10 Questions with La Red
1.) Full Name, Location & Project.
My name is Salvador Castellanos, born and raise in El Salvador. For the last 42 years I have worked as a TV news anchor, reporter and producer for international and local networks.
In 2005 my family planted CS El Salvador ministry.
15 years ago, my wife Mayi and I moved to reside permanently at the coast of La Libertad, now known as Surf City El Salvador, and in 2014 we registered La Red (The Net Foundation for Trasnformative Development).
2.) Describe your project and what it does?
La Red is a Christian nonprofit organisation.
We facilitate transformative development opportunities for people in social vulnerability who reside in the coastal communities of La Libertad, El Salvador.
Our work has 3 pillars:
Assist. We alleviate urgent needs for food, medicine, and shelter.
Preach. We teach the universal values of Christianity, and its practice as an integral faith and lifestyle.
Educate. We offer training for life, employment, and entrepreneurship.
25 years of presence and work in the coastal communities of La Libertad have shown us that people in situations of social vulnerability can improve their quality of life if they are assisted in their urgent needs, they are guided in spiritual and biopsychosocial aspects, and educates them comprehensively.
3.) What has been the reason for you to start up your project for the community in which you’re serving?
When we were working at CS, all of our chapters began to fill up with children and adults who were looking for something other than the traditional churches in the area.
5.) What challenges do you face on a daily basis?
There are different challenges: as know and respond to the local culture. Earn the trust of the communities so that they allow us to approach them in a more personal and intimate way.
El Salvador does not have a culture of giving, so raising funds to sustain the organization and its programs is always a challenge.
The Network has been growing in projects and beneficiaries, which is why it is also more difficult to administer and manage.
Since we serve a vulnerable population, we often receive requests for help of all kinds, which sometimes we cannot solve due to lack of funds.
6.) What has been one of the highlights or accomplishments of your project?
At some point we measure the achievements in the number of activities carried out or people reached. But we have learned that the real fruit is the transformation of the people we serve.
When we see them seek God more consistently, join one of our courses, begin to serve and become better citizens; we can say that we are fulfilling our objective.
7.) What are your goals for the future of your project?
To continue the good works in the coastal communities of La Libertad, El Salvador.
We understand it as more people attending our services, more people enrolled in our academy, more food rations, construction materials and medicines delivered each month.
And above all more people who confess Jesus as Lord, Savior and guide in their lives.
8.) Share your favorite picture taken of your project and describe why this is your favorite?
This hug represents something we believe and practice: “Love is a universal language, that everybody understands and need”.
9.) How has your project benefited from the Groundswell Aid community?
We are extremely grateful to GSA. In times of greatest need they have been with us: the Covid pandemic, the tropical storms of 2020, the equipment for the Sharing Waves project.
Knowing that we have brothers all over the world who share a heart and a call for those in need makes us feel part of a divine community and workers in the construction of a wonderful kingdom.
10.) Share with us a word of wisdom that will help your community or the world become a better place?
In La Red we have a saying: "Love God and Serve everyone". I understand it as living in the dimension of God's love, and when we immerse ourselves in that space, we really are a transforming force in the world, and our hearts reach the peace that passes all understanding.
