Salvadorans have endured major hardships over the past 25 years. A decade-long civil war ended in 1992. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch killed hundreds and destroyed half of the nation’s crops. In early 2001, two major earthquakes and 10,000 aftershocks left an estimated 1.5 million homeless. The combined disasters brought economic and social development to a standstill in rural areas.  More than one-third of the population lives in poverty.

Following the 2001 earthquakes, Episcopal Relief & Development partnered with the Episcopal Diocese of El Salvador to rebuild devastated communities. These relief and recovery programs have since transitioned toward long-term, integrated community initiatives focusing on primary health, agriculture and the environment, economic empowerment and disaster risk reduction.

The mobile clinic program trains community health promoters on wellness topics and provides high-quality, affordable medical and dental services in hard-to-reach communities. The program also trains farmers in organic agricultural practices, improving nutrition for local families while protecting people’s health and reducing their impact on the environment. In order to empower families economically to invest in health, agriculture and other endeavors, the diocese supports savings groups that also teach financial literacy and business skills.

The program also works with communities at high risk of disasters to assess potential hazards and identify local resources that could help prevent or protect from future crises.