Ecuador is the fourth poorest country in South America. Over 25% of the country’s population lives below the poverty line. Long-standing challenges, such as high rates of child malnutrition, poor healthcare and inadequate education systems need to be addressed to improve the quality of life.
Recently, there was a compounded urgency as Ecuador has found itself in a “state of war” as drug cartels waged a brutal campaign of kidnappings and attacks in response to a government crackdown. Hundreds of soldiers patrolled the capital of Quito – where our educational partners currently serve – and students and their parents were gripped by fear over the surge in violence.
Cross International stood firm by our partners, and thankfully the situation has once again stabilized. But we put contingency plans in place to ensure that the schools we support will continue to be served should the situation once again heat up.
We also realize that life in Ecuador is especially hard for the children, even when the social and political atmosphere is calm. Thousands of boys and girls from the Quito area live in homes plagued by domestic violence, malnutrition and extreme poverty. School-aged children are often sent by their parents to peddle in the streets instead of to school. Those who do attend school are always in danger of dropping out. This creates an oppressive cycle of generational poverty.
The situation is doubly hard for teens and young adults – those who hold down jobs during the day and attend our night classes in an attempt to finish school. They are the prime targets for these drug cartels. In fact, many of these teens and young adults have spent years warding off intense recruitment to turn to a life of crime. Most have been forced to drop out of school to support their families and have spent their childhood missing out on the education that could have provided economic stability. Without an education, these teens have little chance of breaking the bonds of generational poverty.
Cross International’s Solution
In Ecuador, Cross International’s approach to education is unique. In most of the countries we serve, we prioritize our efforts on Christian primary school education, as literacy and primary learning is one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty and improving health, gender equality, peace and stability. But Ecuador is different. It has a long history of subjecting children to child labor. “Shoeshine boys” are a common sight on the city streets. And even though the government in recent years has discouraged the practice, child labor is still deeply ingrained in Ecuadorian culture, which is why we at Cross work feel it is necessary to serve both primary school age children and teenage students as well.
Primary school-age children
For this age group, Cross has local partners that provide nutritious morning snacks and tutoring help in the mornings before these children attend public school in the afternoon. The meals help parents who, amid harsh economic situations, cannot afford to feed their children two or more meals daily. The academic support helps the children stay current with their schoolwork. This assistance benefits those who miss class for work and whose parents lack the education to help them keep up with their studies. Our educational interventions also incorporate Biblical training, academic support, and instruction about preventing sexual abuse and teen pregnancy.
Teenage students
For this age group, Cross provides a night school alternative for teens who must work during the day to support themselves and their families. This schedule allows student-workers to keep their day jobs while pursuing a solid education. In some instances, students are able to recover the time lost when they abandon their studies for work opportunities.
MEET DIEGO & JAQUELINE
Eight-year-old Diego and his younger sister Jaqueline live with their parents in a tiny room in Quito, Ecuador. Although their dad works as a bricklayer whenever he can, the family of four is very poor. Further complicating an already difficult situation, Diego has a strong stutter and struggles to get his words out. A misinformed doctor told Diego’s parents that the stutter resulted from their spoiling their son, so his parents responded with physical abuse.
One day, a neighborhood friend invited Diego and Jaqueline to come with her to an afterschool program called The Moses Project – one of Cross International’s Ecuadorian education partners. It was a turning point for this family. When Diego and Jaqueline first arrived, they were both incredibly shy. But today, the two children have come out of their shells! Diego’s language has improved, and Jaqueline is happy and playful. Both children are incredibly grateful for the new lease on life they have received.
The situation is doubly hard for teens and young adults – those who hold down jobs during the day and attend our night classes in an attempt to finish school. They are the prime targets for these drug cartels. In fact, many of these teens and young adults have spent years warding off intense recruitment to turn to a life of crime. Most have been forced to drop out of school to support their families and have spent their childhood missing out on the education that could have provided economic stability. Without an education, these teens have little chance of breaking the bonds of generational poverty.
Thank you for considering
Hope for At-Risk Kids in Ecuador
As you can see, the needs are great, and the relationship between education and breaking the cycle of generational poverty is closely linked.
No matter what level of support you are able to provide, please know that our education projects in Ecuador – which is part of our Thriving Kids Initiative – will go a long way towards helping children finish school and reach the potential God has in store for them!
With your help, we can help kids finish school and lift them out of generational poverty.
