Rebuilding in Ecuador
Population: 16,904,867
Percent Below Poverty Line: 21.5%
Ecuador, located on the coast of South America, straddles the equator. It is the largest banana producer and exporter in the world, and it holds the largest fishing city in the world, Manta. Ecuador was devastated by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 16, 2016. It’s a country with much potential to rise out of the ashes, but currently needs our ongoing assistance for their continued rebuilding efforts. In 2020, we look forward to expanding our work with the poor in collaboration with the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales.
Explore the tabs below to learn more about our mission in Ecuador.
Ecuador
Population: 16,904,867
Percent Below Poverty Line: 21.5%
Ecuador, located on the coast of South America, straddles the equator. It is the largest banana producer and exporter in the world, and it holds the largest fishing city in the world, Manta. Ecuador was devastated by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 16, 2016. It’s a country with much potential to rise out of the ashes, but currently needs our ongoing assistance for their continued rebuilding efforts. In 2020, we look forward to expanding our work with the poor in collaboration with the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales.
Explore the tabs below to learn more about our mission in Ecuador.
Island Villages to Get Crucial Aid to Empower Poor in the Area
Spearheaded by the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, the poor island community of Valdez Limones is getting some much needed aid.
Valdez Limones is a cluster of 22 island villages off the northwestern coast of Ecuador. They’re only accessible by boat and were settled by former slaves in the 1800s. Because of its remote location, this cluster of villages still maintains a strong connection to African traditions.
Sadly, the legacy of slavery is still felt to this day. Slaves in Ecuador, as in the US, were rarely taught how to read and were given little or no assistance upon receiving their freedom. The newly-freed former slaves who settled Valdez Limones had very little when they came to the islands, and that poverty continues to this day.
Help is on the way.
In 2019, the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS) sent a community of missionary priests to address the spiritual and material needs of the people at Valdez Limones. They’ve developed a practical, wide-reaching plan to help our brothers and sisters in Christ living in crushing poverty.
Orphans, semi-orphans, street children, and highschool dropouts to receive crucial care
To help break the cycle of generational poverty, the MSFS’s biggest and furthest-reaching project is their Child Empowerment Project. Orphans, semi-orphans, street children, and children who have dropped out from school will be the target group of this special outreach.
Children like little Alex, 6, will be directly impacted by this work. Alex was abandoned by his parents as a baby. He lives with his grandmother, who can barely provide for him.
Yela, 11, has a similar story. She lives with her grandmother, after being abandoned by her parents when she was just 5. Her grandmother is a widow, has no work, and cares for two other grandkids in addition to Yela!
To get to school, Yela has to travel by boat. She does well in school and has big dreams–when she grows up she wants to be a psychologist!
As difficult as Alex and Yela’s stories are, they are some of the lucky ones. Addiction, abuse, and abadonment are common here. Many other children who were left by their parents have nowhere to go and must live on the streets.
The MSFS program to help these little ones is inspiring. It provides:
- a daily meal
- uniforms and clothes
- school supplies
- access to counseling
- school fees
Not only will material needs be met, but the children will also receive love, support, stability and structure, and most important of all–they’ll learn about Jesus and his never-ending love!
MSFS priests are working tirelessly to help the people of Valdez Limones Islands in any way possible. Here are some of the other projects you can support today:
Rooftop Water Tanks for Clean Drinking Water
MSFS priests hope to raise enough funds to supply three rooftop water tanks and purifiers for the community. Currently, the only water reservoir system is an old cistern, which provides no filtration or purification.
Community Development Center
This building has no running water, furniture, tables, or chairs–but it’s where the MSFS priests hold the programs they run for the people of Valdez Limones. Once the building is renovated and repaired, they’ll be able to serve more of the area’s desperately poor through faith formation classes, skill- and job-training classes, and more programs for disaffected youth.
