Stories of SDOP funded overseas partners
Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services
The Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), Egypt, is a Christian development organization with headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. CEOSS began as a literacy project in 1950 and later added programs such as economic development, preventive and remedial health care, rehabilitation of the disabled, housing and education.
 A SDOP project in Hekr El Sakakini, a slum in Cairo. Photo courtesy of SDOP.
View photos 1 | 2 | 3CEOSS is committed to promoting social justice and enhancing the quality of life for impoverished Egyptian communities. Special emphasis is placed on marginalized groups such as women and the handicapped in the poorest regions of Cairo and rural Egypt.
The shortage of adequate housing and sanitary infrastructure in Cairo is a serious problem. A SDOP project in Hekr El Sakakini, a slum in Cairo, formed a project to initiate infrastructure in the community that would bring water and electricity to their homes. As a result of this project 35 families now have water and electricity in their homes.
Beni Suef and Minia, the poorest areas of Egypt are famous for their production of lettuce, cucumbers and other vegetables. But farmers needed ways of improving the soil and marketing their product. A SDOP project in the small village of Gaafa, a district in the governorate of Beni Suef, covered an irrigation canal which prevented the spread of flies and mosquitoes gathering around the open canal water, reduced overflow and flooding, eliminated a major source of environmental pollution in the village and preserved the level of irrigation water available for crops.
Working with SDOP and CEOSS these project participants are able to see a better future for their communities.
Ecumenical Coordination of Service (CESE), Brazil
CESE is a philanthropic entity institutionally consisting of Christian churches that get together in the ecumenical commitment of affirming life. Its mission is to fortify groups of people involved in struggles for political, economic and social transformations that lead to structures in which democracy with justice prevails. Its purpose is to study, research, assist, appraise, promote and coordinate projects aiming to develop the whole life of people in society, in the light of the Christian faith, without any social, economic, religion or racial discrimination.
The SDOP partnership with CESE has been concentrated in their "Small Projects Fund." This fund is for one-time-only grants aiming to encourage and complement the efforts of communities, popular organizations and support groups. The emphasis is on training, promotion of organization, equipment and small-scale production projects.
 Fisherwoman and the nets she uses for fishing. Photo courtesy of SDOP.
View photos 1 | 2 | 3Ilha de Mare is a tiny island in northeastern Brazil. To get there you travel through some of the poorest areas of Salvador, Bahia. Finally you take a 20-minute ride in a fishing boat over to the island. Ilha de Mare is a fishing community. The Association of Dwellers, Fishermen and Fisherwomen of Bananeiras is a cooperative comprised of fishermen and women.
Fisherwomen juggle their time to attend to housework and their families and to fish enough to generate income. They collect shrimp, shells, crabs, and small fish. Men leave early in the morning to go further out in the sea to catch bigger fish.
CESE through their partnership with SDOP provided funds to the cooperative to buy a fiberglass mold to make fishing boats. In addition to having their own fiberglass boats, when other fishing groups and/or communities need a boat, they pay a fee for use of the mold. Funds from CESE also strengthened self-esteem in the young people of the community by providing workshops on afro-dance, capoeira and promoting access to the arts.
Development Promotion Group (DPG), India
 Women preparing cement for sale under the hot weather. Photos courtesy of SDOP.
View photos 1 | 2 | 3Founded in 1986, Development Promotion Group (DPG) supports social development among women, children and neglected minorities in South India. Most of DPG’s activities are in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with a smaller presence in Andhra Pradesh. Women’s empowerment, watershed development, sanitation, housing and education form the majority of DPG’s projects which are both rural and urban in nature. Since 2000, DPG has also begun an active role in provision of micro credits.
SDOP partnership with DPG enabled DPG to provide funds to the Tanlip Women’s SHG
I am Ms. Thangammal and 42 years old. I am the President of Tanlip Women SHG in Vadi village. In the beginning, I shouldered lot of responsibilities. At a later stage, other members showed interest in the group activities. As a result, as a group, we approached Development Promotion Group (DPG) to request for a grant to purchase milk animals for our members. This was fully discussed in our group and each one’s responsibilities were decided upon. DPG released Rs.4,00,000/- to our account. Once we received the grant, we carried out the program by the members on the basis of the decisions already taken.
Milking of cows, the procurement of milk, sending the milk to the SEVA Milk company, disbursement of payments to the members on fortnight basis, are the regular activities being shouldered by the members of the project. The members have also planned to share the responsibilities among them on a rotation basis. This indicates that the project will last long.
The members have purchased healthy animals and have started selling their yield through SEVA society. SEVA is a private milk purchaser, processing and selling the same from the nearby towns in cold storage unit. The society disburses payment of money every week. The cost of a liter of milk is Rs.11/-. Every day each member sells about five to eight liters of milk.
The training input given to the member was useful. Usually villagers keep the stables unclean that it causes mosquito menace. The training input has ensured a clean home atmosphere in the households of the beneficiaries. Members have insured the animals. This has enabled protection for the money invested in purchasing the animals.
Thanks to DPG’s support and with the support of another organization by name PAGE, the Tanlip Women SHG was not only able to receive an amount of Rs.4,00,000/- but was also able to fully utilize the amount for the betterment of our group members. No wonder, each group member now get an extra income of Rs. 100 – 125/- per day. We understand that this is the money and grant from SDOP, USA and we as a group thank them their liberal assistance.
Ecumenical Fund to support Small Projects (CREAS), Argentina
CREAS is a Christian organization organized to support actions taken by local churches and community groups in the context of the social realities in Argentina. The Ecumenical Fund for Support to Small Projects focuses on strengthening and nourishing grassroots initiatives.
