March 28, 2013
Leaders from Pastores City, Guatemala, are taking action to reduce crime and violence. They held a listening campaign where they reached out to 300 Pastores residents, who identified security and safety as their most important issue.
COFOA San Juan Tepezontes leaders are committed to improving health care, and are holding research meetings with public health officials to tackle the larger issues that prevent adequate health access.
This February, COFOA San Pedro Nonualco leaders held a celebration to launch year two of their safety campaign – United Neighbors = Safe Neighborhoods - building on their success in 2012.
February 25, 2013
This annual report summarizes PICO International's work during 2012.
March 8, 2013
Mumeya leaders and community members continue to move ahead on economic development, applying the principles and methods learned from Pr. John.
In January Kirehe’s mayor and the Mumeya Local Organizing Committee met to agree on last steps to complete plastering of the walls and bring water to the health center.
January 28, 2013
After months of one-to-one conversations, Nyange leaders have decided to take on the manufacturing of roofing tiles that will result in long-lasting, durable roofs for their community. Read more...
February 4, 2013
Seventy-two leaders from El Salvador and Guatemala participated in a three day retreat in San Salvador in January 2013. Read more...
January 30, 2013
In August 2012, COFOA leaders from El Calix in Bajo Lempa, Jiquilisco municipality, Usulutan, held a health fair that provided medical services for 200 people to meet the health needs of the residents of Calix and nearby towns. Read more...
In September, COFOA San Pedro Nonualco leaders held a third workshop at the Canton Center Community School in rural Canton La Comunidad on ways to prevent violence, attended by 150 parents and students. Read more...
February 12, 2013
PICO Rwanda’s Director and Organizer, John Rutsindintwarane, recently lost his mother, Kabasinga Beltirde. She was not only an inspiration to John and his work; she was a sharing and caring woman who touched many people in her lifetime.
February 5, 2013
In August, eight PICO USA staff and leaders shared an intensive two-week immersion in PICO Central America’s work in Guatemala and El Salvador.
August 14, 2012
In San Nicolas Lemba parish, El Salvador – our newest member organization - leaders held a listening campaign in three towns, and identified garbage and water pollution as top concerns, because of problems with contaminated water.
This June, leaders from San Pedro Nonualco opened their second store through an association they formed called the Foundation for Community Development (FUDECO), with a goal to attract and serve larger numbers of the Sanpedrana community sector.
The roof and rooms of the health center are now entirely completed – and with that, the center has the capacity to serve all five villages – over 30,000 people!
In Kigali, with the assistance of Fr. Innocent Rugaragu, PICO Rwanda has begun introductory meetings and trainings with the St. Ignatius Jesuit School and with youth at the Centre Christus.
In Nyange, in western Rwanda, the community has its own unique people and problems – and we are learning that training and development in Nyange promises to be far different from Mumeya, though no less successful.
Youth and adult leaders from St. Peter Nonualco, El Salvador, held a large peace march with over 600 people, and formed a broad coalition to promote cultural, educational and democratic activities that reduce violence
Our trip to Central America has given US organizers a lot of time to connect with Central American leaders who organize in their communities.
August 13, 2012
Eight PICO US staff and leaders shared an intensive two-week immersion in PICO Central America’s work in Guatemala and El Salvador from August 2-16, 2012.
May 23, 2012
PICO-Rwanda leaders are working on the final set of rooms to complete the health center, after gaining government funding earlier this year.
April 19, 2012
Can you reconcile an entire country in which an unimaginable bloodbath took place?
April 18, 2012
I appreciate the opportunity given to me to share my experiences and challenges, first as a woman and second as a COFOA leader in ongoing training. In Guatemala, just being a woman is a challenge.
March 13, 2012
Martha Gomez Vda. Batres is COFOA’s coordinator at St. Peter Catholic church in San Pedro Nonualco, a small farming community of about 7000 people.
March 11, 2012
We have an exciting agenda for this trip, including time with PICO Central America staff and leaders in both El Salvador and Guatemala, as well as some R&R/sightseeing time!
