wfn.org | 5&2 project receives grants

[BethAH@mbm.org]

March 28, 2001
Beth Hawn
Mennonite Board of Missions
(219) 294-7523
<NEWS@MBM.org>

March 28, 2001

Chile’s 5&2 project receives federal grants for women’s shelter

SANTIAGO, Chile (COM/MBM) – A program named for Jesus’ miraculous
feeding of 5,000 by multiplying five loaves and two fish will
expand dramatically because its volunteer efforts will be
multiplied through partnerships with Chile's national and
municipal governments.

The “5&2 Multiplying for All” project, developed by a Mennonite
mission worker here, will receive more than $90,000 in federal
grants as part of being designated one of 15 national centers to
assist women facing family violence.  In addition, the project is
awaiting approval of a $90,000 grant from the north Santiago
municipality of Conchali to renovate its home, Meson de Belen
(Bethlehem Inn).

“That will multiply our efforts,” said Omar Cortes-Gaibur,
mission worker here with the Commission on Overseas Mission
(General Conference Mennonite Church) and Mennonite Board of
Missions (Mennonite Church).  “Now, we will have a big effort for
all of Santiago to receive women and children in abusive
situations.”  Omar and Ester Cortes-Gaibur have been COM/MBM
workers since 1996.

Violence affects 60 percent of families in the Santiago region,
according to UNICEF, which estimates that one-third of Chilean
families experience physical or sexual violence.  In 1999,
Chilean officials fielded 50,000 reports of violent incidents in
homes; 90 percent of the victims were women.

When it opened in 1999, Meson de Belen became the first home in
Santiago specifically to serve families in situations of
violence.  Now, it will become one of four nationally supported
centers in the Santiago metropolitan area, and the only one
operated by a church.  Twenty families have lived in the shelter
since it opened with financial support from a church-operated
restaurant.

“We were so impressed with the kind of compassionate people
working in the restaurant to support this initiative,” said Maria
de la Luz Sandoval, metropolitan regional director for Servicio
Nacional de la Mujer (the national Ministry for Women).  “We want
to put money in good projects with the possibility to be
self-sufficient.”

As part of a strategy to achieve national goals through
grassroots institutions, the national Ministry for Women is
providing grants in two phases:
? A grant of 17,800,000 pesos ($30,000 U.S.) to hire a program
director and a counselor.
? A grant of 32,000,000 pesos ($60,000 U.S.) to hire up to 11
additional part-time staff, including counselors, social workers
and home monitors.

“We want to develop and empower several local, private
institutions,” said Salvador Moya, the Ministry for Women’s
director for family violence.  “We hope to have more things with
5&2 in the future.  “Officials hope the 15 centers will be
self-funded in three years during which they will develop their
ability to raise private funds.  Since its founding, the 5&2
project has received assistance from a Santiago advertising
agency, which has donated its services in developing promotional
materials.  “When you give money to huge institutions, you never
know where the money is going to go,” said Antonia Cousino,
director general of the Cousino Asociados Publicidad advertising
agency.  “[5&2] is so real.  ... You know the money went to the
people.”

In a joint press conference April 6 in the Santiago neighborhood
of Conchali, officials from the Servicio Nacional de la Mujer and
possibly Chilean President Ricardo Lagos will participate in a
familiar liturgy of the 5&2 project.  In the rite, the person
with the most authority will serve a tray with five loaves and
two fish to a woman who resides at the home.  “This is a good
liturgical exercise in which all of us can remember we are in our
positions only to serve people,” Omar Cortes-Gaibur said.

The 5&2 project consists of a three-bedroom home that houses
women and children seeking to escape situations of family
violence, and a 20-table restaurant, which was begun in August
1997 to provide financial support for the home and work
opportunities for the women.  Both operate under the name Meson
de Belen and are ministries of Fourth Baptist Church.  The
restaurant is in a former bar and place of prostitution.  “We
said, ‘OK, we can redeem this place, too,’” Cortes-Gaibur said.
“I never guessed at the beginning that we would be working with
family violence.  It was in the process, the context gave us the
agenda of our mission.”

Supported by a $150,000 grant given by an anonymous donor to MBM,
the project expanded as the 5&2 project bought equipment for the
restaurant and the property where the shelter was based, and
hired an architect to develop plans for the renovation, among
other projects.  While the congregation serves as the official
owner of the properties, Cortes-Gaibur says volunteers see a
deeper meaning to their mission.

“The real owner of our restaurant is children in violent
situations, because we are working for them,” Cortes-Gaibur
said.  “The business is mission in and of itself.”

While the vision for 5&2 emerged from the community,
Cortes-Gaibur articulated the ministry plan while studying in
Canada and serving as pastor of First United Spanish Mennonite
Church in Vancouver, B.C.

“Many churches are not involved in holistic ministry, but the
gospel teaches us to be part of this.  It’s not an option; it’s
part of the gospel,” said Fresia Ruiz, a member of the 5&2 board.
“We need to practice what the gospel really teaches us.”

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Tom Price        PHOTOS AVAILABLE