Social action has always been an important part of my life. At 25 years of age,I became a member of Hadassah. At that time it was involved in bettering the lives of children, especially in Israel [Youth A lyiah]. I believe in the mission of changing one life at a time.
In Kennewick, Washington I started teaching English with the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program through Laubach Literacy. I met several Laotian and Thai refugees trying to better their lives in the United States. I, also, met Ricardo and several other Salvadorans while teaching English.
In 1985 Ricardo and I were married and in 1986 I went to El Salvador for the first time. It was after seeing the effects of the civil war, combined with a devastating earthquake, that a seed was planted.
Our family returned in 1989 with clothes, medicine donations, soccer balls and uniforms, and other needed items and gave those out to orphans and flood victims in San Miguel. In 1998 after much planning and coordination, NESES, Ninos Estudiando El Salvador (Children Studying El Salvador), was born. Ricardo and I wanted to teach Salvadoran children about their own country. Taking pride in where you live and working to make where you live something to be proud of, is an important part of building self-esteem, confidence, and a brighter future.

Ricardo Pocasangre:

I was born in El Salvador, but had to flee my country when I was 27 years old in 1980. I came to Kennewick, Washington and studied English in Joy's class.
At Bellevue Community College I continued learning English and wrote stories about living in and leaving El Salvador. We have since published those stories in BREAKING HOME TIES: A Salvadoran's Journey
I was orphaned at age five so I can identify with the challenges faced in a poor country. I wanted to help the children of my country not feel abandoned and to encourage them to stay in school. I wanted to offer them guidance that, as an orphan, they may not have gotten from a family member. What I love about working with NESES is the connection I experience with the youth of El Salvador. Even though I live in the United States, I feel a strong link to my homeland.
My wife Joy and I went on a trip with American Jewish World Service to Honduras. I learned that social justice is an important part of repairing the world, helping to make it better and keeping a close bond with my native country, El Salvador. In 1986 I went back for the first time since I fled in 1980. Even though I couldn’t do much about the civil war at the time, I knew that I could at least help the earthquake and hurricane victims. After delivering clothes and other needed items to many people, including our first orphanage, we made it a priority to get more involved and NESES was born.

Executive Board:

• Joy Pocasangre, president
• Kialynn Glubrecht, secretary
Since I have been a teacher for forty years, it should not be surprising that I value education highly. In El Salvador where unemployment is high, education is the only hope for a future.  Public school is available only through ninth grade and those without the means to attend the three-year private high schools must leave the orphanage after ninth grade. However, the students given a NESES scholarship, which pays for school expenses, are allowed to stay at the orphanage, so room and board are provided without cost to the student or to NESES.
• Gloria Gutierrez

Advisory Board:

• John Town
• Kate Lorenzen
• Aida Rodriguez
I'm a Salvadoran, graduated from Universidad Tecnologica in 2002 majoring in Public Relations and Communications. Under a UT, Austin grant I worked for the Legislative Assembly as a guide for students who visited the institution, organizing events and other duties as well as studying graphic design. While I was studying ESL at Bellevue Community College, NESES gave me the opportunity to be part of the dream of changing children lives in El Salvador. My function in El Salvador will be to establish and maintain a communication channel between the students, directors of the schools and the administrators of the project.