How We Empower Women… Education!

Ecuador from the Heart strives to make a difference, not just in crisis mode or by food distribution, but working together to create pathways out of poverty. Each person faces a different obstacle. We take a pragmatic approach to identify and remove barriers.  The goal is to help them lift themselves out of the cycle they were born into.

We see a survival instinct in their close family units and communities.   Where you give one a sandwich and they will save half for their brother at home.  When you lift one, you actually lift their entire family; they help each other succeed.   There are multiple ways to lift people and one way is by educating them. Letting them know you believe in them.  Telling them:

 “Yes, it’s possible to break out of the cycle of poverty that you were born into.”

Today, March 10, 2023,  is the day of graduation for many educational institutions on the coast.  Randy and I were asked to be madrinas or padrinos for many, but we had to choose only one. While making this decision, it occurred to us that since 2014, all the work we have been doing, is coming to fruition.

This is important:   This does not happen by our efforts alone, but by joining forces with other individuals and foundations to provide long term support on multiple levels. It takes a village. 

This type of help may not feel as exciting as swooping in with rice and green bananas and getting hugs.  The results feel slow coming, sometimes frustrating, but when the results appear, they are simply life changing.  The hugs are still there, but they come from a deep place of gratitude, a place where they know you are there for the long haul.

Here are some recent examples:

• 20 year old “X”

She will graduate high school today. Since 2015 we were able to find various sponsors to assist her with uniforms and school supplies. Unfortunately, prior to graduating, she made a bad decision and ended up pregnant. I was very disappointed, frustrated and thinking:

“Why bother when they simply end up in the same cycle anyways! We are up against early teen pregnancy that is so common here.  Where birth control is available for near free, but rarely used because of shame around the subject or religious pressure. Grrr  such a waste of time” 

Naturally, she ended up in our single mother program.  Living in an extreme poverty situation, she seemed to cement herself into the cycle that we were trying to save her from. Imagine my pleasant surprise when this young lady came to me and said:

“I registered to complete high school in the evenings.  Can you help with some materials and uniforms so I can complete my studies?  My mom and sister will watch my son. I’m selling products to try and earn money but I don’t always have enough”

Tonight we will celebrate her success. She graduates.  I’m very proud of her. 

Along the way she taught me two valuable lessons.

1. that the pathway out of poverty is not a straight line.
2. when you think they aren’t listening, they are. 

Now, she can go to the next step. I have also given her condoms and more advice!

 

• 17 Year old ‘S’

This young lady received sponsorship by an expat couple in grade school since 2015.  At 14,  she was raped and became pregnant. She ultimately dropped out of school and now has a child nearly 3 years old.  Imagine my pleasant surprise when she let me know she wanted to return to school last year. The foundation now assists her with her materials and transportation. She moves to grade 11 next year.  Her grades were excellent and her motivation remains high.

 

• 11 year old ‘JC’

Is registered in public school in our community so we can ensure she attends regularly. She comes from some tragic beginnings, with an  illiterate mom that works the streets, a father that abandoned her, an alcoholic brother,  and a sister who passed away nearly 3 years ago.   This young girl could not write her own name correctly at 10 years old.   She is smart as a whip, but had not attended school consistently her entire short life.  Today, this girl just passed from grade 5 to 6 and is so very proud; I can hardly explain her expression.

When she received her uniform and books, she started crying and hugged me. This was the first time she had everything she needed to feel like the rest of the kids.

Mom has also been working on her reading and writing and has come leaps and bounds. She has a long way to go, but she is willing to try and get there.

We are working on forming a literacy program with the local university.

With this program, women, like this mother will be given a chance to advance.  She may never graduate, but we can at least bring her to a level where she can understand invoicing, inventory, managing money and being able to operate her own little business selling something simple.

• 18 year old “P”

Has been in our lives nearly 10 years. When she was 8 or 9, she would join us on Sundays and learn to cook in English. Her father worked odd jobs in the area and she has a loving, attentive mother with 7 brothers and sisters.   They encourage her and push her to succeed, but they just don’t have the resources to provide for her continued education. ‘P’ is an excellent student and just needed a pathway opened to her.   I’m happy to say:

She will graduate Dec 2023 from a 15-month program  that trains students to work in the airline industry.   In the end, she will travel the world.

