Mauricio Montano
montanomaurico@hotmail.com
Re: Potential workshop & exchange of knowledge / Alternative, Permaculture and educational project in El Salvador, Central America.

La Casa Organica is pleased to present this proposal for your review
In 2005, we decided to bring a project to Salvadorians. We share the wonders of permaculture and organic farming as an alternative lifestyle to counteract the organized crime. Also, our project provides a drug & alcohol rehabilitation program.
There are an estimated 25,000 gang members at large in El Salvador with another 9,000 in prison. The most well-known gangs, called maras in colloquial Salvadoran Spanish, are Mara Salvatrucha and their rivals Calle 18; maras are hunted by death squads including Sombra Negra. Criminal youth gangs run lives in El Salvador with an estimation of at least 60,000 young people belonging to gangs. Today, El Salvador experiences some of the highest murder rates in the Latin America. Three youths students of La Casa Organica were killed and one is missing in the past two years as a consequence of this wave of violence.
El Salvador had more homicides in May than any other single month in a decade. Data from the National Civil Police show 481 homicides recorded on March, or more than 15 a day. April’s start is no better, with 73 killings reported in the first five days. At this rate, El Salvador is on pace to surpass Honduras as the deadliest peace-time country in the world.

La Casa Organica, empowers the kids to create environmental and social solutions. We are working with the community to promote responsible land and resource management through environmental education. We have a reforestation program. In the past 5 years we have planted more than 10,000 trees in central and South America. We also teach the kids English, Spanish, French, recycling, yoga, shiatsu, vegetarianism, art, literature, theater, handicraft, natural building and computer skills, so they can have better chances finding a job. Together we discuss different life subject and exchange ideas to bring them new perspectives.
This project is the fruit of 9 years of personal investment as much as financial. It is a personal initiative. For diverse reasons there is no official registration made with the government. Through volunteering international websites, we have received contributions and donations from all around the world.

Currently we are looking for a space such as yours, to present our alternative program and exchange ideas .Therefore, I would like to arrange an interview with you so I can explain in more detail the contribution of our project can make to your organization.
For more information regarding La Casa Organica, please check our blogspot.

http://organicelsalvador.blogspot.co.at/p/the-project.html
Also you can check this video
http://permaculturenews.org/2013/05/02/the-organic-bubble-permaculture-in-el-salvador/

Thanking you in advance for your time and consideration.
Hoping positive reply
Sincerely,
Mauricio A. Montano
Founding Director