EMPOWER EL SALVADOR 

It would appear that during 2022 the Salvadoran government – in an attempt to decrease the country's massive homicide rate – had in some way been negotiating with the country's largest gang, Marasalvatrucha (aka MS-13 or MS). The negotiations broke down. Some have said that senior MS gang members were arrested by the government while others have claimed that MS were after greater gains than what the government were prepared to offer. Whatever the reason, there was a breakdown. It seems like, in order to punish or push the government, in just one weekend MS killed 87 people on the street. Many of these people were unarmed citizens simply going about their business. In fact 62 people were killed on Saturday alone.

Resulting from this, there has been a huge government crackdown (with the cooperation of police and army) on the Salvadoran gangs. As of now, December 2023, about 74,000 people suspected of being gang members have been arrested following the enactment of new laws. In effect the government has said that any gangster is a terrorist, and any gang organization is a terrorist organization. And now anybody seen on the street with gang tattoos or anything that may incriminate them receives an automatic jail term of 10 - 15 years.                                                                  Gang members have gone underground while others have fled to neighboring Honduras. Human rights groups are crying foul saying that not all of those who have been arrested are gang members. And, having proven innocence some 8,000 people have been released

Within El Salvador there is a calm now. Whilst we are not criticising the Salvadoran government here, nevertheless, what happens to the families (and especially the children) of those who have fathers who will be locked up for 20 years? We have a huge concern for these fatherless children. And, will those gang members who have not been arrested simply “wise up” and and stop tattooing their bodies with gang insignia and find other ways of operating?

This video shows the lives of brash young men (both unemployed and unemployable), along with an explanation of how the gangs were first formed. And then finally, life inside a Salvadoran prison. But keep in mind that these gang members have now been sent to a new super prison - two meals a day (rice and beans) with metal bunks (no mattresses).

Gang lifestyle is entrenched in these communities. In the local Christian school in Soyapango, San Salvador where we will work, 90% of the children are from MS-13 gang families. Despite the positive school environment there, half of the kids who graduate will still end up being in the gang.         

Governance:  We have established a strong Empower El Salvador board that has successfully completed registration with the Salvadoran government.  Empower is registering and partnering with an existing Salvadoran NGO. known as Asiste.

In El Salvador we are ready to commence setting up the work in Soyapango, San Salvador - a very significant gang area within the nation. We will have the same modus operandi as everywhere else where we work – partnering with local Christian leaders as opposed to sending missionaries. Our main leader there will be Alexis Coto. He and his team of staff and professionals work and live among the gangs.

SO WHY HAVE WE NOT STARTED ALREADY?

We have the funds to refurbish the buildings but very frustratingly, we do not have regular support to actually operate the program. Could you help?

The photos below will be the site of our first “Education Centre” working alongside our Soyapango church/school partners. We will have to refurbish the buildings - that is all do-able for the team. Also, once we have commenced the project (later in 2024) we will put a second floor of about 100 sq.m (1000 sq. feet) on top of these existing buildings. See a description of the building project here.

The Education Centres will be operate like this: It is for boys aged 12-16 years from gang families who are desperate to study, to get ahead in life and who are well behaved. But, despite their positive enthusiasm, they nevertheless end up in the gangs anyway. It will open at midday, five days per week. Boys who are selected for the program will come at midday when they will have lunch together with the mentors (in El Salvador, school commences at 7am and finishes at 12pm). Then we will study English, computer/I.T studies along with mathematics. The kids will build their own computers. Together they will make dinner and eat together as a family while being actively discipled by our mentors.

You can read more here if you wish.