1999 Annual Report

EPIC Highlights

The Loma Linda Leadership Training and Demonstration Center was to be the legacy of a lifetime of effort by José Elias Sanchez. Suddenly, with the rains of Hurricane Mitch, the training center where Elias had given courses to 40,000 persons since 1972 was washed away when water, mud, rocks, and trees roared down the canyon where it stood. Also his home, office, and personal library were destroyed. Only the terraces of the sustainable agriculture demonstration area remained as testament to his effective soil and water management practices. A new cement block center now stands on higher ground above the stream. The Canadian International Development Organization covered the cost of blocks and mortar to build two dormitories, a large classroom, bathroom facilities, and a kitchen. Teams of Honduran volunteers put in innumerable construction hours of labor. EPIC (with $4,357.98) and the Dunamis Peace Institute, have together provided $7,357.98 to purchase desks, blackboard and other educational supplies including a TV, VCR and videos to equip the center. The new center will host its first group;on January 25, 2000. Elias already has commitments to other organizations to give training courses for over 300 men and women. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is providing 200 hurricane reconstruction scholarships, which is a testimony to the standing that Elias has in his field.

Most bridges in Valle de Angeles and the surrounding area were washed away by the floodwaters of Hurricane Mitch and the trees and boulders they carried. EPIC provided $1,000 to the local reconstruction committee which used part of the grant to build a low water cement bridge for a farm-to-market road enabling farmers to get their crops to market. This money also supported the building of fords and foot bridges, primarily by teams of kids, and put 4 new tires on the jeep of a Colombian priest working almost full-time in the local reconstruction effort.

During 1999, with $5,025 from EPIC and $7,175 from the Dunamis Peace Institute, La Semilla del Progreso implemented a training program for 72 community leaders from 6 municipios (counties) of the region devastated by Hurricane Mitch. This training program has worked towards the following goals: (1) Increasing immediate food production; (2) Restoring eroded farms; and (3)Teaching soil and water conservation for mitigating the effects of either future hurricanes or droughts. Each group of 15 to 25 farmer/leaders received 2 six day residential courses at La Semilla del Progreso Training Center followed by staff visits to the farm of each participant. The purposes of the 3 follow-up visits to each damaged farm are to monitor the progress of work accomplished, to give encouragement, and to provide advice on individual hurricane related erosion problems. During these visits Laureano works with the whole family of the participant. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the program is the leadership Laureano has been able to recruit. Working through the regional Catholic Relief Services, Laureano sought out committed Christian leaders who have received the training Laureano provided as a gift to be shared. An excellent start has been made. His goal for 2000 is to train an additional 160 leaders from eight communities from four municipios (counties) that are continuing to suffer from the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch.

In 1999 EPIC contributed $2,150 to this program which focuses on using art and psychotherapy to heal the wounds of war for children who have grown up in war zones. This community outreach program for children and women operates seven centers, giving children a chance to work together with children of other areas and experience healing by expressing their emotions through art, writing and photography. Rachel McKinney played a key role in the development of this project. She was able to visit Bosnia again this summer and deliver EPIC's money personally to program leaders. With EPIC's support the centers have been able to purchase needed supplies and conduct workshops for children wounded by war.

In 1995 EPIC provided a $25,000 mortgage loan to the Universal Centro de Lengua y Comunicación Social in Cuernavaca, Mexico. This loan was essential for the school to be able to obtain its own property because mortgage loans at that time were running above 75% interest per year. What makes this language school so unique and attractive to EPIC is its emphasis on teaching North American, European and Japanese students about the realities of Mexico and Latin America, with emphasis given to human rights, economic globalization, the environment, politics and development. Students are also made aware of the issues involved in US/Mexico relations. The school is directed by as fine an administrative staff as one could ask for in any institution. Universal has faithfully made monthly payments to EPIC, and the loan will now be fully paid off with the January 2000 payment.. This has been a very successful experience in socially responsible investment of EPIC funds.

During November and December EPIC was deeply involved with the legal defense case of Christopher Chavez in Bolivia. Chris has been the director of a school for deaf children near Cochabamba where he has worked for the past ten years. The Chavez case has been complicated and sometimes frightening, with much mockery of justice. It has received sensational coverage in the Bolivian newspapers and TV. At this writing, it appears likely that Chris will eventually be able to prove that all charges against him are false, and he will be free.

