This is a call for mutual aid for an inspiring Salvadoran woman, Norelby Urbina. Norelby is an aspiring entrepreneur, first-generation college graduate, and intergenerational survivor of US imperialism, genocide, environmental disasters, and community violence.

 

In El Salvador 42% of women have no source of their own income. Since the US-backed Salvadoran civil war ended in 1992, thousands of Salvadorans have been pushed out of the country due to rampant community violence (and particularly violence against women and girls), extreme poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and widespread corruption. In the Central American country of just six million people, one woman was the victim of a femicide — a man murdering of a woman or girl because of her gender — every 24 hours in 2018. At this very minute, hundreds of Salvadoran women are at the US-Mexico border in tent camps and in US immigration detention facilities seeking political asylum.

 

Many Salvadorans, like my good friend Norelby Urbina, are fighting every day to stay in El Salvador and to support their community in healing from these painful legacies. I met Norelby in 2012 through the Casa de la Solidaridad praxis-based study abroad program in San Salvador, El Salvador. Norelby is a brilliant and determined woman who has dedicated her life to supporting her community in Chalatenango, and she is more than worthy of our support.

 

Here is a message from Norelby:

 

Mi nombre es Norelby Urbina, Habitante del Cantón Guarjila, Departamento de Chalatenango, ubicado al norte de San Salvador; me gradué de Mercadeo en la Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA), desde que inicié a estudiar en la Universidad mi proyección era hacer mi empresa y administrarla, pero por la falta de recursos económicos no fue posible, es por ello que trabajé 6 años en la empresa privada en el departamento de San Salvador, Con el salario que recibía no lograba suplir las necesidades básicas, no podía apoyar económicamente a mi familia; por lo que decidí centrarme en construir mi negocio. Iniciando la construcción del local con ayuda de mi familia y prestamos de amigos/as.

 

Actualmente estoy en la fase de levantamiento de paredes, pero por la economía no puedo finalizarlo y poner en marcha el negocio es por ello que deseo solicitar de su ayuda para continuar con mi proyecto, ya que falta la parte de techo, Piso, cocina y mobiliario es decir gran parte de capital de trabajo, me encantaría poder finalizar la construcción y de esa manera generar ingresos para mi familia, pagar los préstamos y posteriormente poder generar oportunidades de empleo en mi comunidad.

 

Tanto en mi comunidad como en El Salvador hay pocas oportunidades de empleos y de crecimiento profesional, es por eso que muchos jóvenes migran a Estados Unidos porque es difícil sobrevivir sin ingresos, el salario diario ronda en 10 dólares y de esa forma no es posible desarrollarse. Incluso mi persona ha querido migrar para buscar dinero para poder tener una mejor situación económica, pero he decidido buscar la manera de lograr hacer mi negocio en mi comunidad, generar empleo a mi familia y a la vez ayudar a personas de mi comunidad a desarrollarse en un futuro.

 

My name is Norelby Urbina, resident of the Guarjila Canton, Department of Chalatenango, located north of San Salvador; I graduated in Marketing at the UCA, since I started studying at the University my dream was to start my business and manage it, but due to the lack of financial resources it was not possible, that is why I worked 6 years in the private company in San Salvador, but with the salary I received I could not meet my basic needs and I could not support my family financially; so I decided to focus on building my business. Starting the construction of the premises with the help of my family and loans from friends.

 

I am currently in the phase of building the walls, but due to economic limitations, I cannot finish it and start the business, which is why I want to request your help to continue with my project, since the roof, floor, kitchen and furniture, that is to say a large part of working capital, I would love to be able to finish the construction and thus generate income for my family, pay the loans and later be able to generate employment opportunities in my community.

 

In my community of Chalatenango and across El Salvador there are few opportunities for employment and professional growth, which is why many young people migrate to the United States because it is difficult to survive without income, the daily salary is around 10 dollars and this makes it almost impossible to grow as a professional. In my case, I have also considered immigrating to another country in search of a better economic situation, but I have decided to stay in my country and find a way to do my business in my community, generate employment for my family and at the same time help people in my community to develop in a better future for us all.