Education

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. 

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.  

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. 

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.

The Community Development Intern Program run by Spirit of Wellness is training the future leaders of the community the skills required to develop their own community enrichment programs.

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.