Iltaqui: Home in Ecuador

We have some new interns in Ecuador at the Iltaqui home! We are super excited at the good they are doing there. This project focuses on feeding over 100 children who are currently attending a school in a rural and low-income community. The purpose is to keep children from going hungry, allowing them to focus on their education. Ironically, young children go with nothing to eat due to the fact that both parents spend the entire day away working from home in the fields. While visiting there, we found a very young girl crying from want of food. Upon interviewing local community members, it was found that this is a common occurrence and children often miss classes due to leaving school during the day to find food. Regular food at school promotes regular school attendance. In 2010 the school was cleaned top to bottom and a kitchen was built to provide food to stay in school. ECH is sponsoring food in these schools and the 2011 expedition projects will focus on additional projects at the schools including creating a school garden for self-sustainability and a literacy center.

Child spotlight from Claryssa about Sixto, who attends English classes run by ECH interns:

This is Sixto Leonidas Tamayo Panama. He was born on June 27, 2000 and is 11 years old. He lives just down the road from the school in Il Taqui. His parents are Jose Manuel Panama and Maria Rosario Tamayo. He is the youngest of five and has two older brothers and two older sisters. Sixto is an excellent student and has learned how to say several phrases in English including what his favorite color is (green) and his favorite animal (fish). Another interesting thing about Sixto is that he is an uncle! His niece, Toa Panama, also comes to English classes. They walk together everyday to and from the school. Sixto is very bright and also an excellent artist.