In January 1970, while attending a land reform conference, Tanenbaum Peacemaker in Action José "Chencho" Alas was abducted, beaten, and drugged, before being thrown out of a moving car. This was not the last time he would be targeted. In 1976, after bombings to his house and multiple unwarranted arrests, he was forced to flee the country to preserve his life.
When he returned to El Salvador, he helped establish the Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America, which today supports a wide variety of programs for low-income communities. In his view, only by simultaneously addressing the problems of poverty, violence, education and spiritual development can the country achieve lasting reconciliation.
Learn more about José's journey as a peacemaker: https://tanenbaum.org/programs/peace/peacemaker-awardees/jos%C3%A9-chencho-alas-el-salvador
This video was made possible by grants from Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Henry Luce Foundation. The statements made and views expressed are solely the responsibility of Tanenbaum. Tanenbaum's Peacemakers in Action program is also supported by the Leir Charitable Foundations.