SUPPORTING THE SOCIAL, LABOR, AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF RETURNED SALVADORANS WHO HAVE BEEN RENDERED DISABLED WHILE IN TRANSIT TO THE COUNTRY OF DESTINATION AND STRENGTHENING THE FAMILY UNIT

BACKGROUND 1.Migration in El Salvador began in 1920 when Salvadorans were driven to emigrate to the plantations in the northern region of Honduras. 2.Migration due to lack of access to land and lack of employment opportunities, particularly in the rural areas. 3.In the 1970s, a new country of destination: USA. 4.In the 1980s, migration flows increase due to the onset of the armed conflict. 5.In the early 1990s, a pause in migration flows occurs when the armed conflict ends and the Peace Accords are signed. 6.During the period of , migration flows are driven by: the slowing economy beginning in 1996, Hurricane Mitch in 1998, earthquakes in 2001.

WHO and PAHO have established that at least 10% of the population has some type of physical, sensory, or intellectual disability. In May 2007, DIGESTIC reflects that 4.2% (241,252) of the population has some type of disability in El Salvador. Absence of statistical data on returned Salvadorans who have been rendered disabled during transit while attempting to migrate. PROBLEMS

BENEFICIARIES Returned Salvadorans who have been rendered disabled while in transit to the country of destination, as well as members of their families.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE To accompany returned Salvadorans with disabilities as a result of migration and members of their families, with the aim of achieving their social, labor, and economic integration into their community of origin.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES To ensure access to expedited reception services to returned disabled migrants upon their return to the country, as well as access to health care, psychological care, and rehabilitation; To promote reintegration and reunification of returned migrants rendered disabled due to migration and members of their families; To ensure access to education, higher education, or professional training programs in order to promote and ensure labor reintegration; To integrate returned disabled migrants and members of their families into productive activities in the country.

Components 1.Capacity building aimed at improving health care, psychological care, and rehabilitation; 2.Actions to integrate returned disabled migrants into the education, social, labor, economic, and family system; 3. Awareness-raising and dissemination of the rights of returned disabled migrants.

RELEVANT ACTIONS Establishing a body specializing on returned disabled migrants; Awareness-raising workshops for relevant staff; Group/family therapy in order to promote values relating to coexistence with returned disabled migrants; Scholarships for education; Training courses for disabled migrants or members of their families, oriented toward the establishment of micro or small enterprises: Seed capital grants.

RESULTS Relevant institutions have been strengthened and equipped; Reception, health care, psychological care, and rehabilitation services have been improved; The family has reunited and adjusted to the new condition of the disabled person; Disabled Salvadoran migrants have been integrated into the education or professional training system; Disabled Salvadoran migrants or members of their families have been integrated into productive activities in the country.

María Hermenegilda Reyes, a 25-year-old Salvadoran woman, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. With the palms of her hands pointing upward she asks: "¿Why, oh my God, why?” An expression of sadness transforms her face. She looks at her amputated legs, and a few shy tears appear in her eyes. “This situation is not going to break me. I will go to the US anyway, even if I have to go in a wheelchair. I will work to provide better living conditions to my children."