FOCUS
Promoting Health and Fighting Disease
Alleviating Hunger
Creating Opportunities

MDGs ADDRESSED
MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
MDG 5: Improve maternal health
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
MDG 8: Create a global partnership for development

OVERVIEW
Argentina was once one of the most prosperous nations in the world, but in 2001 and 2002, devaluation of the peso forced the country into severe debt, sparking riots, looting, and political unrest nationwide. The middle class and the poor were hardest hit, and an estimated 15 million people fell into poverty during this time. Although Argentina’s economy has stabilized, close to 40% of the population still live below the poverty line.

Our PARTNER
Episcopal Relief and Development is partnering with Solidarity Teams of the South (ESUR) an Argentinean non-governmental organization founded in 1982 and based in Buenos Aries. ESUR works in marginalized communities to encourage systemic social change and enhance the quality of life for the most vulnerable residents—particularly women and children.

Our CURRENT PROGRAMS
Episcopal Relief and Development is ensuring a healthier future for children, and creating long-term opportunities for families to improve their food supply and earn a living.

Working in the city of Posadas is northeastern Argentina (near the borders with Paraguay and Brazil), Episcopal Relief and Development is providing vulnerable children and families with better food sources, health care and health education, and knowledge on how to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and violence.

Promoting Health and Fighting Disease
Episcopal Relief and Development is providing health care services and teaching parents and children how to maintain healthy lifestyles and prevent HIV/AIDS.

• Regular health check-ups allow for accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and evaluation of children and adolescents.
• Nutritional workshops instruct parents how to provide children with balanced diets and promote good nutritional habits.
• Physical activity workshops promote an active lifestyle and positive recreational activities to improve physical and mental health.
• HIV/AIDS prevention workshops geared for adolescents and women teach the importance of sexual responsibility, seeking reproductive health care and effective protection, and avoiding violence and degradation.

Alleviating Hunger
Episcopal Relief and Development is fighting malnutrition and poverty and ensuring long-term food security in Posadas by providing access to quality food sources.

• Land cultivation workshops teach residents how to farm their land most productively to ensure a steady supply of nutritious food.

Creating Economic Opportunities
Episcopal Relief and Development is helping families in Posadas achieve economic stability by providing opportunities to enhance their skills and earn income.

• Informal work opportunities, centered on the promotion and sale of communally grown agricultural products, allow individuals to develop job skills.

Our PAST ACHIEVEMENTS
In 2007, 24 children of both genders and 15 mothers participated in the nutrition/cooking classes. Many children have received medical check-ups and treatment. Land cultivation workshops for 20 families were held during the growing season.

Episcopal Relief and Development has been supporting projects in Argentina since 2002. Previous partnership activities included:

• Providing food and health care to families and children living in poor, rural communities in the Salta province, located in northwest Argentina.