Episcopal Relief and Development
Encyclopedia
Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church
. It helps to rebuild after disasters and aims to empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease. Episcopal Relief & Development programs focus on the following areas:
In 2009 Episcopal Relief & Development spent 85% on its programs and only 15% on administration and fundraising. Because of investment income and support it receives in the form of contributed services from the Episcopal Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, 92% of cash donations go directly to Episcopal Relief & Development's programs.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
in 2005, Episcopal Relief & Development supported reconstruction projects in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
, of which the key component has been the Haiti Development Initiative. Prior to the 2010 Haiti earthquake
, Episcopal Relief & Development worked with the diocesan development office (Centre Diocesain de Developpement Integre et de Secours or CEDDISEC) to assist local communities in identifying needs and implementing development projects. The initiative also included training development agents to oversee projects in their communities and coordinate disaster response efforts.
Immediately following the earthquake, Episcopal Relief & Development worked with the Diocese, IMA World Health and other organizations to provide assistance to thousands who were left injured or homeless. The earthquake left the infrastructure of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, including Holy Trinity Cathedral and diocesan offices, in ruins and affected one in three Haitians, roughly three million people.
In the months since the quake, Episcopal Relief & Development’s work with the diocesan development office shifted to meet the longer-term needs of those affected. In the three months following the disaster, Episcopal Relief & Development and the Diocese of Haiti’s work was primarily focused in eight parishes: Léogane, Darbonne, l’Acul, Trouin, Grande Colline, Bainet, Mathieu and Buteau. In April 2010, work also began in the parish of Carrefour. In January 2011, the agency published a one-year report detailing the work accomplished since the earthquake and future plans for the program.
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
. It helps to rebuild after disasters and aims to empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease. Episcopal Relief & Development programs focus on the following areas:
- Alleviating hunger and improving food supply
- Creating economic opportunities and strengthening communities
- Promoting health and fighting disease
- Responding to disasters and rebuilding communities
In 2009 Episcopal Relief & Development spent 85% on its programs and only 15% on administration and fundraising. Because of investment income and support it receives in the form of contributed services from the Episcopal Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, 92% of cash donations go directly to Episcopal Relief & Development's programs.
History
First established in 1940 as the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief (PBFWR), the organization assisted European refugees during World War II and later went on to support Palestinian refugees, children in Estonia and displaced persons in Germany and Hungary. It also provided disaster assistance and supported small development projects world-wide. The organization was renamed Episcopal Relief & Development in 2000 to emphasize its disaster relief efforts and a new focus on community development. Since their adoption in 2006, it has striven to support the Church's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which are aimed at reducing extreme global poverty by 2015.In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in 2005, Episcopal Relief & Development supported reconstruction projects in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
2010 Haiti earthquake response
Episcopal Relief & Development has a longstanding partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of HaitiEpiscopal Diocese of Haiti
The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is the Anglican Communion diocese consisting of the entire territory of Haiti. It is part of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Its cathedral, Holy Trinity located in the corner of Ave. Mgr...
, of which the key component has been the Haiti Development Initiative. Prior to the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, Episcopal Relief & Development worked with the diocesan development office (Centre Diocesain de Developpement Integre et de Secours or CEDDISEC) to assist local communities in identifying needs and implementing development projects. The initiative also included training development agents to oversee projects in their communities and coordinate disaster response efforts.
Immediately following the earthquake, Episcopal Relief & Development worked with the Diocese, IMA World Health and other organizations to provide assistance to thousands who were left injured or homeless. The earthquake left the infrastructure of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, including Holy Trinity Cathedral and diocesan offices, in ruins and affected one in three Haitians, roughly three million people.
In the months since the quake, Episcopal Relief & Development’s work with the diocesan development office shifted to meet the longer-term needs of those affected. In the three months following the disaster, Episcopal Relief & Development and the Diocese of Haiti’s work was primarily focused in eight parishes: Léogane, Darbonne, l’Acul, Trouin, Grande Colline, Bainet, Mathieu and Buteau. In April 2010, work also began in the parish of Carrefour. In January 2011, the agency published a one-year report detailing the work accomplished since the earthquake and future plans for the program.