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Education
Education is one of the greatest gifts both given and received. We believe that the opportunities fostered by education are limitless.
It has been said that education is the passport to the future. At Spirit of Wellness, we create programs to provide the passports so those we serve can travel towards success.
How We Help by the Numbers
Spirit Of Wellness - Supporting Education
San Pedro and Olón Early Childhood Learning Centers
Spirit of Wellness facilitated crucial infrastructure enhancements at two early learning childcare centers, benefiting over 80 children and educators. These updates encompassed a comprehensive range of essentials, from installing fans, chairs, and tables to refurbishing roofs, bathrooms, and exterior paint, alongside revitalizing grass play areas. The transformative impact of these improvements extends far beyond physical spaces, fostering conducive environments for optimal growth and learning experiences for our youngest community members.
Olón Elementary Children
Due to a special donor, annual school supplies for every elementary-age child enrolled in the Foodbank program received all the required school supplies for the past two years. This initiative ensures that 35 children, whose families may not have the resources otherwise, have the necessary tools to participate in vital education.
Olón High School
Essential equipment was donated to two distinct vocational programs at our local high school: the hospitality program and the computer science program. Your contributions will directly impact youth learners acrosacross our community, empowering them with the tools and resources necessary to thrive in these crucial fields.
Why We Help
Coastal Ecuadorians do not have any modern industries or access to an advanced educational system.
Only 40% attend high school and a mere 9% benefit from higher education.
They lack basic resources to facilitate either earning 21st century wages or learning 21st century skills.
Only 5% of homes have internet access.
The Ecuadorians desperately desire financial security but not at the expense of their environment.
Tourism is the main economy, but even so, the global brands and resort hotels are kept away to preserve the local way of life.
This means that many who work in the tourism industry are paid very little, often barely enough to feed themselves and never enough to support a family.
English Lessons
When small business owners expressed a need to learn English skills to better serve their English speaking customers who are a source of high revenue, Spirit of Wellness created free private and group lessons with content tailored to the specific business needs of the community's existing entrprenuers.
Library Support
Spirit of Wellness partnered with the Punto Verde Cultural Center as they transformed a vacant building into a vibrant library and community center hosting after-school classes, adult enrichment courses, cultural events and more.
Vocational Supplies
Spirit of Wellness supplied equipment to the Olón High School culinary arts and hospitality training programs ensuring the vocational students are able to successfully complete the practical part of their education.
Intern Program
The Community Development Intern Program is training the future leaders of the community the skills required to develop their own community enrichment programs.
Homework Center
The Spirit of Wellness office, equipped with high speed internet, is provided as a safe learning space where children whose families are enrolled in the foodbank are able to complete assignments and receive aid from adult monitors.
School Supplies
Why do we provide backpacks filled with supplies?
Ensuring our children receive an education takes a village.
A LETTER FROM OUR VOLUNTEER CARRIE WHO EXPLAINS THE NEED TO HELP THE STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY:
"Ecuador has “free” education but that doesn’t mean that education is without cost. It means that every child is allowed to walk through the hallowed doors of learning. In other words, when the doors are open, any child may enter the school. However, in order to participate in class or be permitted to take a test, there are financial costs involved.
So, I’ve asked myself, “what does a child need to actually participate in school?”
The answer:
Each child (parents) must provide their own school supplies based on a list provided by the school. To purchase all items on the list, it requires an average of $40.00 to $50.00.
In addition, each child must have two complete sets of uniforms along with two pairs of shoes. The black shoes alone cost $24.00. The total school expense for each child often exceeds $100.00, an amount unattainable for families where the average weekly unskilled-labor wage is between $50.00 to $100.00.
So, what is the consequence?
The children do not attend school. They drop out before obtaining a high school diploma resulting in the denial of work opportunities and even a driver’s license.
The cycle of poverty continues into the next generation.
Last year, Spirit of Wellness received a generous one-time donation of approximately 30 back-to-school packs that included back-packs and all the requested school supplies. This enabled each child whose family was enrolled in the Foodbank to receive the necessary items to attend school. In addition, knowing the need and the importance of ensuring as many children as possible returned to in-school learning after the pandemic closure, the same generous donor provided funds to purchase both pairs of school shoes for every child.
This year, we are so grateful that the same generous donor has provided book bags for each child.
Hard work is required by all who attend school, even those with comfortable homes and reliable transportation. Imagine how substantially more difficult school would be with no running water, no table or desk at which to perform homework or even the shoes needed to walk to school.
Many of our children live in such conditions. Running water is not present in many homes. Most do not have space to perform home work. And, due to the absence of school buses, all either walk to the local school or take public transportation.
THROUGH SPIRIT OF WELLNESS,
WE ARE ENSURING HOPE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
ONE ACT AT A TIME.
Wellington studies during daylight at a wooden crate/desk in his family's one-room home.
