Our Beacon of Hope Project began in 1999, seeking to assist the men, women, and children in Santa Cruz, Tazula, in the Sonsonate Administrative District of El Salvador, who struggled daily for their survival. [Read About El Salvador] Located in the western portion of El Salvador, the municipal dump acted as their primary source for basic human needs, and as a testament to their will to survive regardless of the poverty into which they were born.

When Sean Ahearn first went to Santa Cruz, Tazula, the only running water available to many of the men, women, and children was from local streams and rivers. They were forced to share these streams with livestock and wild animals. They used this water to wash their laundry, dishes, and bodies. Contamination flowed freely through in the water. Diseases and dehydration ran rampant among thousands of people, who relied on the unsanitary water for life sustaining purposes. The pollution of the water sources was compounded as it passed down through each community in area.

Sean was approached by one of the elders of the community living in and around the municipal dump and through an interpreter, he asked the following:

‘Please sir, help us. I’ve watched my children grow up here and now I’m watching my grandchildren. All I ask for are the tools. We need a medical clinic, a well, and land to grow food. We will build it ourselves, we just need help.’

Sean proceeded to found Project Lighthouse. We assisted in completing the construction of a medical clinic, well, and the planting of individual farming plots. We collaborated with the government in El Salvador, the Red Cross, the Salvadoran Institute of Agrarian Reform (ISTA), the Association AGAPE of El Salvador (Agape), Dr. Anna Maria de Delgado (Director of Medical and Social Services, Agape Hospital, Sonsonate), and the men, women, and children living in and around the dump.

The medical clinic now serves regional needs, not just in Santa Cruz, through which thousands have received medical care locally instead of having to travel hours to reach an urban medical facility.


Jose stated that he is grateful that the clinic is close to his home because whenever he feels sick, medical care is now nearby. He is partially blind, and traveling far for medical care was a very great burden on him. Before, many times he simply would go without care for his medical problems. He says the medical staff is always polite and cordial to him. He is very grateful that a doctor's visit at the clinic is very reasonable, costing him only $2.50 including the medication.

Felicia came to the clinic complaining of paralysis and extreme pain in her left leg and left arm. The pain started in the sole of her foot and traveled all the way to her shoulder. She received evaluation, treatment, and physical therapy for a year and half at the clinic. She says having the clinic in her town makes it easy for her to walk to the clinic. She obtained significant relief and improvement from her previously disabling condition.

We also aided the community in locating a clean source of water deep underground. A supply of clean water was necessary for sanitation in the medical clinic, not just for use by the families in the community. A water tank to complement the well was erected by the community. We expanded our project to include the planting of individual farming plots for nutritional needs. We also aided in obtaining a transfer of land to local control from ISTA for the medical clinic, well, and water tank.

Take a tour of the Beacon of Hope Project, Santa Cruz, Tazula:

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