DWS Regional Programs
Central America
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Distraught little girl after an earthquake destroyed
her village on 13 January 2001 in
the town of Nueva Guadalupe in
Usulatan county. |
The great challenges faced by the region are compounded by the recently signed Free Trade Agreements of the Central American countries with the United States, which is expected to benefit transnational companies, but to negatively affect the local economy, and to further deteriorate the region's ecosystem. General living conditions continue to decline, with growing hunger crises in rural areas. Increasing human rights violations in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are reflected in raids on civil society organizations, police abuses, labor rights violations and discrimination against indigenous people and youth.
LWF/DWS has reaffirmed its commitment to support the people of Central America in their struggle to achieve reconciliation, justice and the consolidation of democracy in the entire region. A holistic approach encompasses the integrated dimensions of sustainable development.
The Regional Strategic Outline (RSO) for Central America indicates the direction for LWF/DWS work, and identifies these areas of work:
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Citizen Culture, which aims to empower the most socially excluded population, by supporting initiatives that expand community organization and citizen participation in the struggle for better living conditions.
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Social-economic Equality, which assists to develop an alternative social-economic model to free trade systems, thus promoting sustainable development and dignity for those socially excluded.
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Sustainable Risk Management, which aims through community organization to enable peoples' participation in the prevention and mitigation of disasters.
- Diaconal Strengthening, which aims to assist churches in serving our neighbors in need, by focusing on social transformation, gender equity and ecumenical dialogue and cooperation.
DWS activities in Central America are implemented in:
Furthermore, there is an important program component which works on the regional (Central American) level.
El Salvador
Usulatan Ozatlan woman clearing rubble after a 7.9 Richter Scale earthquake destroyed her home in the El Espino Community, eastern department of Ahuachapan (2001). |
LWF/DWS work began in response to the 1983 invitation of the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod to accompany the church and people during the civil war, and shifted following the 1992 Peace Accords to focus on reconstruction, reconciliation and democratization. It was very active in easing human suffering after the hurricane Mitch 1999 and the earthquake oif 2001.
Currently, the program works at national level, as well as in the Departments of Ahuachapán and Sonsonate. Program activities include:
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leadership development and training for citizen participation and community networks
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promoting human rights and preservation of the national historic memory
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support for development of women's public policy
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mental and physical health services for youth in risk to become members of violent gangs
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promoting ecumenical dialogue and cooperation
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developing capacities in disaster preparedness and risk management.
Guatemala
Guatemalan indigenous woman casts her vote during the general elections on 9 November 2003. |
The LWF accompanied the peace process in Guatemala that led eventually to the 1990 Oslo Accord to end the country's civil war. Thousands of refugees in Mexico and internally displaced persons were assisted to return home with local integration in El Peten province. The civil society program sought to preserve, strengthen and expand the political space gained, and to develop concrete proposals to build civil society.
The country program works at national level as well as in the Department of Petén. Activities include:
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creation of local early warning systems in the Municipality of Sayaxché
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support of the struggle against racism and for indigenous peoples rights
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support to sustainable agriculture and marketing alternatives for poor peasants
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support to civil society organizations and peasant communities working in the program focus areas
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assisting groups that oppose the free trade agreements and the exploitation of mines
Honduras
By invitation of the local Lutheran church, the Program assisted 2,000 families affected by Hurricane Mitch in rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in their communities. The program operations began in Honduras in 2004, focusing on the national level, as well as the Departments of Olancho, Colón, Santa Bárbara and Choluteca. Currently, activities include:
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support of risk management systems in the program areas
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leadership development, training for citizen participation and community networks
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support to stronger involvement of women and youth in these organizations
- training and support to the political debate about the free trade agreements
Nicaragua
LWF/DWS was invited to work in this country by the local Lutheran church. Operations have begun in January 2005, after analysis and studies carried out at the national level and the municipality of Somotillo, Department of Chinandega.
The program in Somotillo consists of activities in the field of risk management, support of economic alternatives for the poor peasants and support of citizen participation at the level of local government.
At the national level, the program actually includes:
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support to organizations working for sustainable management of water resources
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advocacy work for a more adequate disaster attention and prevention policy
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support to social organization and mobilization of civil society, in problem areas where communities are affected by adverse environmental and political situations.
Regional level
At the regional level, the program supports learning and exchange of experiences in different fields and issues, especially:
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the coordination of human rights organizations, especially those working against impunity
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the formation of a regional youth network
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advocacy work in relation to the institutions of regional integration, vis a vis the free trade agreements with the USA and - in future - with the EU
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learning and exchange between organizations working towards economic alternatives
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support to organizations elaborating alternative public policies to the free trade agreements
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support to the ACT Fora in all of the countries and at the regional level
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support to ecumenical networks and initiatives
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the strengthening of the leadership of women in churches
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training of church leaders in theory and practice of diaconia.
Web site of the LWF/DWS Central America regional program.
For further information please contact
Ms Elsa Moreno, Program Officer
Local representative
Mr Edgar Sánchez Mendoza, Interim Director
