Established:
1992
Mission:
Companion Community Development Alternatives (CoCoDA) connects US.. citizens, churches, service clubs, universities, and organizations with rural communities in El Salvador and Nicaragua. We have two simple goals:
• Building strong relationships between the people of the United States and Central America.
• Rebuilding the communities and infrastructure destroyed by U.S. dollars during the Salvadoran Civil War and Nicaraguan conflict.
We also hope to transform the worldview of people from the United States by helping them to understand their responsibilities as U.S. citizens.
Serving Our Community:
Over the past 32 years, CoCoDA and our partners have:
- built over 30 schools, clinics, and community centers
- created 12 water systems, bringing clean water to over 25,000 people
- sent over 400 young people through university and built a university dormitory for rural students
- supported physicians, nurses, and midwives with equipment, medicines, vitamins, and continuing education
- trained, certified, and paid the salaries of dozens of teachers
- fought for and defended human, civil, and environmental rights
- invested over $3 million in rural Central American communities
- brought hundreds of U.S. citizens to live, volunteer, and learn in Central America
Leadership:
Jim Mulholland, Executive Director
Present and past CoCoDA board members include Indianapolis area natives Dr. Kurt Patterson, Jason Burk, Dr. Scott Renshaw, Mandy Brookins, Lara Chandler Belsley, Jessica Trimble and Barb McDaniel.
We receive support from local foundations including the West Foundation, The Brave Heart Foundation, and H.C. Gemmer Family Christian Foundation.
Other Ways to Help:
- Join us for a one-week tour of Central America, our partner communities, and our projects in June of 2025.
- Sponsor a high school or university scholarship for $300 a year.
- Make our work sustainable with a monthly donation of $25, $50, or $100 a month.
5055 W. 15th St.
Indianapolis, Indiana 46224
(317) 503-5852
Challenge url: www.indianapolisgives.org/Companion-Community-Development-Alternatives
