Past Projects

GUATEMALA

Río Motagua Sediment Research Project
During a six week period in June and July of 1999, Kim Walton did regular sampling of sediment loads of the Río Motagua in order to develop baseline information related to soil erosion in the watershed. Regular water samples were taken from the river at a location near the village of El Cimarrón, Pachalum. Ms. Walton prepared a report of her research entitled Río Motagua: Baseline Suspended Sediment Study, July 1999.

The results of Kim's study show clearly the incredible erosion taking place in the watershed. As stated in the study's summary, in July 1999 on days when there was little or no recent rainfall, the Río Motagua transported in suspension between 3.7 K/second and 9.6 K/second of sediment. The sediment quantities soared when there was moderate to high rainfall. It then measured from 460 K/second to more than 1,312 K/second. If these figures are converted into tons/hour, the sediment load would measure between 15 tons/hour and 38 tons/hour on days with little or no rain. However, on days with moderate to high rainfall, the sediment load increased to between 1,825 tons/hour and more than 5,206 tons/hour. This means that at this location on the upper portion of the river, the Río Motagua is carrying 124,956 tons of soil every 24 hours on days of heavy rain. As Kim states in her conclusion, "rainfall washes unprotected soil off the farms and into the river in huge, measurable, and alarming amounts". Kim Walton received a grant from EPIC to assist her in this field work in Guatemala. To see the data click on Sediment Carried by the Río Motagua in July 1999

GUINEA, WEST AFRICA

Education for Children in Refugees Camps
In 1999 Rachel McKinney, EPIC member who spent much of the year in Guinea, was awarded $1,000 to support her work conducting a needs assessment of the educational systems in the refugee camps in Guinea. The assessment which was conducted in December addresses the specific needs of youth, with special emphasis on those of girls.

HONDURAS

Hurricane Mitch Reconstruction, Valle de Angeles
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.

Escuela Doctor Presentación Centeno, San Pedro Sula
Through an earmarked donation, EPIC was able to purchase and transport requested equipment to assist a vocational high school in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Paul Regehr, Merlyn Entz, and Mark Rockson, recent Bethel College International Development graduates, were given more than anticipated international experience when they volunteered to drive a truck heavily loaded with 20 reconditioned sewing machines, more than 50 hand tools for industrial arts classes, and 4 stoves for cooking and nutrition classes from Kansas to Honduras. EPIC functioned as the legal and logistical entity obtaining the necessary transport documents. Willard and Selma Unruh paid all transport costs.

INDIA

Bela Banergee Memorial Project
Long before others thought of it, Bela Banergee, an Indian nurse, began training other women as Primary Health Care workers, a prototype for India. Her life-long concern was for the health of poor women. At her death a memorial project was set up to continue her work. EPIC made a small contribution to this project.

MEXICO

Centro de Educación y Acción Ecológica (CEDUAM)
Because of the incredible early environmental vision and leadership given by Rogelio Cova, CEDUAM was granted a Certificate of Merit by the Mexican government in recognition for its outstanding contribution to the protection of the environment. EPIC provided counsel on grant-writing and fund-raising to this excellent Mexican environmental program, and facilitated communications between CEDUAM and two U.S. foundations. EPIC also coordinated the visit of Rogelio Cova, then CEDUAM's director, to Bethel College in Kansas as the Environmental Lecturer for 1993. Although Rogelio had received a coveted environmental award from the U.N., he found it impossible to get a telephone for his office in rural Mexico! Epic greatly facilitated CEDUAM's communication with other agencies within Mexico and around the world by providing CEDUAM with a FAX machine which was set up near the office in the house of a friend of the program.

Universal Center for Language and Social Communication
In 1995 EPIC provided a $25,000 mortgage loan to the Universal Centro de Lengua y Comunicacion 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 faithfully made monthly payments to EPIC, and the loan was fully paid off with the January 2000 payment. This has been a very successful experience in socially responsible investment of EPIC funds.

USA

Sustainable Development Program, Appalachian State University, NC
Beginning in 1989, EPIC gave substantial financial and technical support toward the initiation of this multifaceted program of study at Appalachian State University. It consists of a minor in Sustainable Development (SD), plus cooperative graduate programs. All three phases of effective social change--research, education, and action--are addressed by various components of the program. In the area of research, students and faculty address agro-ecological, solar design, and anthropological aspects of sustainable development. Community based projects in the Appalachian Mountains and Guatemala provide for hands-on education. The program's objective is to produce individuals who have both the knowledge and experience to work effectively both locally and internationally.

For further information contact Dr. Jefferson Boyer, Director Sustainable Development, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC. E-mail: BOYERJC@appstate.edu

Thomas Cowley Memorial Resource Center, Appalachian State University, NC
EPIC donated the Thomas Cowley Library Collection to the ASU Sustainable Development Program. This collection is dedicated to peace, human rights, sustainable development, and the environment. Initial funding by EPIC totaling over $7,000 assisted in the transferal of the library to the Sustainable Development Program and later to the Appalachian State University Library system where the Thomas Cowley Collection will be maintained and is accessible to faculty and students.

Kansas Peace Institute at Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas
EPIC provided grants to the Kansas Peace Institute & Lecture Series, North Newton, Kansas, to help it maintain its director's services during several transitional years for the Kansas Peace Institute. Without this funding this small regional peace institute could have faced closure.

Montagnard-Dega Medical/Dental Revolving Loan Fund, North Carolina
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.