El Salvador Encounter Application

El Salvador Encounter

January 4-12, 2027

Trip Information:

This trip to El Salvador is an opportunity to learn from and alongside Salvadoran communities through education, conversation, cultural immersion, reflection, and relationship-building.

This is not a work or service trip. Rather than arriving with the assumption that we are going to “help” or “fix” something, we will seek to listen, learn, ask questions, understand history and culture, and encounter the people and communities we visit with humility and respect. We will also explore how faith, justice, human dignity, solidarity, and the common good are lived out in a different cultural context. We are looking for students who are curious, open-minded, willing to be challenged, and prepared to enter unfamiliar situations with humility. Students must be active in ministry at St. Paul’s Newman Center. Prior to the trip, the group is required to attend 4 meetings to prepare. We will assign readings and resources to go over prior to the meeting discussions. The dates and times of these meetings will be determined once all participants have submitted their applications.

Travel Information:

TBA once we purchase flights. Tentatively plan to meet in Laramie on Sunday, January 3, for an early morning departure from DIA on Monday, January 4. We will return late Tuesday night, January 12.

Cost:

$1,500 per person (Actual cost is more, but donations from the community help cover the rest).

About the program

The El Salvador Encounter program, sponsored by CRISPAZ, aims to build relationships and deepen your understanding of the people of El Salvador. The group will learn from the Salvadoran people about their lives, histories, and hopes for the future while exploring diverse perspectives on various topics. These topics include the impact of war, economics, foreign policy, migration, the environment, and faith. This journey will deepen your spiritual understanding and inspire you to live out your faith in meaningful ways.

What to Expect:

  • Visits to martyr sites, grassroot organizations, and rural communities.
  • Engaging speakers on history, politics, economics, and current issues.
  • Cultural activities, including visits to the Cathedral in San Salvador and other sites
  • Group bonding activities aimed at building stronger connections and promoting a sense of community among participants.
  • Opportunities to interact with Salvadorans, learning directly from their experiences and perspectives.

FAQ 

  • Where will we be staying?
    • We will stay in a simple guesthouse. Typically, rooms will be shared by 2-3 people; in some cases, larger rooms house 3-4 people. We will spend 2 nights at a homestay in a rural village in a community member’s home. 
  • What will we eat? 
    • Simple meals. You may eat more beans than you are used to. Other typical foods include eggs, rice, avocado, cheese, plantain, and corn tortillas. If you have allergies/dietary restrictions, we will work with our delegation leader to accommodate these. 
  • Do I need to speak Spanish?
    • Though it will be helpful to have some Spanish speaking skills, they are not required for the trip. We will have an interpreter with us for most of the trip, and you can find new ways to communicate with those we encounter. 
  • Is it safe?
    • From CRISPAZ: CRISPAZ prioritizes the safety of your delegation. Our staff in El Salvador continuously monitors situations that may impact delegation safety. For over 40 years, our delegations have always been safe. We have taken, and continue to take, active security measures to provide a safe and meaningful experience in El Salvador. Throughout the years, we have not experienced any incidents where the well-being of our delegation participants has been threatened due to security risks or natural disasters.

For more information about Chrispaz, go to www.chrispaz.org.

Interested in applying? Complete the following form. Contact Emily Doherty, emily@newmancenter.org with questions.

Applications are due October 11, 2026. 

 

Spots are full for this trip. If you are interested in being added to a waitlist, please email Emily: emily@newmancenter.org.