I want to talk about pooping in Ecuador.
I know, the topic stings a bit at first, not the nicest ‘retire in paradise’ topic… Just imagine for a moment; having to poop in a bag and throw it in the garbage? Maybe a pail, perhaps outside in a hole dug into the ground? That is what many families in Ecuador must do daily.
Ecuador is a modern country with all the amenities one looks for to provide a comfortable and affordable retirement in paradise. But what some of you don’t see are those places, just outside your vision. Just off the Malecon; just in the distance as you drive to and from your fun places. There are invisible families of Ecuador that try to eke out a living that reside without basic necessities of life.
The neatly dressed and proud lady that sells you the bottle of water, the kind gentleman that sells you the jewelry in trinket alley, the folks that sing you songs, that push a cart with fruit; most often these folks return at night with their few earned dollars to their bamboo homes, without floors, sometime no lights and a surprising amount without basic services like toilets…. but you would never know that to see them.
Many residents earn barely enough to feed themselves daily and the pandemic plunged more into deeper poverty and despair. As they focus on daily survival, the goal of ever having a proper toilet is far beyond their reach. When you earn $5 to $10 daily, how do you save to build a bathroom? This time of year, with the heat, the smell of urine is strong in the air in these outlying barrios, the number of flies spreading disease is alarming.
To donate to build a bathroom.
You can find a way to donate here plus a breakdown of materials and costs.
http://www.globalgiving.org Search for project # 50170 to donate to support your project.
This is a joint project with Airline Ambassadors and our lovely Kate Jewell and Nancy Rivard and our foundation Ecuador from the Heart.
We began construction on March 26, 2021 but I am happy to say the project has been put on pause… for very great news. The community is now receiving a new sewer system! While they finish the installation, we continue to collect donations as we gear up to finish up these bathrooms as quickly as possible.
The initial 24 bathrooms installed are attached to a poso system, we will attach them direct to the new system once it is completed and the new ones will go direct to the city supplied system.
This is a game changer for the community.
Thanks again for listening, for participating, for sharing the information…. and sorry about the topic, but someone has to say the tough stuff!
