Project Red: Support children in El Salvador

Why I started this Project RED fundraising campaign?

When I recently visited El Salvador, I was profoundly impacted by those I met through the Project RED foundation. I went to El Salvador to learn about the country my parents fled while my mom was 9 months pregnant. Like many others, they fled the civil war which claimed over 75,000 lives. Though El Salvador’s 1992 peace accords ended the war, the country is still suffering. It registered more homicides last year than any year during the civil war. Listening to individuals share their heartbreaking life stories and their newfound hope due to the dedicated Project RED staff and sponsors was truly inspiring.

Below are just a few of the people I connected with that have benefited from Project RED initiatives:

• A 19 year old, financially responsible for his family at age 10, currently focusing on his artistic talents and doing everything he can to avoid recruitment into the gangs.
• An aunt providing a loving home for her niece and nephew after their alcoholic mother slept countless nights in the street using her kids as pillows.
• A family of twelve children severely malnourished, now healthy and proud of their first daughter attending college on a scholarship.

How to make a difference donating to Project RED El Salvador?

Project RED works with families of children who have lived in orphanages and who have been placed back with members of their biological families as a result of LEPINA (Law for Integral Child Protection) in El Salvador. Your collaboration enables Project RED to deeply impact families and provide jobs for Salvadoran professionals. Project RED is a grassroots organization and they count every dollar as an opportunity to bring hope to more families. Every donation, no matter the size, makes it possible for families to be transformed and restored. Every family costs Project RED about $400/month ($5,000/year). If you would like to sponsor a family on a re-occurring basis instead of a one-time donation, click this link to do so.

At Project RED, transparency of funds is a top priority to show how donations impact the children and families of El Salvador.  You can see Project RED's annual financial statements here.

Below are some of the accomplishments of Project RED in recent years:

Project RED only has the funds to take care of a small fraction of families. There are many families that need our support. 

Project RED's Mission:

Project RED is a community, working in partnership with the Salvadoran government to bring lasting change to forgotten El Salvadoran families in need through actions of Reintegration, Education  Development. Project RED believes that in order to break the cycle of poverty and brokenness, they must not only work with but the entire family. This can only be accomplished by educating and empowering each family member through personal relationships.

Why is Project RED focused on helping families in El Salvador?

• Over 30% of the population lives below the poverty line

• A lack of employment opportunities, participation in gang activity and violence are at an all-time high. 

• In both 2015 and 2016, El Salvador was the world′s most violent peacetime country, and its capital, San Salvador, was the most murderous city.

• The “LEPINA” (Law for Integral Child Protection) in El Salvador mandates children must leave orphanages in order to live with members of their biological families.
• This law has the unintended consequence of placing orphans into households that are too poor and/or broken to provide for these children and teenagers.
• No public programs are in place in order to follow up with these children to ensure their safety and well-being. 
• The children and youth of the nation seek protection and another solution, but there is no public protection system in place to adequately care for them...                                                                    ...this is why Project RED steps in to help.