Episcopal Relief & Development began working with the Episcopal Diocese of Guatemala in 2005 after Hurricane Stan hit northern Central America with heavy rains and winds. We helped supply money to purchase food, water and blankets. Our partnership evolved into rebuilding housing for affected communities and supporting the establishment of a diocesan development office to implement and monitor longer-term projects.
Episcopal Relief & Development began working with the Episcopal Diocese of Guatemala in 2005 after Hurricane Stan hit northern Central America with heavy rains and winds. We helped supply money to purchase food, water and blankets. Our partnership evolved into rebuilding housing for affected communities and supporting the establishment of a diocesan development office to implement and monitor longer-term projects.
Our savings groups help members build financial resources and access micro-loans to support small business development which will enable them to respond to the effects of a changing climate. The savings groups serve economically vulnerable families. Group meetings include training on financial literacy and business skills, and the program builds social cohesion by empowering women to talk about and respond to domestic violence. Members also learn about the formation and production of small family and community gardens that aim to address food insecurity and provide nutrition education.
Our partnership with the Episcopal Church in Guatemala supported families that have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. The Church purchased, packaged and distributed food, such as beans, sugar, pasta, rice and flour, as well as cleaning supplies. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, our larger program’s work focused on supporting existing savings groups and providing financial and business management and health education virtually.
In response to Hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020, the Church, with our support, distributed food and bedding to shelters that had been set up in local churches for individuals and families who were displaced.
Our Results in 2023
1,490 individuals directly reached by long-term development programs.
1,402 individuals actively involved in Savings with Education (SwE) micro-finance programming savings groups.
1,074 women engaged in economic empowerment activities.
