About IPES (who we are)

Our Mission

To promote permaculture as a useful approach for ecologically sustainable development

Our Objectives

To support the organization and ecological development of rural communities
To promote environmental education and the solutions which permaculture can provide
To contribute to the strengthening of leadership within communities and development agencies, educating them in the permaculture approach.
To contribute to restoring damaged ecosystems
To develop a centre for experimentation, demonstration and education in permaculture and sustainable development.
To educate ourselves in the spirituality and cosmo-vision of our ancestors, recapturing their wisdom in our care for Mother Earth.
To encourage the active participation of women in ecological development and the permaculture movement
To participate and contribute in the national and international movements of permaculture and sustainable development

History of IPES

IPES was founded in September 2002 by a group of subsistence farmers trained in permaculture. Over the past five years the organization has expanded rapidly to meet growing demand from poor rural communities as well as other development agencies. We are currently supporting 55 communities in four different departments of El Salvador, teaching 800 people ways of sustainable living and farming.

Our Legal and Staffing Structure

The Permaculture Institute of El Salvador began the process of registering as a not for profit foundation on September 6, 2002. We received our legal status in Decree Number 10, published by the Executive Organ of the Republic of El Salvador on 29th January 2004, inscribed as number 23 of Register 11, page 408 in the Register of Not for Profit Associations and Foundations. IPES has 12 founding members, all of whom are practicing permaculturists. These founding members elect a five person Board of Directors which manages IPES for a period of two years. All staff members hold a Certificate in Permaculture Design. All staff and members of IPES are Salvadoran with the exception of the Executive Director.

Funders and Supporters

We receive financial support from The Methodist Relief and Development Fund and the Big Lottery Fund in the United Kingdom. We are supported by the Permaculture Association (Britain) and Permacultura America Latina. Volunteers and interns are provided by Essex University (UK), Hamilton College (USA) and Christians for Peace in El Salvador. We have a network of friends and supporters in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria, the United States, and Germany.