So, You think that your house ‘pests’ are bad, check out the Salvadoran version.
So, the next time that you are at your wit’s end with a home invasion of ants or maybe you see signs of a mouse living in your attic, just realize that ‘pest’ is a relative term. In 2012, using a grant from a US donor and additional donations from a Salvadoran donor, our sustainable […]
Pop Music Is Universal: COAR Girls Love One Direction
In a time when the entire world seems to be dividing among ethnic, religious, linguistic, and political lines, take comfort in one universal fact: teen girls across the globe stand together in their love for the same british pop band…One Direction! While in many ways life may seem quite different between El Salvador and […]
Living 24/7 with 10 Other People Is Harder Than It seems: Workshop on Teamwork and Communication
Did you live in a college dormitory when you were in school? Did you have 1 or 2 roommmates per semester? How did you get along? Did you ever feel like you just needed space? Well, imagine what it would be like to be a child or teenager, living 10 kids to a home. […]
Papal Nuncio Present at COAR Confirmations
On June 8th, 2014, six COAR children celebrated their confirmation at COAR’s parish church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. It was an especially memorable event for everyone as the Papal Nuncio joined the local parish priest for the Sacrament of Confirmation. COAR’s director, Administrative Staff, Housemothers were joined by children, relatives, God Parents and […]
Preventing the BORDER CRISIS by Building School & Team Spirit in Zaragoza
As nearly all Americans are now aware, there has been a large influx of undocumented children coming to the United States alone or unattended by their parents. While this issue raises many political questions at home in the US, it also creates an opportunity to discuss preventative actions that can be taken in Central America […]
Letting Kids Be Kids: OFF TO THE MOVIES!
In May, COAR’s director rewarded 20 of our kids for their excellent grades at the end of the 1st grading period and their overall good behavior. She sought out Salvadoran sponsors who paid for a rare field trip to a Cinemark movie theater to watch the newly released Spiderman 2. The kids were well behaved and […]
COAR’s Strong Families Program
Catholic Relief Services developed a program to strengthen family bonds and build values through group activities and guided conversations. Two volunteers from CARITAS adapted that program especially for our community. Each weekend, a group of COAR children participate. From safety, to education, food, healthcare, spirituality, and skills for improving interpersonal relationships, this is just one […]
Visit to Esquipulas
In the spring of 2014, two COAR students, Diana and Mercedes, were honored with a trip to the town of Esquipulas in southeastern Guatemala due to their outstanding grades. Members of the local Parish, Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza, were making a pilgrimage to Esquipulas and invited these top scholars to join them […]
COAR RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS: Sustainable Farming
During the WAR years, COAR had as many as 6 fulltime farmers on staff who tended our fields. Although COAR sits on the side of a small mountain ridge, it is actually quite possible to farm on the side of a hill. Today, while effective cost-cutting strategies have eliminated those positions, the COAR school, working […]