Pathways Out of Poverty – What is the Endgame?

Time flies when you’re having fun, or so the saying goes.

This March will be 10 years since we started working with marginalized families on the coast of Ecuador.  10 years since a 4 year old girl crossed my path and created the spark that lead me here today.  She wasn’t able to go to school due to a ‘list’ her family could not afford to pay. It was this moment, when we started looking curiously behind the Malecon and the lovely International Living articles.  Just a few short blocks off the tourist areas, we found another face of Ecuador, a darker version; sometimes sad and sometimes sinister.

A  Mud Road Less Traveled

My journey diverted down mud paths  never intended when we first arrived to Ecuador in May of 2012. We sought to find a simpler, less expensive existence. We had the pleasure of learning about all that makes Ecuador such a paradise to so many. The beauty, the affordability, the weather, the people, and back then it was far more peaceful on the coast with less crime. But our personal journey eventually showed us a very dark underbelly; the corruption that runs deep, the poverty level that is unbelievable sad.  This other face the typical expat never gets to see, nor should they,  if they want to continue enjoying the roses without thinking of the thorns.

The year 2023 was eye opening to me on many levels. Realizing for the first time, that after 10 years of listening to all the sad stories, to reacting to every crisis laid in front of me, for all the tears comforted and all the tears that ran down my own face, that I’m truly and deeply exhausted in every way a person can be.

Finding our Limits

I can’t forget how covid craziness crashed upon us in March of 2020 thrusting myself into the Weekend Warriors food deliveries with Bettina and Amy. I’m not sure that people can imagine the emotional and physical toll that work took on us. There were times we might get 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night during that time.  From March 2020 to the end of July 2020, we went full throttle from one crisis to the next with barely time to take a deep breath.  Wondering if we might get sick, but more importantly wondering how to get food to people with all the obstacles put in our way.   After the dust settled, we received recognition from the Municipality of Salinas for our work, but of course it didn’t stop there.  I had not yet learned my limits.

As we came out of the immediate crisis, instead of resting and taking care of me, I decided that formalizing the foundation was the best path forward. So we jumped through hoops and today we have a registered non-profit foundation that continues with supportive programs up until this very day.

We did some good, that’s for sure

When I look at what we have accomplished, I’m very proud of the many works, social and supportive programs, thousands of school lists, starting two provisional schools, crisis management on the regular, home building and renovating, assisting in secondary educational opportunities, providing bathrooms to families pooping in bags and the list goes on. We collaborated with many foundations and organizations as I truly believe there is power in numbers. We were able to manage this with the help of so many expats, local Ecuadorians, friends, families and strangers from around the world.

I sometimes feel surprised at some of the things we accomplished, like building a home in 25 days without a clue on what to do; just winging it along the way. The once homeless family is still living in that house; this September will be 8 years ago. It’s also the project that led me to San Raymundo 2 where our official foundation address lives. This is one of the neediest areas in Salinas.

What is the Endgame?

Self reflection is an important part of personal growth. Reflecting on our own personal good, bad and ugly helps us to course correct when needed.  A measure of honesty is required and sometimes this isn’t easy to do. We learn this as a skill in nursing, as we often deal with moral and ethical situations that challenge our own beliefs.

As I reflect on the affect of our programs over the years, the ripple affect which is felt today, I have to admit there were some unintended consequences. Some not-so-nice realizations that have made me reflect long and hard about what we are doing and how we are doing it.

I had to start asking, what is the endgame?

Not necessarily for me or the foundation, but for the participants in the programs. How do we let them ‘graduate’ to becoming independent people rather than creating a dependence on the system itself. Like a welfare program gone bad, even when created with the best of intentions.

Handing out food regularly, no matter what we call it: breakfast program, crisis management, nutrition program, mingas for single mothers,  has only created a dependence and a sense of entitlement in far too many around us.

I recall handing out sandwiches here and there.  Yes, it made us feel good seeing the smiles and receiving some hugs, but did it change anything for them?    That day they had some extra food, but long term nothing changed in their life.   They still were hungry in the morning, they still didn’t work or go to school, they still didn’t have medicine when they were sick.   Do they think of the times the gringos ran around their neighborhood handing out sandwiches?  Was a wonderful gesture of kindness, but not sustainable nor helpful long term.

Creating Dependence

Lately we hear a lot less thank-you and a lot more:

what about my dogs, my sisters, my grandma, my grandkids.

Hand’s outstretched for more medicine, more food, more money for the bus, more roofing panels, more ….. fill in the blank.

It’s simply impossible to meet all the demands.

Having to say no, is often received with muttering under their breath, an eye roll and what they refer to as chisme, or gossip, about how we favor one person over another.

These are responses of people that feel entitled to receive and this is what we helped create.

I noticed that families we have been helping for the past 10 years are no more better off now than they were at the start, in fact some are worse off as the economy has taken a deep fall post covid. We can’t help the economy and the work situation and we also can’t keep feeding more and more people indefinitely.  Those that were children when we started some programs, now have children of their own, and they have since joined too, hands outstretched needing …   fill  in the blank.

Lay the Cards on the Table

I will be direct, there is no foundation in the world that is able to provide ongoing food to families indefinitely without an endgame.  What is that endgame then?  Families can never leave a program that is simply designed to give them something for nothing.

The school breakfast program is a good example, based on noble principles, but what is the end game? Continue to give them food every week until each of their children graduate? Is the food being used as intended? Of course not.   They have many people living in these house, multiple families often, so all the food is shared and eaten within two days.  This means the registered child in school is not actually getting the full intended benefit of the breakfast program.

