Ecuador - Calacali

Students: 29
Where HOPE is given: : Families
Began partnering with E=H: 2019

In 2019, a group of student leaders from Alliance Academy International raised funds to invest in one of the churches in Calacalí. The collection of the funds happened to coincide with the beginning of the pandemic, so the leaders at El Refugio, an outdoor adventure and retreat center, decided to deliver food to families in need. They contacted trusted people in the community to help identify which families could be the beneficiaries. Ten families were identified, and in June 2020 they were given food kits. Then in August, they were invited to be part of the micro-scholarship program. The following year, one more family joined the program.

For this program, there are eight board members, including members of Hacienda El Refugio and the community, as well as one of the mothers who receives a scholarship. They would love to see more families be able to receive these scholarships because the need is great in Calacalí. Their dream is to see these children and teens become future professionals, creating their own companies. Maybe, they will even support other young people as they are being supported today.