Epilogos Charities, Inc./Working in El Salvador
Speaker Ed Warren
Epilogos is a 501(c)3 charitable foundation based in Concord, NH and San Jose Villanueva, El Salvador
The organizations guiding principle is: Working WITH the people of San Jose Villanueva, and todos somos iguales - everyone is equal.
Members of the former Rotary Club of Lebanon-Riverside have spent time in El Salvador working with Epilogos. (Sara Koury, Marilyn Bedell, Bill Sahlman, Ed Warren, Bill Secord, Lee Pelletier, Bruce Bergeron)
Bruce Bergeron started the program by showing pictures of the house build done in 6 days during his trip to El Salvador.
Bruce then turned the program over to Ed Warren to give us an update on work that is continuing to happen in San Jose Villanueva. Ed has just returned from a trip there.
In 2001, Epilogos was founded by Mike and Susie Jenkins.
Mike and Susie Jenkins
They met and married while working in the Peace Corps in El Salvador. They returned to San Jose Villanueva when they retired and started what eventually became Epilogos. Epilogos was derived from the work Epilogue. Epilogue is defined as a final or concluding act or event. As Mike and Susie thought about retirement, they reflected that one of the happiest times in their life was working in the Peace Corp in El Salvador. They decided that going back and working with residents in San Jose Villanueva would make them happy in retirement. They are now back in New Hampshire but successful laid the foundation for Epilogos to continue its work with out their leadership.
Epilogos focus:
- Education
They offer any scholarships to any student in need
K - High School
College
Special Needs Students (they have the only special needs educational program in El Salvador)
Scholarships are for school fees, shoes, sports uniforms. Since 2001 they have provided scholarships to over 2000 students. They have sponsors that donate faithfully year after year to support students. Ed shared that early on he supported a scholarship for a student. Many of their former students are working in the community and in-country.
In 2017 Epilogos started a program for students with special needs. The program started with a few students and a wonderful teacher. It has been a resounding success for the students and their families. In 2023 there will be 12 students enrolled in the program.
Teachers and students often have limited classroom supplies
In 2017 Epilogos started a program where donors could Adopt a Classroom. Teachers provide a wish list and supplies are provided
To date 33 classrooms have been adopted.
- Casa dignas - building safe, dignified homes for families.
Volunteer groups work with local families to build new homes.
Traditional homes are mud and sheet metal. We are able to help families build cement homes to provide stability for the family. A home that isn’t secure (bars on windows, having doors that lock) means that the house can’t be left alone as possessions can easily be looted. A home with our secured windows and doors often means that a child will not be able to go to school.
Since 2001 Epilogos has helped with the construction of almost 200 houses. Volunteer groups work alongside the family and local craftsmen. Homeowners pay for a portion of their housing costs and not only do they provide labor for their house, they “pay it forward” and work on homes for others. Over the years Epilogos has hosted hundreds of volunteers from the US and Canada
- Community support
Epilogos works with community members to provide various programs that enhance the lives of the Josefinos. We help out with sports teams, provide new desks for classrooms, have community gatherings in outlying villages, bring ice cream to the local schoolchildren and more!
One of their key community service projects is a mentoring program that pairs high school students with elementary students. They meet weekly for fun activities that promote self-esteem and build confidence.
Big Kids — Little Kids
Over the years Epilogos has benefited from many long-lasting partnerships. A few include:
Various Rotary groups in the US and Canada
Engineers Without Borders
Peace Corps
Habitat for Humanity
Church groups in the US and El Salvador
The Epilogos staff are all from SJV and the younger members were scholarship students.
Executive Director Graciela Martinez has worked with Epilogos for 19 years
Other staff members are: Keily Guzman, Ruben Guzman, Miguel Flores and Kervin Sanchez
Epilogos has been in one home for the last 12 years. They have been informed in the fall that the building had been sold and we would need to move. They have found a property in the village and are actively fundraising to make the purchase. We are excited to have a permanent home to continue the good work of Epilogos. To-date they have raised $52,000 of their $75,000 goal.
New Oficina Space
Here is the link to the video from Executive Director, Graciela Martinez, asking us to consider supporting the purchase of a New Oficina. Click Here
Kilton Library Children's Book Donation in Honor of Ed Warren
Tracking Tortoises by Kate Messner; Photographs by Jeff Messner
Galápagos giant tortoises are fascinating―and endangered. They live only on the Galápagos Islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador. These tortoises face threats from the humans who live on―and visit―the islands, as well as from Earth's warming climate.
Join author Kate Messner on an a journey to the Galápagos Islands to see these incredible creatures up close and discover how cutting-edge technology is helping scientists to study and protect them.