Partner in Ecuador
Ecuador, with a population of around 17 million, is one of the poorest countries in South America and has a per capita GDP of $6,345.
The country may be the world’s leading exporter of bananas and a major producer of cut flowers, but its resources come mainly from oil, of which 60% of the production is exported.
These serious economic problems have been compounded by a major earthquake in 2016 and the coronavirus pandemic. Ecuador is the fourth most affected country in South America (after Peru, Brazil and Bolivia), with a high death toll and overwhelmed hospitals.
Here is the timeline of our substantial aid to Ecuadorians.
RENOVATION OF THE FIRST FUNDACION JONATHAN DROP-IN CENTRE IN QUITO
At the beginning of April 2016, Christian Raymond and Monique Pauly went on an assessment mission to Ecuador where they met many local NGOs, including that of Catalina Avilez, founder of Fundación Jonathan, named after her son who had been kidnapped and killed twelve years earlier. Her immense grief gave her the energy to help the less fortunate. In a district of the Ecuadorian capital Fundación Jonathan now provides hot meals, clothing, medical and dental care to 600 poor children and adults, many of whom are sick.
Following the earthquake of 2016, the building was badly damaged and Partenaires Solidaires funded its refurbishment and modernisation
Project cost: 20,000 $
Financing:
PARTENAIRES Solidaires 20 000,00 €
PURCHASE OF A SECOND BUILDING
In 2018, we returned to Quito to see the result of the renovation work. The drop-in centre was up and running again at full capacity, catering for the 600 vulnerable people as well as some Venezuelan refugees. This was possible thanks to the tireless energy of Catalina and the 25 volunteers who organize the collective meals with the help of local food suppliers and donors.
In order to enlarge the premises of Fundación Jonathan, we were able to acquire a neighboring house so that meals could be served in a proper refectory on the ground floor (instead of setting up tents when it rained) as well as rooms for workshops and for therapeutic care.
Project cost:
120,000 $
Financing:
PARTNERS Associaiton: 50,000 $ (43 000 €)
Foundation Jonathan: 70,000 $ (bank loan)
SUPPORT DURING THE PANDEMIC
In April 2020, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the strict lockdown in Ecuador deprived Fundación Jonathan of much of the food supplied by local shops and the drop-in center had to close, causing serious problems for the beneficiaries, who were without their regular hot meals.
In their dilapidated homes, they did not have the necessary equipment to cook their food. In order to remedy this difficult situation, PARTENAIRES provided 200 stoves and gas cylinders to the poorest people so that they could prepare the food that was delivered to their homes by volunteers.
Project cost:
PARTNERS Association: 10,000 $
RENOVATION OF THE SECOND BUILDING
At the end of 2020, Catalina asked us to contribute to the renovation work in the second house: repairing the roofs (tiling), fitting out of a cold room to store food and the dining room, painting and laying floor tiles, asphalt roofing of the outdoor area.
Project cost:
40,800 $
Financing:
PARTNERS Associaiton: 40,88 $ (34 000 €)
Inauguration of the second home>
A TRUCK FOR THE JONATHAN FOUNDATION
Partenaires, helped in part by a generous donation from Jérémy, the Association’s treasurer, paid half of the cost of this beautiful red van to the Jonathan Foundation in Ecuador.
This vehicle will help collect food donated by shopkeepers to feed the many beneficiaries of the Quito shelter every day.