 

We can teach them about nutrition and the benefits of eating differently, but if we have to supply the food forever, how is that helpful?  What happens if we leave Ecuador,  if we get sick,  if we die, run out of sponsorship money or simply get tired.  We will have created a dependence and then it’s simply gone.   

 

Is the money they save from having to buy food that day being used to better their position in life or is it being wasted?  Worse yet, has it created situations where they choose to work less since they know a food delivery is coming.

Teach a man to fish

I understand the ‘teach a man to fish’ concept and I’m very big on personal responsibility.  Having tried numerous ways to teach them to fish, but ending up frustrated at things out of our control.   I have approached politicians, organizations, the university trying to start a literacy program. They say there is a program, but try registering someone!  They move intake dates so often, we finally gave up.   The same thing happens when you bring a proposal forward:  it starts off strong, they take lovely photos and then they stop answering the real questions. The follow through is lacking, the roll-up-the-sleeves part is missing. We sit frustrated.

 

I’m told I need to give the powers that be something to get something in return. My response is I have given money, heart and soul to try and help their people… but it doesn’t change, because the people in positions to make change,  don’t care to have it change.   It’s like an uphill battle of epic proportions.

It’s not just about a job

We have found simple jobs for some, so excited, thinking we’ve done a great thing.  What most often happens is they don’t show up regularly for work. They show up late with excuses and within short order they lose the job. It’s frankly embarrassing so I rarely make recommendations anymore from people in the programs. I have come to realize that putting opportunities in front of folks isn’t the answer. They need to see the benefit, they need to take advantage of the opportunity, they need to be able to receive the gift and what I find is that a very small percentage actually do that.

We have offered education to people, that make excuses not to follow a path, and then later come back in crisis asking for food. People who were to show up for work mingas, that make excuses, but never forget to show up to pick up their package of charitable items.

We have offered education to people that take advantage initially, than later decide getting pregnant is the way to say thanks for hundreds if not thousands of dollars investment put towards their future.

Values we can teach

People living in extreme poverty have many obstacles to overcome and many of them are not job related. It’s not about enrolling them in school or presenting them with a job and walking away. That is a very small piece of the puzzle. Learning values such as responsibility, punctuality, honesty and not to steal out of necessity.  To look at the long term plan, rather than always reacting to the immediate need of the day.  Practical things like how to sign their name, to have clothes, shoes and enough nutrition to show up for work/school regularly, how to budget their money so they can get to work next week.

Folks living in extreme poverty are there, not just because they don’t have jobs. It’s a multi-generational mentality that includes ingrained superstitions, customs and bad habits passed down. We all hear about breaking the cycle of poverty, but finding the perfect candidates to support through this long process is challenging. Finding those that want to participate in the process, rather than dragging them along is more challenging that one would think.

Breaking the cycle of poverty is a long process, not a singular event.

I have taken off my rose-colored glasses about Ecuador long ago, but 2023 taught me even more lessons  about extreme poverty, about the people living in it,  and the politics and customs that allows it to perpetuate.

Begin with the End in Mind

Back to Basics:   as Steven R Covey says in his book  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Put First Things First.   All simple concepts, and ones I may have forgotten along the way.   I know that giving food, no matter what we call the program, will never help unless there is an endgame attached to it. Milestones they have to meet, with a time limit attached.  Where they move through a system of support, but also of learning.  They need to emerge from the other side feeling supported, with the tools they need to be more self sufficient and then move out of the program. If we are still giving them food 1, 2 and 10  years later, it’s obvious, what we’re doing is not working.

What needs to happen is to assess everyone’s needs individually. Make a plan specific to them that may include some standardized learning like the benefits of punctuality and responsibility.  It also needs to address their individual needs. To be successful, the endgame plan must include no more hand-outs needed to make their way in life.  Their lives, which will outlast Ecuador from the Heart.

Where to next

Some of you already know that our foundation has a piece of land in San Raymundo 2. There are plans to develop it into a learning center that will facilitate programs to empower, educate and create independence. Phase 2 of the construction is underway at the moment. Phase 3 will be a joint project, with more information to come on that later.

I will be taking some time away from active field work starting June 2, 2024. Our last event will be June 1, 2024 celebrating kids day in San Raymundo 2. We have put a temporary pause on the senior’s group and we have canceled the single mom group. From now until June, our focus will be on the kids and on developing the land.

 

Time to be selfish

Randy and I will be going for a mountain adventure that will last a minimum of 6 months. I won’t even rule out a full year if all goes well. We are not selling our home, we have trusted friends that will be living in it. I need to take some time and create some distance.  To re-imagine the programs, re-imagine my life and take some time for me.

I won’t lie, part of our reason is also the increase in crime and stupidity going on around here. We put ourself in danger each time our gringo faces appear in these areas.  Making ourselves targets for robberies, kidnapping or extortion.   We hope with some time away, the authorities can clean things up.  In the meantime, we have decided to create some distance and head to where things are a bit more peaceful.

During this recharge time, We will work to create new programs that will empower people to move through a process. The focus is to not create a reliance on us to feed them, clothe them and fix all their problems. It’s simply not realistic to ‘give’ forever.

I have learned that the endgame is actually more important than the beginning. Without it, we foster dependency, that creates entitlement, that leads to resentment, on both sides.

We will keep you all posted on the progress of the new center. Perhaps reaching out from time to time for ideas or volunteers for behind the scenes pieces. I will be working on the website with a few innovative ideas.   Allowing myself this time, away from the field work and from people pulling at me from every direction will give me the space I need to revamp the programs.

I need to be selfish for awhile. I need to move myself away from all the outreached hands and sad stories.   They survived before we arrived, and they will continue to find their way while we’re gone temporarily.

Thanks for your support over the years and for your understanding while I take a step back and simply breathe.