Life does not pause, even when aid does: Mother Klementina keeps working despite US suspension

Since 2017, Mother Klementina has dedicated her life to supporting migrants in Ecuador through the organization Charity Without Borders. Her vocation has led her to serve people in extreme vulnerability, providing humanitarian aid, guidance on legal migration processes, and integration opportunities.

Her work became even more critical during the pandemic when migrants faced worsening conditions. At that time, AVSI Foundation emerged as a key ally, providing resources to improve physical spaces and build capacity at the Jesus of Nazareth Pastoral Center. 

Starting in 2024, AVSI supported Mother Klementina’s community-based organization through its project, INSPIRA, which was funded by the U.S. Government. The project’s goal was to give migrants and refugees, as well as vulnerable Ecuadorians, a chance at a better life in Ecuador through protection, shelter support, and livelihoods training. One of the project’s activities was a series of small grants for smaller community organizations, including Charity Without Borders. AVSI would provide organizations with a grant of $20,000 and accompany them through a capacity-building process, helping them better serve their communities.  

Thanks to this support, Charity Without Borders established a fully equipped community kitchen, allowing thousands people—especially children and adolescents—to receive hot meals. Additionally, medical brigades - mobile medical care in underserved communities, - provided healthcare to hundreds of people, many of them women and children.

However, the stability they had achieved was abruptly disrupted when the INSPIRA project was paused due to the US foreign aid suspension. The news came one morning in a call from the AVSI team, leaving the community in shock and uncertainty. Mother Klementina and her sisters sought alternative sources of support but soon realized that no immediate solutions were available. 

The impact has been devastating. The lack of funding has left critical needs unmet and Mother Klementina fears that people may resort to desperate survival strategies, exacerbating social problems. "When people have nothing to eat, no medical care, no education for their children, they look for solutions that I can’t even name," she reflects with concern. 

Despite this setback, Mother Klementina refuses to stop fighting. Together with her community, she has launched small solidarity initiatives, organizing collective donations where each person contributes what they can to help those most in need. Every Thursday, they gather with affected groups to keep hope alive and encourage mutual support. 

"In human life, there are no pauses," Mother Klementina emphasizes. "If we pause aid, we are extinguishing the hope of those who need it most." Her message to those in power is clear: resource distribution must be more equitable and aligned with the realities of those living in extreme poverty and vulnerability. 

To the affected community, her message is one of unity. Despite the hardships, she insists on the importance of mutual support and perseverance "We are organizing ourselves to see how far we can go with the resources we have."