Protecting the Rio Motagua Watershed and Teaching Sustainable Agriculture In 1998 EPIC received a grant from New England Biolabs Foundation of Massachusetts for $10,000. This grant was to provide seed money for FUNDAMARCOS to initiate a comprehensive ten year conservation program to protect the dwindling water supply of the Río Motagua, the most important watershed of Guatemala. Poor soil management practices on the denuded hillside farms of the watershed cause there to be massive erosion, with tons of fertile soil being carried into the river. In addition, excessive deforestation is causing the drying up of the springs that feed the river. Funds provided by the NEBF grant enabled FUNDAMARCOS to initiate work promoting soil and water conservation and teaching practices of sustainable organic agriculture in the region of Pachalum of the state of Quiche, Guatemala, in February 1998. Based on the results of the program during its first nine months, a proposal for a continuation grant was submitted to New England Biolabs Foundation.

In January we were notified of approval of a grant in the amount of $10,000 for support of the program during a second year, February 15, 1999 to February 14, 2000. This allowed FUNDAMARCOS to follow through with those farmers who had begun soil and water conservation work on their land and to initiate work with others. Farmer groups have been organized in 4 communities and participants have developed farmer managed experimental plots. The soil and water practices being taught include rock retaining walls, grass contour barriers, contour ditches for water retention, water catchment basins, ditches to drain excess water from previously non cultivatable "bog" soils, terracing for planting coffee and reforestation, use of green manures, and the making and use of compost. A forestry nursery has been developed in the community of Piedras Blancas to provide trees for reforestation. Since the inception of the soil and water conservation work in Pachalum, Felipe Tomás, the program's director, had donated the use of his Toyota four wheel drive pickup because FUNDAMARCOS did not have the funds to purchase its own program vehicle. EPIC's executive director sought designated donations to purchase a four wheel drive vehicle for the foundation's work in Guatemala.

Over more than a year EPIC raised $ 8,815 in designated gifts for this purpose. In August, after an extensive search for a suitable used vehicle in good condition FUNDAMARCOS purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser with seating for five people. La Casa de la Cultura Maya On December 22, 1999 EPIC, received news of approval of a grant of $6,185 from the Calpe Trust (UK). This grant will support the work of FUNDAMARCOS in the planning phase of the creation of La Casa de la Cultura Maya in Guatemala. The Casa will be committed to the preservation of the Maya culture of Guatemala and will provide educational programs of cultural interpretation. As a response to Guatemala's ethnic conflict, Maya docents will provide age appropriate interactive presentations for students from Guatemalan schools, primary through high school. Also, for the first time, Mayas will be able to present their own interpretation of their culture to the thousands of tourists who visit Guatemala each year. La Casa de la Cultura Maya will provide Mayas with a location to demonstrate and preserve expressions of Maya culture and to teach Maya children about their traditional crafts and customs.

Our total designated funding for this project now stands at $12,550. With an additional $5,200 we will be able to begin the on-site planning phase of La Casa de la Cultura Maya. Administrative Support for FUNDAMARCOS Most of the administration of FUNDAMARCOS is provided by contributions of time and money by its Maya founders and officers. EPIC supplemented this in 1999 by providing a grant of $4,075 in support of the organization's administrative expenses. The grant helped pay the cost of rent and utilities for an office, telephone and internet services, and office supplies.It also provided FUNDAMARCOS with funds to purchase computer equipment including a PC, printer, and scanner. It is very hard for a small NGO like FUNDAMARCOS to receive grants that will cover the organization's administrative expenses. Program Consultation - FUNDAMARCOS and Honduran Reconstruction As EPIC is a partner in this program with fiduciary responsibility, EPIC's executive director visited the FUNDAMARCOS office in Chimaltenango and the work in Pachalum in January and July of 1999, together with project animateur, Mary McKay. On each of these visits they were able to participate in meetings of the FUNDAMARCOS General Assembly. The visits also included interviews with program participants to determine community support and beneficiary satisfaction with the FUNDAMARCOS program. Taking advantage of the trips to Central America, Paul and Mary McKay also visited all three of EPIC's Hurricane Mitch reconstruction projects in both January and July. These visits were extremely advantageous, providing an opportunity to work with the program leaders.

