is to engage community development in Bajo Lempa while exposing
Upstate New York teenagers to an experience that will profoundly impact their future.
Who We Are...
Young Life Syracuse East & Urban took 2 small trips with adults and teenagers into a mountain region of El Salvador in 2005 and 2006. These early trips allowed us to learn about the country, the people and confirm the desire that our young people had to travel to other countries.
For the past 5 years YL and Holy Cross Church have partnered together to bring nearly 300 people to the region of Bajo Lempa in the southeast corner of El Salvador. Since our first trip, many people have voiced an interest in being a part of this project and so our group has expanded to include people from many schools and congregations as well as health professionals who also participate.
Roughly 80% of the participants have been local teenagers from Syracuse. They give up their winter break each year to spend it living in the community with the people of Bajo Lempa and completing the various projects seen mentioned on this web site. Up until now, the teens have raised the bulk of the money for the projects and their transportation to El Salvador on their own. Each participant is asked to raise $1,500 for travel, logistics and projects in El Salvador. Last year (2009), our trip of 70 people raised over $110,000. The extra money given comes from local businesses and churches.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE MAKING THIS TRIP POSSIBLE AND IN ORDER TO EXPAND OUR PROJECT INTO THE VILLAGES SURROUNDING RANCHO GRANDE. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE "HOW CAN I HELP" SECTION OF THIS PAGE TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ENSURE THAT THIS PROJECT CONTINUES MOVING FORWARD.