Last week, our own Giulia McPherson traveled to El Salvador with GCE-US member American Jesuits International (AJI). The trip offered a powerful window into both the promise and the precarity of education in marginalized communities. 

A close partner of AJI, Fe y Alegría El Salvador accompanies the San José Las Flores School outside San Salvador, where students from kindergarten through ninth grade learn and grow. Here the delegation encountered a community grounded in hope. Despite limited resources, the school fosters not only academic learning but also values, leadership, and peacebuilding. As one teacher shared, “education is the greatest weapon against poverty.” That belief was evident in every classroom visited.

Time spent with Fe y Alegría El Salvador revealed both inspiring impact and urgent challenges. As part of the global Fe y Alegría International network, the organization has long provided quality education and social programs to vulnerable populations. However, recent global funding cuts, including support previously provided through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), have had devastating effects. 

One example is the La Luz de las Niñas program, which addresses gender-based violence. Once serving 600 girls, it now reaches only 50. This sharp reduction underscores how fragile progress can be when resources disappear. 

The delegation also visited the Fe y Alegría Zacamil Formation and Development Center, one of only three remaining vocational training centers, down from five, previously supported by USAID. Where the center once served 1,200 students, it now reaches just 200. Still, its impact remains tangible. Young people train in service industries such as barista work and baking, gaining skills that open doors to employment and dignity. The group even had the chance to enjoy some of the students’ exceptional coffee and baked goods, a testament to their talent and determination. 

The center also runs a specialized program supporting former migrants who have returned to El Salvador, helping them rebuild their lives through skills training and community. 

Throughout the visit, one theme remained constant: resilience. Even in the face of shrinking resources, these communities continue to invest in education as a pathway to opportunity and justice. The journey served as a reminder that solidarity matters and that sustaining these efforts requires continued global commitment.