Episcopal Relief and Development saves lives and builds hope in communities around the world. We provide emergency assistance in times of disaster. When the immediate crisis is over, we rebuild devastated communities and offer long-term solutions in the areas of food security, health care, and HIV/AIDS.

Caring for Vulnerable Children in Baghdad, Iraq
With support from Episcopal Relief and Development, vulnerable children in Iraq are receiving critical health care. Children suffering from malnutrition, diarrhea, and other common illnesses receive care at pediatric hospitals and medical clinics in and around Baghdad. ERD is providing medicines, such as antibiotics, surgical equipment, and medical supplies, such as soaps, eye drops, and bandages. Hygiene kits, including a wash cloth, toothbrush, and toothpaste, are also given to vulnerable children.

Hind, a young woman living in a Baghdad orphanage, is just one person who has received life-saving assistance.

Hind, 16 years old, has lived at the Alwiya Orphanage for Girls in Baghdad’s Hait-Al-Wahda district for 11 years. Because of your gift, the Awiya Orphanage is to feed each child a balanced meal which includes vegetables, fruit, pasta, dairy products, and meat.

Accompanied by the giggles of her friends, she said that while the situation in Baghdad is not ideal these days, “at this home it is good.” The girls have also received hygiene supplies.

Helping Vulnerable Children and Orphans in Kitwe, Zambia
Episcopal Relief and Development is partnering with the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation on a major initiative to provide food, group homes, education, and job training for children orphaned by AIDS in Kitwe, Zambia.  Kitwe, a community mired in deep poverty and high crime and unemployment rates, has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Zambia.

Currently, ERD is expanding education for pre-school children at the Mary Sikoneta Demonstration Pre-School, where many of the students have lost their parents to AIDS.  One balanced meal a day is provided for the children.  Families caring for the children receive additional food to supplement their diet.  All children are treated at the medical clinic and receive free immunizations. 

ERD also supports a project that cares for children orphaned by AIDS in rural Fiwila, Zambia.  ERD is training 150 community volunteers to monitor more than five hundred children left behind by AIDS who live with their extended families. In addition, ERD provides food and support to the families. 

Magret is one child who has received help through ERD.

Five-year-old Magret and her sister live with their grandmother in Kitwe, Zambia. Within two years, both Magret’s parents died. Her grandmother, Cecilia, makes her living as a subsistence farmer and grows seasonal crops such as maize, groundnuts, and sweet potatoes. Four of Cecilia’s six children have died, leaving her to care for six grandchildren, including Magret and her sister. She struggles to feed her grandchildren. Your generosity makes it possible for Magret to receive an education and a nutritious meal each school day.

Food, Training, and Support for Children and Their Families in Argentina
The Salta province, located in northwest Argentina at the foothills of the Andes, has distinct pockets of poverty. ERD feeds nine hundred children ages one through 12 from ten poor communities at sites throughout the province.  ERD also provides after school sessions for students in a constructive environment where students get help with their homework. Sports and social activities are offered to students as well.

The feeding program also trains adults in more effective farming methods and provides them with good seeds and proper tools. They attend a series of classes to learn about organic gardening techniques and work together to plant a community garden. The fresh produce is used by local families and in the soup kitchen.

Families can receive primary health care. A mobile health clinic provides medical services to families using the feeding sites and at other area locations.

El Salvador- Children Receive Life-saving Health Care
Episcopal Relief and Development is providing health services to children and families in the communities of Izalco, El Congo, Cara Sucia, and San Juan de Letran in El Salvador. ERD has trained 24 community health workers who actively work in the villages. So far, there has been a 60% decrease in number of fungal infections and parasitic illnesses in the population treated by the rotating clinics. Trained health promoters are tracking conditions which include under-five diarrheal incidents, under-five average weight, parasitic infections, respiratory infections, fungal infections, dengue, and cholera.

Offering Care to People Affected by HIV/AIDS in Botswana 
Seano is dying of AIDS.  She lies on a mat on the dirt floor of the small hut she shares with her two sisters and her disabled nine-year-old son Omphi in Gaborone, Botswana.  One of Seano’s sisters works part-time and the other stay home to care for Seano.  Seano’s time is short.  Soon her son Omphi will be orphaned, joining the tragic ranks of 13 million children in Africa who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. 

Through Episcopal Relief and Development’s support, Seano and her family receive care from an Anglican church-based AIDS ministry.  A volunteer social worker from the local AIDS hospice visits regularly.  She makes sure that the family has nourishing food and teaches Seano’s sisters how to make Seano’s last days as comfortable as possible.  Omphi’s school fees and uniform are provided so that he can stay in school.  This personal care and support helps the family get through the difficult experience of losing a loved one to HIV/AIDS.