Since 1992, the Hands Across Borders Committee in Erie, Pennsylvania, formerly known as Sister City Projects, and the people in Salinas el Potrero have joined hands to learn from each other and promote the development of this small coastal community. Projects and delegations foster a partner community relationship built on trust and hope for a future where poverty has been overcome and justice prevails.

Hands Accross Borders works in solidarity with the people of El Salvador to respond to issues of poverty, war, and immigration and to address our commitment to work for justice for the poor, especially women and children.

Since 2000, Hands Across Borders has subsidized the health promoter and clinic in Salinas. In 2006 the health promoter began splitting her time between Salinas and Angelo Montaños.

Over the past five years, the Physical Therapy Graduate Studies Department of Gannon University, as well as the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, PA, the Community United Church, and the Erie Regional Peace and Justice Center joined Hands Across Borders in their support for Salinas. The central element of the past three delegations to El Salvador has been training local health promoters and community leaders in physical therapy techniques. The Gannon PT students partnered with student from the PT department at the National University of El Salvador, and led trainings in the Lower Lempa.

If you would like more information about Hands Across Borders partner relationship with Salinas, please contact Pat Lupo plupo@lea.earthforce.org, or Thomas R. Hughes at voices@votb.org or (202) 529-2912.