Twin City Project Windsor-Las Vueltas Celebrating 25 Years

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Las Vueltas as seen on Google Earth

The Windsor – Las Vueltas Twin City Project are celebrating 25 years of bringing together the communities of Windsor, Ontario and Las Vueltas, El Salvador.

In 1987, the community of Windsor committed itself to the support and advocacy of a small community in the mountains of El Salvador by twinning with the town of Las Vueltas. At that time, the community of Las Vueltas consisted of 1500 people, mainly women and children, who had returned from the refugee camps in Honduras in the midst of a long and bloody civil war that would rage for another five years.

The Twin City Project’s first responses were those of seeds, important food and medical supplies, a horse, and some cows. They were voices of advocacy for the voiceless through their urgent action faxes, letters, petitions, and paid ads in the national newspapers. They appealed on behalf of the tortured, mistreated, endangered, disappeared as well as the peace initiatives that lead to a hard-earned ceasefire, and later, a peace accord.

With financial support from the people of the communities in Windsor and Essex County as well as many hours of support from people across the region, the Twin City Project has been able to provide many necessities. Notable missions included: four truck-loads of medical, humanitarian, and school supplies in 1994; and playground equipment for a park that was built with the labour of the people of Las Vueltas in 1999.

On Friday April 20th, a Community Dinner will take place to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the official twin city relationship between these two cities. The evening will be co-hosted by Gary Parent and Marianne Angus. The keynote speaker for the event is Ken Lewenza, President of the CAW.

Doors open at 6pm at the CAW Local 200/444 hall located at 1825 Turner Road, which is  1/2 block north of Tecumseh Road.   Dinner will be served at 7pm ans there will plenty of  entertainment for the evening .

Tickets are only $25 and may be purchased by calling Jean Vaillancourt at 519-253-5188.  All proceeds of the Community Dinner will benefit on-going initiatives in the municipality of Las Vueltas and surrounding communities. Current initiatives include rebuilding of the Women’s Cooperative, Housing and Assistance for Seniors, supporting School Operations, and Children’s Nutritional Assistance.