Report on donations made of funds raised in early 2006

I have just returned from Ecuador, where I had more incredible experiences this last time than usual. Though it was not the main purpose of my trip, my visit did allow me to make donation of the funds raised earlier in the year by the "Ecuador Mi País" Foundation. , Aside from being very pleased with the amounts that we were able to give, I was very pleased to see and meet some of the recipients of our assistance and to see first-hand how our donations will contribute to the betterment of the lifes of these people. The beneficiaries of these funds were:

Shelter for Young Girls run by the Sisters of the Good Sheperd
(Hogar de niñas de las Hermanas del Buen Pastor)

This shelter provides housing, food, foster care, financial assistance for schooling, and medical and mental health services for girls between the ages of 12 and 18 who have been forced to leave their homes due to extenuating circumstances. Ecuador Mi Pais granted four full scholarships, for a total amount of US$800, which will cover living expenses at the shelter and high-school tuition for one year. I also had the opportunity to meet Sister Consuelo Larrea, who is in charge of the shelter. Sister Larrea is a woman whose vocation for serving and helping others is evident in everything she does. We talked about the lives of these young girls and all that the shelter does to help them overcome their problems.

The stories these young girls tell of their lives prior to coming to this place of refuge are truly shocking . I am convinced that the support given these girls by the shelter transforms their lives by healing the wounds of the past and opening doors to the future, providing them with a new and fresh start which will enable them to strive for a better tomorrow.

Caritas Foundation: This project is being managed by Cristina Avila, under the supervision of Father Esteban Román, in the parish of La Primavera. The project focuses on providing children of poor families near Cumbayá and Tumbaco with the assistance and resources which will enable them to continue with their education in state schools of the area. The strength of this project lies in its tutoring program aimed both at the children and the parents. The classes help the children enhance their academic skills and offer guidance to their parents, so they in turn can provide adequate family support for their children’s education. In addition, each family participating in the program is given a monthly gift basket of canned and dry goods as a way of increasing the nutritional value of their diet . I also had the pleasure of talking with Cristina and Father Esteban and was overwhelmed by the spirit of service they exude. They both work very hard to help these children attain a better future. Ecuador Mi Pais granted scholarships for three boys in an amount totalling $600

Ecuadorian Red Cross: The happy hour which Ecuador Mi Pais held to raise funds for the victims of the eruption of the Tungurahua volcano was a big success, allowing the foundation to donate US$2,235. It is our hope that this contribution will help in alleviating the pain and suffering of the people affected by this natural disaster. Thank you to the group for its contribution and the solidarity of our people . Following a long meeting with the people in charge of disaster relief planning at the Ecuadorian Red Cross, it was decided to use the funds to implement a schooling plan for children that were evacuated due to the eruption. The new school year is about to begin and it is so disheartening to see that this issue has not even been considered by the authorities in charge of the situation.

Our funds will be used to help defray the costs of school supplies because at this moment financial assistance to cover this kind of expenses is very difficult to obtain. To witness the devastation and destruction caused by the eruption left me with bitter-sweet feelings. A bitter feeling on one hand due to the lack of preventive planning measures and poor disaster response on the part of government authorities that could have prevented or even avoided the magnitude of the damage in the area. The volcano had already been active for seven years, giving every indication in that time that it would eventually erupt. On the other hand, a sweet feeling as I was deeply moved by the outpouring of solidarity and compassion of many Ecuadorians towards the victims in this hour of need .

Much is needed and much more needs to be done, but the most important thing is that we were able to contribute. Our helping hand was very much appreciated. It is very heart-warming and gratifying to see how your hard work, solidarity, and desire to create a more prosperous future for Ecuador is coming to fruition. Every time I made a donation, I was filled with emotion at the thought of the energy, ideas, and effort that many of you have invested in planning and organizing the events that Ecuador Mi Pais has been sponsoring during the last months. The Board of Directors of Ecuador Mi Pais very much appreciate all your support and we thank all of you who have participated in one way or another in these events and contributed towards our Foundation’s big goal. I thank you for making me so proud of being Ecuadorian. As a final note, all receipts for donations received and disbursed are available for your revision and will be archived along with all the financial documents for auditing and verification.