Global Ministries

Since October 18th, over a million people have turned to the streets throughout Chile to express their discontent in the most massive demonstrations in recent memory. In this newsletter, EPES responds to the current situation in Chile, and discusses how EPES is addressing the current crisis through its work.

More than a hundred grassroots organizations in Latin America came together to denounce human rights violations in Chile and Ecuador. The Argentine Commission for Refugees and Migrants (CAREF) is one of the signatories of this denouncement.  Below is the text of the declaration.

A letter from churches and ecumenical organization to President Sebastián Piñera

Chile's government is extending a curfew in the capital for a third straight day.  Shops and businesses have been looted and set on fire, and metro stations vandalized and closed to the public in widespread demonstrations over economic inequalities, living costs, and rising debt in the usually stable country.  What started as a protest against the rising of the price for subway tickets in the capital city Santiago escalated into deep-seated anger among ordinary Chileans who feel they have been excluded from the country's economic rise.  Thousands of demonstrators took part in a massive protest in Santiago's Plaza Italia Monday, banging drums and pans and calling for the ousting of conservative President Sebastian Pinera, in protests that have paralyzed one of Latin America's biggest cities.  Clashes between protesters and security forces have led to the deaths of 11 people, with eight killed on Sunday in the most deadly day of demonstrations. Many of the deaths occurred during looting when supermarkets were set on fire.  See a report of the most recent events here: https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/22/americas/chile-protests-inequality-curfew-intl-hnk/index.html

In this newsletter, EPES discusses their response to the needs of the growing immigrant population in Chile including their advocacy for immigrants' rights and work addressing health needs of immigrants.

In this newsletter, EPES discusses a new mural painted at EPES offices by artist Pancho Ramos, the continued successes of the EPES international training program, EPES activities for International Women's Day, and continued educational initiatives around nutrition as well as sexuality.

In this newsletter, EPES details several of their nutritional programs working with schools and underserved communities as part of their nutrition and justice programs. There are articles about EPES' shared work with Kenyan partners, a visit from the ELCA, and collaboration with Puerto Rican partners. This newsletter also gives an update on the Justice for Amelia campaign.  

Thanks to the support of Global Ministries, Popular Education in Health (EPES) organized a self-care retreat this past weekend for the families and the closest friends of the leaders of the Las Cañas Community Center, Mauricio and Camila. Their daughter, Amelia, at the age of one year and nine months, died two months ago at the Carlos Van Buren Hospital in Valparaíso, due to medical negligence and the consequences of the great inequality the Chilean society faces in accessing health.

In a recent publication, EPES shares two testimonies from women who have been impacted by the work of EPES in their communities.

In this newsletter, EPES shares news from a fire prevention seminar that was supported with funding from Global Ministries. There are also articles about Healing Touch therapy workshops, the value of popular education through the eyes of Puerto Rican health promoters, and a nutritional health program for preschool and nursery school teachers.