wfn.org | NCCCUSA's Ecumenical Service Program

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

NCCCUSA EPRUS Program Helps People, Environment in Puerto Rico
Transforms Lives and Environment in Puerto Rico
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the 
U.S.A.
Internet: c/o carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

Contact: Chris Herlinger, NCC, 212-870-2068
NCC4/30/97 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, April 30 ---- The EPRUS-AmeriCorps 
program has transformed the lives of  Maricely 
Mangual and a group of young people in Playa 
Salinas, Puerto Rico.

It has also literally transformed their 
community.

The group of 18 AmeriCorps members in the 
predominately poor and black community on Puerto 
Rico's south shore have become environmental 
activists -- organizing environmental actions,  
cleaning up garbage along the community's beaches 
and conducting water quality tests in individual 
homes.

"We've learned a lot," said Maricely, 23, a 
mother of three who works as an accounting assistant 
but whose experience as a AmeriCorps volunteer is 
leading her to further study. With the help of an 
EPRUS-AmeriCorps grant, Maricely hopes to further 
study environmental studies at the University of 
Puerto Rico in Ponce.

"We've studied one of the major problems facing 
our community, and we've learned to do something 
about it," she said. "Our town is poor and we are 
dependent on the shore. Without a clean shore, we 
won't have anything."

Maricely and the other young people organized 
their group last year under the aegis of Playa 
Playita, a local community-based organization.

Following their basic AmeriCorps training, 
Nelson Santos, director of Playa Playita, said, 
"these young men and women came out of the basic 
training really excited. On the bus trip back home 
they were already creating their work plans."

The work plans centered on improving the 
environment in Playa Salinas, where water pollution 
had become a major problem, resulting in health 
problems for many, including children.

Studies have indicated that learning 
deficiencies are especially high among Puerto Rican 
children, and many are concerned that water 
pollution along the shoreline is the culprit.

One of the first things the group did was to 
receive training and equipment for testing water 
quality. When they discover water problems, they 
report the problems to the town's water department.

Such water tests are ongoing -- as is the 
group's continuing work in environmental awareness 
and organizing against a proposed toxic waste site.

In February, the group attacked cleaning the 
beach -- hauling out discarded refrigerators and 
even cars from the waters.

Such work is keeping with the idea that the 
AmeriCorps training "improves themselves by 
improving their community," said Cesar Coloma, the 
EPRUS-AmeriCorps regional coordinator in Puerto 
Rico. "The result is an awareness and building of 
responsibility toward the environment on the part of 
these young people."

"There's so much to do, and it's energizing 
seeing these young people work so hard," Coloma 
said.

Maricely Mangual added that the experience has 
given her a new commitment to her community. "This 
is our life here, and we need to preserve it."

-end-
 

 

 

 -0-