Hope Begins at Home
media release: For more than 30 years, ANADES has helped vulnerable children and families in El Salvador build brighter futures. Funds raised at this event will help bring professional mental health care to a community where these vital services are almost nonexistent.
The evening will feature samples of Salvadoran food, music, and a presentation and video highlighting ANADES’ work.
This event will be hosted Saturday, September 19, from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Catholic Multicultural Center, 1862 Beld St Madison. All are welcome to attend.
Tickets for the event are $10, but please consider donating more and give much needed hope to children in El Salvador. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/J93S54PC6YJV2
The New Dawn Association of El Salvador (ANADES) is a community-based nonprofit organization in San Salvador that works with low-income and marginalized communities to promote health, education, economic opportunity and community development. Its programs include early childhood education, community health and clinical services, women’s economic empowerment, agroecology, youth leadership and microloan cooperatives. ANADES is a certified non-profit organization in El Salvador that has been in existence for more than 30 years.
ANADES’ early childhood education center in Mejicanos, San Salvador, serves more than 100 children ages 18 months to six years. Many have experienced trauma related to family separation, migration, incarceration and economic hardship, while others need additional support for autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions. ANADES hopes to address that gap through its new Emotional Health for Community Wellbeing Program, which will hire a part-time psychologist and support as many as 50 children and their families each year.
The program will cost approximately $12,500 annually. Madison-area supporters have already committed $1,000 to match contributions, and organizers hope the September 19 event will raise a total of at least $3,000 toward launching the program.
Due to the current authoritarian government in El Salvador, economic conditions, and climate change, a high number of children are experiencing family separation and the resulting trauma.
1 in 3 children at the ANADES early childhood education center have been identified as needing mental health support (35 total). Current community infrastructure can only support three children per year.
