A busy 2 months...

My two months, January and February , in Ecuador went very quickly. I don't think my feet touched the ground for the whole visit. It was great to meet up with everyone and to see how the school was getting on. We had a visit from Jennifer Bailey, on our board of Trustees, and her husband the Rev. Bailey. Jennifer gave a full assessment of the school, while Steven helped out with a medical mission from the United States and also took to the pulpit on occasion.

Jennifer gave very positive feedback on the school, while giving us some things to think about and to work on in the next school year. Sharon Wilcox will be working with the adolescents on Life Skills, and we have plans to take on another teacher. So it is all go!

We have taken on a new Director, Luzcelli Pamba, who is also the Director of Orphaids, another Christian charity in the town. She has launched the women's work onto the whole town, with regular radio slots telling women how to get help if they are being abused. She has started a Telephone Help Line , so victims of Domestic Violence can get instant advice. There is also a counseling service. The charity is running handicraft classes in different locations in the town. We have also taken on another worker, Maria Agusta, who will be giving conferences to women and working at town level.

It was very encouraging to see how Blanca and Rodrigo have developed so many good relationships with the adults and children in Laura Flores. Their Homework club is a great support for children whose parents cannot help them. They are also now working in two other slum areas where they make a huge impact on these groups of largely neglected people. So the charity is expanding in all directions. 

 

I returned to the UK in March but am hoping to return to Ecuador later in the year.

Jill Ball