Since our original trip in January 2005, we have established strong ties to this wonderful community. We now travel to El Salvador three times a year and host a magic camp for some very special Barefoot Angels (see below). These young aspiring magicians are beginning to carry on our tradition of performing in the local orphanages and hospitals. Look for more news soon about our growing program in this part of the world.

In January 2005, Tom, Janet and Rob Kinslow traveled to El Salvador and performed twenty magic shows. This was the first time another performer traveled with Tom and Janet. Rob is a Massachusetts based magician and writer who hopes to continue performing with MWB.

The trip was made possible, in part, because of support from Asaprosar - The Salvadoran Association for Rural Health. Asaprosar provided us with room, board and in-country transportation. We performed for many of the children Asaprosar serves. We did magic shows in ten of the sixteen Nucleos (preschool kindergartens) that Asaprosar has set up in the countryside of Santa Ana. These “Sprouts of Hope” (three to seven year olds) are an important part of Asaprosar’s vision to change the future of El Salvador. Janet did a workshop with the Nucleos teachers on teaching art and also after many of the magic shows, she did art with the children.

Perhaps the most moving performance was in the Chalchuapa garbage dump. This bleak landscape of smoldering waste is filled with wild pigs, vultures, children and adults scouring the dump for any thing they can salvage, sell or eat. The magic show in the Chalcuapa Dump was a heart breaking, heart opening moment during our time in El Salvador.

Tom and Rob spent three marvelous days teaching magic to eighteen “Barefoot Angels.” These are adolescents who a few years ago were working long days, often barefoot, in the dump and market place of Santa Ana. They had little hope of school and no dreams for their future lives. With the help of Asaprosar, these young people are now in school, physically healthy and slowly making their dreams for a new life come true.

Tom, Janet and Rob also traveled to Ilzalco, as the guests of Tata Ricardo Maye and Nana Juana Escobar, the spiritual leaders of the the indigenous people of El Salvador. We went to Izalco to perform at the dedication of a fence around a field, where Tata Ricardo has managed to persuade rival gangs to play soccer together. Magicians Without Borders raised the money to build the fence . We did six performances in Izalco for hundreds of children. The final night in Ilzalco, by the light of the full moon and hundreds of colored candles, Tata Ricardo celebrated a traditional Mayan ceremony of gratitude for this world of grief and beauty. What a moving and memorable way to spend our last night with Tata and Nana. They will be always in our hearts.

Our time in Ilzalco and Santa Ana felt like the first of many future visits. We have sent down roots into the volcanic earth of El Salvador. We look forward to many journeys to this beautiful land that has suffered so much from the ravages of political and natural violence - earthquakes, repression and genocide. We are so grateful to Asaprosar, Tata, Nana and all our supporters who enabled us to bring love, laughter and magic to the children of El Salvador.