This year Thomas Cowley Scholarships helped enable students to work in Guinea, Kenya, Honduras and Guatemala. Debbie Kiliru received the final $100 of her scholarship to support an internship in sustainable agriculture working in her native country of Kenya.. Rachel McKinney was awarded a Thomas Cowley Scholarship of $1,000 to support her work conducting a needs assessment of the educational systems in refugee camps in Guinea, West Africa. The assessment which was conducted in December addressed the specific needs of youth, especially those of girls. Kim Walton, an Appalachian State University graduate in Technology with a Geology minor, received a $1,300 scholarship to assist her in her field work with FUNDAMARCOS in Guatemala. During six weeks Kim did regular sampling of sediment loads of the Río Motagua in order to develop baseline information related to soil erosion in the watershed. She also constructed a 3 dimensional plywood topographic map of the Río Motagua watershed to be used as an educational aid for FUNDAMARCOS' soil and water conservation teachers. Sarah Kimberly Jozwiak, an ASU senior majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Environmental Policy and Planning, received a Thomas Cowley Scholarship of $700, thus making it possible for her to participate in a service learning experience in Honduras led by Dr. Jeff Boyer. The trip focused on rebuilding and medical care in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. James Cook, a Masters candidate in the Department of Geography and Planning at ASU, received $425 to purchase two LANDSAT Multispectral Scanning data scenes. The MSS data will allow him to do soil loss studies of the Río Motagua drainage area in the Guatemala highlands.

In 1999 EPIC provided $300 for this revolving loan fund administered by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Greensboro, NC. The Montagnard-Dega population of approximately 2000 persons in the Greensboro area frequently must put off or never receive much needed dental and medical care because of a lack of funds.

Ever since Father Thomas Cowley gifted EPIC with the legacy of his entire estate eleven years ago, EPIC has been able to expand its work in the service for which Father Thomas dedicated his life. In 1998 EPIC established a Commemorative Gifts and Living Memorials Program so that EPIC members and friends can honor friends and family, living or deceased, through a gift to EPIC. During 1999 EPIC received Living Memorial gifts honoring the life of Kai'yutah Clouds. Kai, as his friends called him, was abducted, tortured, and murdered in Guatemala on October 15, 1980. Kai, who claimed his Native American ancestry, went to Guatemala in order to assist his Maya brothers and sisters following the devastating earthquake of February 4, 1976, which killed 24,000 people. Once there he became aware of the fact that there was an on-going environmental disaster occurring in Guatemala. This disaster was being created by soil erosion and the ever increasing use of agro-chemicals, especially insecticides and herbicides. As he lived with the Maya people of the Guatemalan highlands, he observed that the agro-chemicals were not only destroying the natural environmental systems but that they were being over-used and misused and causing illness and occasionally death among the farmers. On the day that Kai was kidnapped in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, he had been giving classes on biological pest control to a group of Maya agricultural teachers who were receiving instruction at the training school for soil and water conservation founded by Guatemalan agronomist Marcos Orozco. When the lunch break came, Kai went to eat in the town market with a group of his students and was abducted by Guatemala paramilitary forces on the way back to the center to give an afternoon class. The dreams and hopes of Kai'yutah Clouds continue to live in the hearts and minds of friends and family in the Rochester and Ithaca, NY, areas. Members of the Rochester area Politics of Food group are working to raise funds for the Kai'yutah Clouds Organic Agriculture Memorial to be administered by Fundación Agri-Cultura Marcos Orozco. Funds already raised for this purpose have been sent to EPIC. The memorial's goal is to provide financial support, in memory of Kai, for the salary of a Maya agronomist teaching soil and water conservation and alternative organic agriculture based on a Maya world view. A Living Memorials record book was handmade for EPIC in Guatemala. In this book will be recorded the name of the loved one being remembered, the date and place of birth, and the date and place of death. Living Memorials are a wonderful way to carry into the future the love and spirit of a person by supporting EPIC's work for a better world. EPIC also encourages Commemorative Gifts to EPIC on the occasion of a birthday, anniversary, ordination or other special event in a friend or relative's life that you wish to celebrate.

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