El Salvador rebuilding projects progressing rapidly

Mennonite Central Committee
Friday, 8 June 2001

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador -- Thanks to community cooperation and constituency support, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) rebuilding projects are progressing rapidly in this earthquake-devastated country. Short-term Work and Learn teams from North America are assisting in construction.

MCC's initial commitment to earthquake response here was $615,400 Cdn./$400,000 U.S., most of which was to go to building 200 to 300 homes. As of the end of April, MCC had received $1,125,013 Cdn./$730,907 U.S. for El Salvador earthquake-related projects. MCC now plans to build more than 400 homes and continues to explore options for future projects.

MCC is building houses through four partner agencies, including the Baptist Mission Church in La Linea, a squatter community on the outskirts of the city of San Martín.

The first Work and Learn team, with eight participants from the West Coast U.S. region and Manitoba, returned to North America on May 26 after helping with construction on the first 12 houses in La Linea. These houses are being built of earthquake-resistant concrete and steel in a design that may be copied in other projects.

Every MCC regional and provincial office was invited to organize a team to travel to El Salvador during the summer or fall.

MCC also recently decided to add two additional teams. One of these slots will be offered to a team from Altona, Man., where a "Build a Village" campaign organized by Ray Loewen has earned $240,000 Cdn./$156,000 U.S. -- enough money to build 80 homes in El Salvador.

Salvadoran families receiving houses assist with construction and in some cases assume a small portion of the costs. Their gratefulness and eagerness to cooperate are heartening, noted emergency relief coordinator David Martin. In Metapan, where local Mennonites and groups from other Central American countries are rebuilding homes with local families, earthquake survivor and coffee farmer Manuel Escobar expressed his appreciation:

"This has truly come from heaven -- that is, the house and the help from the Mennonite church and the Belize team. ... The fact that I now have a home is nothing short of a miracle."

In addition to receiving work groups from North America, Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, MCC also organized a trip to Honduras for Salvadorans involved in the rebuilding projects. Participants heard about Hondurans' similar experiences following Hurricane Mitch and visited communities to learn about Honduran projects.

Salvadoran partner agencies are also addressing spiritual and emotional needs of local communities through mental health assistance and pastoral work.

Some 6,200 relief buckets donated by MCC supporters, along with MCC canned pork, are being distributed in communities where MCC partners work.

MCC will also likely contribute through the Candian Foodgrains Bank to a larger food-for-work project initiated by Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. MCC's share in the $1,180,000 Cdn./$767,000 U.S. project is equal to $400,000 Cdn./$260,000 U.S.

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org