For generations, women in El Salvador have experienced various forms of violence. Today, violence persists in their daily lives and is deeply rooted in gender discrimination and social norms.

This Christmas, Salvador's HOPE is spreading joy to children living in extreme poverty on the islands of Tasajera, Cordoncillo, Kisluga, Colorada, Montecristo, and Tirana, off the coast of El Salvador.

We have TWO big exciting announcements to share with you!

We have so much to celebrate!
 

Four years ago, the vision for our Women of Hope program was planted in our hearts. It was a HUGE step of faith for us to launch this program during the pandemic. But as 2020 quickly proved to be one of the worst and most desparete years for women and girls in El Salvador, we stepped out believing that God would meet us there.

Back in March, as I packed my bags in El Salvador to head back home to Australia, we received news from one of our leaders that a door had opened up for us to launch our Women of Hope program on one of the islands lying along the coast of El Salvador.

‘La Tasajera’ is an island located just about 10 minutes off the coast and is home to approximately 450 families who rely heavily on fishing to make a living.

A few weeks ago, as I recovered from jet lag and a nasty bug I picked up in El Salvador, I sat on my couch looking through some of the photos of the girl's conference we held last month. For the first couple of weeks since I had returned home, I’d found it hard to articulate the essence of the shift and momentum we had seen from our inaugural girls’ conference in 2023 to Arise and Shine 2024.

By October 2023, three girls under the age of ten, the youngest being seven-year-old Melissa from the suburb of La Campanera, were among 38 femicides committed in El Salvador in ten months.

A heartfelt Thank You for an Incredible 2023! 🌟

Every child deserves to enjoy a childhood free from abuse and violence

Last week, I met with some of our awesome volunteers in Melbourne to begin planning our February fundraiser (more details of our delicious fundraiser coming soon!). As I caught up with them, I got a chance to fill them in on everything that is happening with our girls' program in El Salvador.

Just a few months on from our Women of Hope events held in El Salvador in March, we are increasingly humbled by the fruit we continue to see yielding through our women's program.

A few months ago, a tourism ad for El Salvador began popping up in my social media feed. It featured some vibrant, colourful landscapes, mouth-watering food and some of El Salvador’s world-class surf beaches. It all led to the compelling statement at the end with a slogan that read “El Salvador is changing” across the last screen.

We are counting down to March, and we can’t wait because something very special is happening in El Salvador!

As this year draws to a close, we are already excitedly anticipating and looking to what next year may bring. Due to the fantastic success and exceptional growth of our 'Girls of Hope!' project, we are inspired to go for more. Bring on 2023!

When Marta*, a mother of two young daughters, learned about the abuse her daughters were enduring at the hands of their stepfather, she took action.

One year on from the official launch of our Women of Hope initiative, aimed to help combat gender-based violence in El Salvador, we are seeing our violence prevention program ‘Girls of Hope!’ enter a season of multiplication. We could not be more excited!

This past weekend, El Salvador’s government declared a state of emergency as the number of homicides on Friday and Saturday reached numbers not seen in the country since the war.

Tuesday March 8th will mark International Women's Day, the annual global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of incredible women across the world.