Global Food Crisis Fund supports cow breeding, potable water, trees, and stoves.

More than $64,000 worth of grants from the Global Food Crisis Fund have been allocated for use in Eritrea and Guatemala.

A grant of $50,000 has been made to support a multi-million dollar, multi-faceted humanitarian appeal for the needs of repatriated Eritreans. Agricultural activity in the south of Eritrea, along the Ethiopian border, is hampered by drought and land mines. Cattle were looted or slaughtered during the border war, and families are left with no source of income. The grant will provide 100 breeding cows for 100 households predominantly headed by women. The funds are part of an ecumenical response led by the Lutheran World Federation and sent through Church World Service.

In the Ixtahuacan region of Guatemala, $11,000 will extend projects providing trees, cisterns, and stoves. A grant of $5,000 has been made for reforestation and fruit tree propagation; $5,000 to build water systems for ten families; and $1,000 to build 20 fuel-efficient wood stoves. The reforestation program is directed by Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) worker Todd Bauer, and the cistern and stove project by Jorge Garcia. The work is supervised by Tom Benevento, General Board Global Mission Partnerships staff.

Another $3,040 supports projects in Union Victoria, Guatemala, a Mayan village of resettled refugees from the country's brutal 36-year civil war. Primarily used to help develop a potable water system, the money also will fund scholarships, a dental clinic, medical kits and training, and agriculture teaching. The projects were taken on through BVS workers Anthony Banout and Julie Kult.

Source: Newsline 3/05/2004
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