Creating Financial Resilience to Withstand Disasters in Puerto Rico
“We trust that we will transform our environment for the good of our community. This confidence is the natural hope that drives us to act. Faith and hope together allow us to take our work to the streets.”
– The Rev. Ana Mendez, Diocese of Puerto Rico, Programa REDES
The Rev. Ana Mendez’s words were shared during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the entire world was paused. However, for the Rev. Ana, whose work in Puerto Rico involves caring for people and being physically present, it was even more critical to serve people, to pray and work together with them to build a more resilient and hopeful future.
Disasters are quite common in Puerto Rico. Major hurricanes Maria and Irma caused devastation in September of 2017, and that is when Episcopal Relief & Development began its relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico, partnering to restore electricity, provide food and deliver other support. Programa REDES was formed around that time, and in partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development, it focused on long-term disaster recovery, specifically hunger relief, reconstruction and disaster preparedness. Unfortunately, recovery has been complicated by large-scale earthquakes and the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
As part of their disaster preparedness work, Programa REDES, led by the Rev. Ana, aspired to relieve the financial pressures caused by an island-wide, disaster-related lack of resources and higher expenses. There was a need to create a sustainable solution, particularly in rural communities. In 2019, Programa REDES launched an Episcopal Relief & Development Savings with Education program. The program began with six savings groups that were specifically geared towards helping communities build financial strength and in turn disaster resilience.
For five years, group members from across the island have met weekly to contribute an agreed upon amount to a shared account. The account is managed by each group to achieve a common savings goal, such as maximizing returns for individual members by the end of a specified period.
In the case of a future emergency, group members can take a loan from the community pot. Loans can also be used for personal development or business expansion–for example a new sewing machine for a tailoring business–so members can continue to thrive despite disaster-related setbacks and adapt when necessary.
Members of the group can also rely on a strong support system to help in the relief and recovery phases of disasters because building social bonds is built-in to the program. Members frequently check-in with each other during the week through WhatsApp to share life updates, share resources and advertise group social activities. One savings group even organized a dance exercise class which allowed them to connect with and to motivate one another to live healthier lifestyles.
Aside from saving money and growing strong social bonds, members of the groups have learned about water conservation, energy efficiency as well as disaster response training including CERT (Community Emergency Response Team).
The future is uncertain for Puerto Rico, a beautiful island prone to disasters. But building financial resilience through savings groups gives communities options–to relocate, rebuild or something else.