In the neighborhood of Villa 21/24, Buenos Aires, Argentina, residents joined together during a time of economic crisis in 1989, when hyperinflation put many residents out of work and left them with nothing. They founded the Love and Peace Soup Kitchen, which fed more than 5,000 people and was overseen by a commission of mothers. Then they organized a neighborhood council to study land issues and obtained a grant to build a community center, whose facilities and services include a game room, dining room, library, school support and other educational opportunities.
Some time ago two dentists offered to work at the center, but there was no room for them in the building. That is when CREAS, on behalf of SDOP, entered into partnership with the people of Villa 21/24 by providing funds to construct a dental clinic. The Dental Surgery I and II project allows the center to expand its services and spare neighborhood families long waits for dental care at public hospitals.
The families who founded the Love and Peace Soup Kitchen had always envisioned their meal services as a backdrop, providing an entry point for other activities and services to strengthen their community. Through their initiative and commitment, and in partnership with organizations like SDOP and CREAS, they are empowered to support the health and well-being of their neighborhood in powerful ways.
I therefore ... beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
The dental clinic was made possible by the CREAS and SDOP partnership.
 Leticia at the dental community center
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My name is Leticia. I live in the neighborhood known as Villa 21/24 and am responsible for the community centre that has functioned here since 1989 when hyperinflation put many of the residents out of work. I am passionately committed to improving their lives and those of my family.
All of this was born of need. The need to eat in 1989, the need to grow and not be excluded from the system in the 1990s, and the need to survive and move forward after the last crisis in 2001.
Being here has changed me a lot. I am 52 years of age, with seven children ranging from seven to 36 years. For a long time I have been dedicated to this work as well as to them, before I used to spend more time at home with my family. Now that this has grown I think it is time to delegate and share more of the work with other women.
Ecumenical Church Loan Fund (ECLOF), Africa
 Mrs. Diomandé Gnimpou. Photo courtesy of SDOP. ECLOF is an ecumenical loan program headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. In many countries on different continents, ECLOF stimulates the entrepreneurial vitality of economically poor people who wish for a better life and are willing to work to achieve it. Affordable credit is granted to economically disenfranchised groups, associations and institutions so that they may participate in their own development. Loan disbursements and payments are in local currencies. National ECLOF committees administer the loan process through a grassroots, participatory process. The SDOP funds to ECLOF are specifically from Africa (with exception of Egypt).
The previous SDOP/ECLOF partnership was that SDOP funds would be shared with groups of poor people in Africa, Asia, Caribbean and Latin America that meet the loan requirements of ECLOF and the funding standards of SDOP. The new partnership is that groups only in Africa will receive funds (with the exception of Egypt). The ECLOF National Committees in these regions will be responsible for making the decisions.
Abobo is a densely populated neighborhood in the northern outskirts of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Most of its residents live below the poverty level, and their numbers are growing. Since 2002, fighting in Ivory Coast has split the country into a rebel-held north and a government-held south. Many of those displaced from their homes in the countryside by the conflict have sought refuge in Abobo, the only area of Abidjan that they can afford. The Aboboté Market, which has some 2,000 vendors, is one of the few sources of income for the residents of Abobo.
A majority of the workers in the market are women, and most are the sole providers of income for their households. By 5:00 a.m., they are at the market, open and ready for business. When the market closes in the early afternoon, they spend the rest of the day negotiating, buying and transporting their next day’s stock to their stalls. Many of these women are illiterate, and with monthly incomes from $97 to $164, they are unable to grow their businesses or pay for their basic needs.
In 2006, ECLOF, a global fellowship of microfinance loan institutions which operates in 30 countries, began a program to help these businesses in the Aboboté Market. SDOP, through its partnership with ECLOF, provided $50,000 to vendors at the Market. With SDOP funds, these women business owners can develop and sustain their enterprises and better support themselves and their families.
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. In righteousness you shall be established, you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
Mrs. Diomandé Gnimpou is 59 and the mother of two sons. She has lived in Abobote (Adobo area of Abidgan) since war broke out in 2002. Before fleeing to Abidjan, she and her family were prosperous farmers living in Singo Manigá Man, a small mountain village in western Ivory Coast. In fleeing from the rebels, Diomandé lost contact with her husband. She has not seen him since. With money running short, Diomandé was able to borrow money from ECLOF to plant cassava to eat and sell and to set up a secondhand clothes stall in Abobote Market. She is now able to care for herself and her family.
Read “Droplets of hope”
Members of AMUTEC making furniture in Santo Domingo. Photo courtesy of SDOP. View photos 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
For low-income women in the Dominican Republic, job opportunities are limited and living conditions are difficult. But a group of 184 women in Santo Domingo decided to create new opportunities for themselves by organizing to address social inequities and injustices and to have greater power in obtaining the services they need. They formed the Technical Women’s Association (AMUTEC) and sought training in nontraditional women’s jobs of making crafts, furniture and upholstery. They started a sale and services center, where they sell quality products at affordable prices for their community. They provide training for other low-income women, and the women owners find additional leadership opportunities by serving on AMUTEC’s Board of Directors and Administrative Board.
The women of AMUTEC will use SDOP funds to fix the roof of the building where they sell their furniture and crafts. Funds will also be used to make the building more secure.
Through teamwork, initiative and leadership, these women are moving forward to create better job opportunities, better living conditions and greater equality for themselves and other women in their community. SDOP is proud to be a part of their growth and empowerment.
When SDOP initially engaged in partnership with the Women’s Development Federation of Guerra Bakery project they were in a two-room bakery and 15 women were the primary beneficiaries. Now 300 stores sell their products. Many more women are benefiting as are the milk, coconut and firewood providers.
The project is a block-making factory in the community of Los Llanos. The funds are to be used to buy materials (sand, gravel, concrete, etc.) with which to make the blocks (like cinder blocks) and a truck to be used in delivery of the blocks.
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