Covid-19 Efforts

ECH 2020 Highlights: COVID-19 Responses and Program Updates

Despite the tumultuous year, ECH had been able to quickly adapt to provide CV19 relief, continue our programs building foundations of self-reliance and develop NEW projects positioning communities to restructure and thrive.

Peru

• Nauta – Dire need for oxygen & medicine came to our attention mid-May.  ECH has been able to donate $15,000 thus far helping over 200 families.  We have been the primary source of help for the entire village.  In addition Giving Tuesday donations have funded a School Kitchen and a Woodworking Apprentice Center for teens. 

• Cajamarca & Jesus - Children’s Centers, Project White Flag provided food to families in the Cajamarca region who have received no government assistance.  Over $14,000 has been sent helping nearly 100 families.

• Piura’s regional government needed masks and medical gowns and reached out to ECH.  We have teamed with their local Rotary club and a local women’s sewing group established through ECH’s Self-Reliance classes and together have been able to donate $15,000 for materials, labor and distribution.

Colombia

• Isla Grande is an isolated community off the Colombian coast. Dependent on tourism, all their supplies had been depleted. $3,000 has been sent for food and nearly 190 households have been helped.

• Semillas (Turbaco, Colombia) our children’s center has received monthly donations to supply emergency food packages for the families of the children we serve.  Nearly $6,500 in emergency food supplies, helping over 100 families.

• Libertad – Women in this community are primarily single with 2-3 children and no source of income. ECH has met with 15 women who want to form an association to produce products for companies in Cartagenia and they have all graduated from our Self-Reliance course.  15 women now have new sewing machines!

Ecuador

• Guayacana is a remote village in Ecuador dear to the hearts of all at ECH. Local leaders of the community alerted us to their URGENT need for food! ECH responded immediately and has sent $2,400 helping nearly 100 families.  Another $9000 is helping create a trout and chicken farm for self-reliance.

• Galapagos Islands tourism came to a halt and so did the economy.  ECH has donated $1000 to help about 50 families with emergency supplies.

• Kiroga (Otavalo, Ecuador) - Children and Elderly who are in need have received meals and supplies totally close to $1000 and helping hundreds.

ECH 2020 Expeditions

ECH 2020 Expeditions had numerous community projects planned to help create stronger systems of self-reliance, including greenhouses, trout farms, water reservoirs, and schools!

Due to the current country lockdowns, most summer Expeditions have been canceled. Because people need work to provide food for families, ECH Expedition project leader, Wilfredo Sanchez, has organized neighborhood groups: some teams build greenhouses, creatively utilizing their limited spaces to grow a variety of vegetables, while others raise chickens. Families share the produce and protein, and any excess is sold to help family finances.


Self-Reliance Classes

Mandatory quarantine has made traditional Self-Reliant classes impossible, but thanks to our resourceful Self-Reliant Trainers, they've EACH found unique ways to ensure their participants are learning!

Jorge Sosa is using Whattsap with all his students and records his classes so every participant can receive instruction. (See the classes responses on our Facebook page!)

Victor and Arnold were able to include all their students in Facebook groups.They say every time they have live classes all are actively participating.

Moises is using Prezi presentations on Google Hang-out for his college aged participants!

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