Mission Outreach by Boat
The only way to reach these remote island villages is by boat. In order to bring the hope of the Gospel to everyone living in the Valdez Limones communities, the MSFS had to purchase 3 motorized boats. But gas and maintenance are increasingly expensive. You can help make the name and love fo Jesus known by giving to the MSFS “boat fund” today!
Whether you want to save children from a life of poverty, or you’re passionate about helping every person have access to clean water, your gift right now will make a huge impact in Ecuador!
Click the green “Give Now” button to donate to this incredible mission right away.
7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Leaves Over 650 Dead and More Helpless
On April 16, 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador devastating the coast region of the country, and aftershock was felt as far as the capital, Quito, 110 miles away. Homes were destroyed, and over 650 people were killed. The local police and firefighters worked relentlessly to find survivors. The earthquake put Ecuador in a state of emergency. Over 13,000 police and militia were deployed for recovery operations to serve their hurt, hungry, and now homeless, brothers and sisters. This crisis is unlike any they have seen since 1979! Your response is extremely urgent! With our immediate response they can have a thriving community again this year and we can prevent waiting years for reconstruction. This earthquake has displaced tens of thousands of families and injured over 16,000 in a single minute.
It is our duty as Christians to help our brothers and sisters in need. The people of Ecuador are still recovering from this natural disaster and need ongoing assistance to rebuild their homes, schools, and businesses, and to replace items that were lost or damaged by the quake. Your generosity is needed to help these efforts.
Will you help alleviate the suffering of families in Ecuador?
Regnum Christi and Fr. Francisco Heal the People of Ecuador
Fr. Francisco Armengol, LC has sent out a call for help for the people he serves in Ecuador. Together with Regnum Christi members Fr. Francisco has asked for financial support in serving the people of Manta and the destroyed coastal cities. Since the earthquake hit on April 16, 2016 he has traveled from village to village delivering mattresses, food, water, mosquito spray, and medicine to the devastated coastal region in Ecuador. Fr. Francisco is on the ground with members of Regnum Christi assessing needs, and restlessly serving the people who have had their lives destroyed in a single minute. Many people lost their entire families during the earthquake. Fr. Francisco is helping to counsel them, and bring the hope and helping hands of Christ. He not only brings the necessary relief for their physical needs, but also their spiritual needs.
Your immediate response to this mission will help the people of Ecuador heal.
Will you be a light of the world in Ecuador today?
Regnum Christi Members Deliver Survival Needs
David Reinberg, RC pictured in orange hat, delivers supplies in Veneda and other Regnum Christi members deliver supplies in Pedernales and Portoviejo
Already the recipients of your generosity send their thanks! Still so much is needed in Ecuador! Words cannot begin to describe the gratitude people have for your generosity. Grocery stores in Quito are selling out of supplies because so many people are turning around and sending them to the costal region affected by the earthquake on April 16, 2016.
Watch this video to hear the thanks from locals in the state of Manabi.
Thanks to your immediate response 45 families – a total of 212 people – have been given psychological relief in addition to the disaster relief efforts around Ecuador.
Round the clock care in Canoa provides the individuals and families with psychological first-aid. Every other day Mass is celebrated for all at this refugee camp. Starting at eight in the morning psychological assistance sessions are offered to the suffering and continue on throughout the rest of the day.
During these sessions the volunteer psychologists are able to reveal heart-wrenching issues like abuse, anxiety, survivor’s guilt, denial, and the fear of more loss. It is an extremely emotional situation, not only for the refugees in the camp, but for the volunteers who are taking an emotional toll trying to help these victims of the earthquake as well.
These are not the only people needing care. More support is needed so they can extend their mission outside of Canoa. There are already 30 people on the waiting list to get into the camp for psychological care.
Not only are the psychological volunteers providing emotional relief; they are helping people rebuild their homes. They are truly doing the work of God! With your support not only will you be helping alleviate the trauma of the April 16, 2016 earthquake, but you will help these families and the little children rebuild their lives.