Make no mistake; this was a group effort:

• from various sponsors in her early years in grade school and high school
• to the ladies of the Salinas Koffee Klatch that helped with the initial registration, uniforms and some English classes.
•  a couple of private sponsors that help with her transportation costs to Guayaquil
• the foundation pays her monthly tuition and practicums as they come up
• Randy and I personally provide her safe, clean living quarters with access to food, internet and computers to complete her studies.

I won’t name the various sponsors here as some may want to remain anonymous, but  I encourage them to stand up and be counted in the comments. 

• 13 year old ‘Da’

Is attending a private school. Left by her mom at 12 years old to go look for work.  Her father died when she was a young child.  ‘Dai’ traveled over land fleeing her country with her mom and older brother.  We found her living in an illegal settlement that was an active garbage dump.   She is being raised in extreme poverty conditions by her 21 yr old sister and 18 yr old brother.  The mom is able to send some money to help with food as she found work outside the country.

She caught the eye of locals during the pandemic and her education is now being sponsored by Amigos de la fundación THOMAS ENGEL

This organization changes lives wherever they go.

Together we provide:

1. Amigos de la fundación THOMAS ENGEL pays the monthly financial contributions to the school, her uniforms, daily transportation and supplies.   They also supply her with mentoring and encouragement and help to ensure her basic needs are covered.
2. Our contribution is to give her a safe place to live, access to material to complete her homework, and a daily supply of nutritious food while participating in her school.  We have assembled a small team to help her with her studies.

There are some social challenges when you come from extreme poverty to attending a private school.  Having vastly different life experiences has created some awkward moments that she is challenged to navigate.

This has been an interesting learning for all of us.

 

• 19 Year old ‘G’

Raised by her grandma, abandoned by her mother, with a dad that lives far away. They struggle daily for basics, but against all odds she graduates today. Since 2014,  we helped find sponsors to supply her uniform and materials.  This year, with a little extra support for graduation costs, she will finally realize her goal.   She has dreams of working with children.

 

Our goal will be to help her realize those dreams. 

 

• 19 Year old ‘Sh’

She is a force to be reckoned with. Next month she graduates the AUX nursing  course.  This was made possible due to an anonymous expat that wishes to remain that way. He paid for the entire nine month course including her uniform, materials and transportation. 

Soon that journey will come to a successful end!

Before her current course ended, this powerhouse of a young lady registered into the 4-year nursing program at the local university.  I’m happy to say:

A Canadian couple has committed to walking this 4-year path with her. A gift from God ‘SH’ tells me.

 

 

• 30 year old ‘St’

A single mom that also worked the streets and sells food when she can. She returned to school and was well on her way to her goals when our foundation came to know her.  Her energy, her motivation and her drive to provide a better home for her kids is inspiring.  I knew this was a person the foundation should be helping.   We assisted her where we could with shoes, books, and  transportation.  Sometimes we helped by purchasing ingredients so she could make and sell food.

Her night class ran from 7pm to 11 pm.  Without consistent funds for transportation, she was forced to walk home on many nights.   One night she was robbed at gunpoint losing her back pack, her books and phone.  Through it all, she stayed focused.

Tonight she celebrates her graduation.

 

Each of these young ladies still have a ways to go to truly break free from their cycle of poverty, but they are heading in the right direction.

Each of them gives back to the foundation with their time. They volunteer to assist in our programs to help others. At the same time, they accrue community work hours to put towards their studies. Our foundation is registered with MIES.   We are able to write letters to verify community work hours for them, which helps them move forward in yet another way.

If you are part of a professional organization, an individual, or a church group, that may want to sponsor education for a student, we have a line up of them with dreams yet to realize.   We cannot continue this work without your help. 

You can contact me at whatsapp +593-99-305-2656  or email me at community@ecuadorfromtheheart.com or schadlich.d@outlook.com