Education Equals Hope: Tracey’s Travelogue for Good Company Part 3

A Travelogue by Tracey Beeker – PART 3

Earlier this year, Good Company had the good fortune to begin working with Education Equals Hope, a nonprofit organization whose mission and passion is to promote education for children in desperate and difficult places.  Our charter is to help E=H develop a strategic vision that raises awareness and financial support for the organization.  Because cause immersion is a very effective way to inspire nonprofit brand strategy one of our associates, Tracey Beeker traveled to Quito, Ecuador to witness first-hand the inspirational work achieved by the organization. The following is the third excerpt of a four-part travelogue series describing her experience, and the work done by Education Equals Hope and its community partners:

May 16, 2011:  Carmen Bajo and Casa Gabrielle

Today we are traveling to Carmen Bajo, one of the larger missionary sites of our tour. There are more than 170 preschool and kindergarten students who attend school at the site of which some are sponsored by Education Equals Hope.

My first impression is that the children are thriving despite the odds against them. There are milestones the children need to achieve to qualify for an Education Equals Hope sponsorship such as daily attendance, a “C” or above to pass and participation in various activities. They are taught reading, writing, math and science but they are also educated in everyday life experiences such as brushing teeth and personal hygiene. In addition to children, there are adult education classes available at the site as well. For example, the kitchen workers are taught lessons on food and nutrition that immediately translate to the children.

There are plans to expand the facilities at Carmen Bajo. They hope to enhance the church, open a community clinic, expand adult education classes and offer a more sophisticated computer lab for the children. There isn’t any money to complete the expansion however everyone is hopeful there will be benefactors to help with the undertaking. As I leave Carmen Baja, I am so glad to be on this trip to witness first-hand the importance of education at all levels in Ecuador.

This afternoon we travel to Casa Gabrielle, a home for street kids (primarily boys) who are given an opportunity to better their lives through education and spiritual teaching. We are greeted by Phil Douce who presides over the home and whose passion and commitment is contagious. The goal is to work with a few to impact many. There are eight boys who live at Casa Gabrielle daily and two additional boys are welcomed on the weekends. We had an opportunity to meet them. They are typical teens – they like music, joke around, play soccer and rely on each other to meet the strict codes and guidelines of the home. One teen in particular reached out to us, Juan Miguel, who played his guitar and sang a song of redemption and God’s love. Juan Miguel has excelled so much; he was invited as a youth leader to Chicago last year to help work with Hispanic children. I was very much impacted by his story – it is a great example of the power of the work being achieved in Ecuador.

We conclude our day’s journey at the Alliance Academy, a private, co-educational school located in Quito.  It was founded in 1929 to provide an extensive U.S. curriculum for the children of evangelical missionaries. The school is in unlike the other sites we’ve visited today. Children are clean. The grounds are immaculate. Everyone looks healthy and well adjusted. There’s even a coffee bar and pool table on property! It’s a beautiful facility and serves a great purpose.

The vision team has been invited to the home of Laura and Jorge Estevez. Laura’s been with us the entire trip and their condo is lovely. Such modernity among Quito’s history! They prepare a wonderful meal of braised pork and rice. The flavors are again wonderful and visiting together is the perfect way to unwind after a long day of travel. I’ve been impressed with the intelligence, passion and dedication of each of today’s educational sites.

May 17, 2011:  Argelia Alta

Today we travel to Argelia to visit another missionary site that Education Equals Hope spports. Immediately upon our arrival, we are greeted by children singing “good morning,” “good morning!” What a fabulous way to start the day! The missionary site goes from preschool to grade 10. There are plans to expand to through grade 12 in the coming years. Most of the students at Argelia are beneficiaries of Education Equals Hope sponsorship dollars.

Much like Carmen Bajo and Casa Gabrielle, there is a great level of sophistication to the vision and quality of education at Argelia.  The Pastor of the missionary site is well educated and has been fortunate to secure funding from both public and private entities. There is still much needed however.

We tour each grade level and speak with the athletic coaches for both preschool and upper school. From what I can gather, the classroom sizes are smaller and the teachers are able to provide excellent personal instruction. Again, I’m impressed with the intelligent approach to education and the dedication of the teachers.

As with most educational sites, we tour an accompanying church. It’s beautiful. There is a vibrant mural on the wall that shows hands lifted to the sky. It’s almost a symbol of our entire journey as we welcome and take in the splendors of the country, city, countryside and communities. For me personally, it’s inspiring.

Tonight we are invited to the home of a friend of Cameron and Chip. Our destination is up in the hills of Quito. Our hosts are incredible gracious. For some of us, the trip has been hard on our stomachs and it’s hard to resist the fare created for the vision team! (Now you understand the lack of food covered in the last day or two.) I am able to eat most of the food which consists of pork chops, a rice side dish, tangy vegetable salad, a fish casserole with cheese and broccoli and a few other items. The food is much like the country itself – spicy and flavorful yet rich and simple.