Posted October 15, 2024
Starting in 1979, El Salvador encountered a 12-year civil war between the government and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN).
Because of the violence, it led to over a million people fleeing the country to find safety.
At 10 years old, Fredy Robles, Chief Program Officer, and his parents came to the United States to start a new life.
“...lots of people had to leave the country due to the war that was taking place. This was a human rights war, so that’s where my immigrant story starts” Fredy said.
The war gained a lot of attention and many think of El Salvador as a dangerous place to be.
“The unfortunate truth of what most people know about El Salvador is that it was a very dangerous place to be. For many years, El Salvador was ranked one of the most dangerous places in the world,” Fredy said.
Since the end of the war, however, Fredy explains the beauty of the small country and how its landscapes compare to Hawaii at times.
“It [El Salvador] went from being one of the dangerous places in the world to one of the safest places in the western hemisphere,” Fredy said, “...in some ways it’s resembled what Hawaii looks like,”
During Hispanic Heritage Month, people can celebrate and embrace the diversity in the Hispanic/Latino community according to Fredy.
For many, the month is also a way for those in the Hispanic/Latino community to share their values and culture with others.
“We are all united by a common set of values, yet every group is so different and contributes to the larger community in their own unique way,” Fredy said.
The United States was formed by people from all over the world with different backgrounds and Hispanic Heritage Month is one way to remember that we should appreciate and respect the diversity.
“The whole American experience is about diversity and learning to appreciate other cultures...” Fredy said, “It’s key to our success as a community, as people, but it is also fun.”
For over 40 years, Catholic Charities has been serving Hispanic communities with personal and social problems while adapting to a new culture and preserving their heritage in Cuyahoga and Lake counties.
To learn more about our Hispanic Services click the button below!