El Salvador endured a violent civil war from 1979 to 1992 that took the lives of some 70 to 75 thousand people, most quite poor. Most of the country’s wealth continues to be concentrated in the hands of a few families, and right-wing forces still predominate politically. Early this year the country was devastated by earthquakes that took the lives of about 1,250 people, and left thousands more injured or homeless. Poor communities continue to struggle to come to terms with the dramatic loss of life, forced displacement, and desperate living and working conditions. For the women in such communities, the entrenched machismo in the country limits educational and work opportunities, and negatively affects their self-esteem, while the violence and hardship of recent years have led to increased domestic violence.

MUSAMECO, a grassroots group funded once before by the Martín-Baró Fund, has designed a project of weekly meetings with women in poor and marginalized communities around San Salvador. Trained mental health workers will facilitate these meetings, where the women will participate in group dynamics, learn relaxation techniques, and take part in discussions about their experiences of loss; about basic human rights such as healthcare, education, employment and housing; and about women’s issues such as gender equality, self-esteem and the right to protection against violence. The well-designed program aims to empower these women to become protagonists in bettering their lives. MUSAMECO’s nuanced appreciation of the links among community mental health, human rights, social consciousness, and activism place it squarely within the philosophy of the Martín-Baró Fund.