Ecuador
We have been working in Ecuador from 2004, tIn partnership with our founding member Fundacion Sembrar, to create educational activities and vocational training and job creation, to prevent violence and protect the most vulnerable, especially women and children. Our staff has been in the forefront to deal with the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Portoviejo in April 2016, initially with emergency outreach, followed by economic development projects among the poorest population groups.
Founding members
Partners
Child education Together with local partners, Fundacion Sembrar and CUET, AVSI finances the Distance support program, promoting educational and social inclusion initiatives. It involves approximately 1,800 children and young people coming from the rural communities of Manabí and the outer-urban areas of Quito, and their families.
The family at the center. The DSP project in Quito, run by founder Fundación Sembrar has the following lines of action: early childhood education; family and violence reduction; youth; work and employment. The DSP project in Manabi, run by CUET, has the following lines of action: educational initiatives for the school age child; youth, agriculture and microenterprises; family and microenterprises; health.
The family is the fundamental cell of societal development and parents are key players in the education of children. For these reasons, in all areas of activity, attention is focused on parental accompaniment, through systematic home visits, meetings and periodic discussion.
Vocational training and job creation. In recent years, some professional training activities have been carried out in collaboration with the Ecuadorean Government. These courses are mainly addressed at parents, in different occupations, from cooking to cutting and sewing, and carpentry.
In urban areas, in addition, five family-run micro-enterprises, most of which are run by women, take part in a process of empowerment and economic development, to promote dignified work for everyone involved and to prevent violence. In rural areas, however, some small family farms and orchards were formed, to meet the needs of the family and, in some cases, to also enable small-scale retail ventures.
The 2016 earthquake. Immediately after the 2016 earthquake in Ecuador, AVSI has carried out emergency work to support 700 families supported at a distance, to identify schools and centers to be renovated, remove debris and restore access to water in the affected areas. During 2017, this will by continued through a project, co-financed by the European Union, in the city of Portoviejo in support of informal economic activities.
Finally, we have begun a collaboration with the Ecuadorian Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Cults. in support of detainees who are in the process of reintegrating into society, through a training course and a start into the world of work, favouring the involvement of business. This project is part-financed by CISCO Networking Academy.
Quito
Av. Amazonas 4769
y Gaspar De Villareal
Ed. Reinoso, 2º P, Of 204
sarah.holtz@avsi.org
Tel.: +593 2 3381 917