Fatima Martinez is 18 years old and one of COFOA’s younger leaders, active in St. Peter’s Catholic church COFOA ministry in San Pedro Nonualco.
Polina Usabyeneza is an experienced PICO Rwanda leader from Mumeya. Polina visited Nyange and offered testimony about her experience with community organizing in Mumeya.
Octavio Polio has served as a parishioner and leader in the San Luis Rey de Fracia parish social ministry, San Luis Talpa, for years.
In February, Mumeya leaders received an invitation from Senate President Dr. Ntawukuliryayo Jean Damascene to attend a meeting with them and discuss the government’s commitments to complete the health center.
Three COFOA congregations held mayoral candidate's forums to learn about the experience and plans of mayoral candidates and encourage people to vote in the March elections. Nearly 600 people attended the first of these events
Telma Teresa Barahona coordinates the COFOA ministry in her church, San Juan Evangelista, San Juan Telezontes.
Uwimana Annociata is a PICO Rwanda leader from Nyange village, western Rwanda.
February 9, 2012 | The Daily Progress
It has been nearly 18 years since Rwanda’s latest genocide resulted in more than half a million people being killed, in an East African nation the size of Maryland.
February 9, 2012 | Social Policy - Organizing for Social & Economic Justice
December 15, 2011 | Patty Lawless
Please join us in this unprecedented opportunity to learn about PICO’s work in El Salvador and Guatemala in July 2012! Click on the title above to get details about the trip.
October 31, 2011
COFOA Guatemala held their first candidates’ night on August 13th. Despite a heavy rain storm, 800 people turned out for the forum, along with all four mayoral candidates.
COFOA Guatemala leaders in San Antonio Aguas Calientes have begun a long-term environmental awareness and clean-up campaign.
For the last two years, health care issues have continually surfaced in all COFOA congregations.
San Pedro Nonualco, home to about 7,000 people, is tackling the issue of poverty. As COFOA leaders grow in experience through campaigns that have gotten new alcohol regulations and health resources
PICO Rwanda continues its expansion to Nyange, where over 30 residents are holding one-to-one conversations across their region after receiving several trainings from Pastor John Rutsindintwarane, PICO Rwanda’s Executive Director.
This fall Mumeya leaders celebrated completion of six more rooms of their first health center, building the bricks themselves, completing the roof and plastering the walls.
Escalating crime and violence is an issue throughout El Salvador. A recent UN study noted that El Salvador and Honduras have the highest homicide rates in the world.
Santiago Nonualco youth leaders continue to learn how to organize and are holding one-to-one conversations and building relationships in their church, schools, and community.
May 2, 2011
In April a group of Mumeya leaders once again took action on behalf of their community, putting up the walls and completing the roof for six more rooms at the Mumeya, Rwanda health center!
May 1, 2011
After several months of research meetings with public officials, this spring San Juan Tepezontes leaders got the ANDA office to provide clean water three days a week - a big success for COFOA leaders, who kept pressure on the ANDA administrators.
March 20, 2011
December 7, 2010
Over 300 San Juan Tepezontes leaders identify access to clean water as their top priority
October 20, 2010 | PICO International
CRCR is the only organization in Rwanda that is implementing a grassroots leadership development model in which Rwandans themselves rebuild their communities.
July 20, 2010 | PICO International
The new road from Kigali is completed. Through a commitment by Kirehe’s Mayor, Mumeya leaders and gacaca prisoners worked side-by-side to build this road.
January 3, 2010 | PICO International
Congregations Rebuilding Community in Rwanda celebrates their successful grassroots campaign to press Rwandan government to allocate resources based on locally-identified needs.
October 31, 2009 | New Times: Rwanda's First Daily
Tucked far away in a small hidden part of Kirehe District near the Burundi and Tanzania borders is a community of serious minded, hardworking people, who are more knowledgeable about the aims and importance of Vision 2020
June 18, 2008 | ECLA News Service
December 12, 2006 | Jesuit News
PICO International is working to expand globally.
See how PICO changes lives, strengthens families and revitalizes communities across the country.
