In El Salvador, the prison system faces overwhelming challenges, with more than 111,000 individuals incarcerated in facilities designed for far fewer. These overcrowded prisons suffer from severe shortages of safe water, inadequate sanitation, and poor healthcare. New Life International (NLI) has launched the “25 for 25” initiative to bring hope and transformation to all 25 prisons in the country over the next five years, starting with providing safe, life-saving water and the Gospel to inmates.
We’ve already made significant strides in the 25 for 25 initiative, with our team working alongside local churches and government officials to bring safe water to the first of the 25 prisons. Overcrowded and under-resourced, these prisons desperately need water purification systems, which we’ve been able to provide through our partnerships. Our teams have installed water purifiers in the first few prisons, and we are working tirelessly to ensure the systems are running smoothly. This is a huge step forward for the ministry as we seek to transform both the physical and spiritual conditions in these facilities.
As we continued our work in El Salvador, we discovered a heartbreaking reality: children as young as five years old are living in prison with their mothers. This revelation deepened our compassion for those incarcerated, knowing that not only are they enduring harsh conditions, but their young children are also exposed to the same environment. Many of these children are born into the prison system, and their childhoods are shaped by overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and a lack of access to basic necessities like safe water. This knowledge fueled our determination to not only improve the conditions for the adults but also to ensure that even the youngest members of these communities have access to the life-saving resources they need to thrive. Our work with safe water systems in these prisons is, therefore, not just about addressing the immediate physical needs of inmates, but about offering hope and a chance for a better future for the children who are caught in these difficult circumstances.
The true heart of our mission in El Salvador is not just about installing water purifiers. It’s about using these installations as an entry point to share the life-changing message of the Gospel. By partnering with local churches, we ensure that the work continues long after our team leaves. Inmates and staff are not just receiving the benefit of safe water; they are hearing the hope of Jesus Christ, which is the greatest transformation we can offer. The local churches we are working with are playing a vital role in continuing this work, providing spiritual support and ministry to those incarcerated.
We are also seeing the powerful impact of these partnerships. Through collaboration with the government and local churches, we are breaking down barriers to bring relief to the most desperate places. We are hopeful about what’s to come, but we know there’s much more to be done. Our goal is to bring safe water to all 25 prisons and to create sustainable changes that will last well beyond our time in El Salvador. The window for this work is open, but we know it may close quickly. It is urgent that we move forward with this initiative while the opportunity is there.
Today, would you consider sponsoring this critical work in one prison to bring life-saving safe water and the hope of the Gospel to those who need it most? Your support can help transform lives, offering both physical and spiritual restoration to the inmates of El Salvador.
