year, all participants pay. This year each person will pay approximately $1010 for airfare, room & board. This commitment by each person allows us to have a unity of purpose and understanding that we are committed to our cause. 100% of your donation is tax-deductible.
-Who are our participants? This year I will have 5 high school students, 2 college students, 2 recent college grads (teacher & family counselor) , and 3 middle aged folks (a builder, a guidance counselor, & me). Each year we have had between 12 – 19 people, with a similar age range.
-We live & work in the community, in a simple yet nice volunteer house. Meals are healthy yet simple. Showers are cold, days & nights are hot…no hot water tanks or AC. Bunk beds and cots are our home for the 10 days, basic & clean. We walk to and from the job site ( a bit more slowly on the way home).
-In these 10 days, we build a home with a family that Epilogos Charities has chosen. The family works side by side our group. 2 days are travel days, Sunday is a day of rest & exploring La Libertad, and the rest of the days involve pretty grueling labor…and every year most of our young people ask to return. Please check out the slideshow we posted. The work is very labor intensive. Besides the pulley, there are no machines. Side by side, our folks work with he family members to create a simple, very functional home. The relationships with these families are far-reaching. Since most folks have access to some form of technology, our young people (& middle-aged, too), have developed true friendships that extend beyond our stay.
Our Need:
Simply put, we need to raise approximately $7000 for the home, latrine, & equipment. As mentioned earlier, 100% of the monies raised go the project. Any overage would go toward other Epilogos projects in the community. Epilogos Charities (www.epilogos.org) is a wonderful group with a wonderful history and is beautifully simple. By helping our cause, you become part of our group. My young folks will figure out ways to get photos to you. You will share in the dirt, sweat, and soreness during the project…along with the excitement, satisfaction, tears of joy & solidarity that occur when we complete the home. Most importantly, a family in need will have a simple, secure home for their family, which is a basic need for everyone, everywhere in the world. Thank you for your consideration of our cause.