The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is allocating $50,000 to help rebuild a kindergarten in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, according to Heinz Eppler, president of the JDC. The Estado de Israel, a non-sectarian school serving 300 students, was destroyed by the earthquake in October that left nearly 1,000 people dead and 31,000 families homeless.
“The JDC allocation will match funds contributed by the Salvadoran Jewish community,” Eppler said. “The combination of funds will enable the school to be rebuilt.” This marks the first time that the international relief agency and the Salvadoran community have collaborated on a project.
The kindergarten was located in a very poor neighborhood of San Salvador. Students will be meeting in tents until the reconstruction is complete.
“The JDC established a ‘JDC Open Mailbox’ program for Salvadoran earthquake relief in October,” noted Ralph Goldman, JDC executive vice president. “This is a mechanism for the American Jewish community to contribute toward non-sectarian relief for victims of major disasters.” The program has previously been implemented following disasters in Cambodia, Lebanon, Italy, Ethiopia, Colombia, and Mexico.
Further contributions for El Salvador relief can be mailed to the JDC “Open Mailbox” at 711 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017.
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