Empowerment through Opportunity
REDI donations of food to families in need continued today with 50 households receiving support. The health impacts of COVID-19 have been minimal in southern Manabí province, but the economic impact is significant. We will continue to work to help those in need as they struggle through this difficult time.
We are continuing to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in coastal Ecuador. As weeks go by, the economic impact on rural villages increases. Families that rely on fishing and tourism to make a living no longer have an income. The stresses on the household are real as people struggle to put food on the table. We are working to alleviate some of the stress by providing food and necessary household items to the most vulnerable.
We have completed our second round of food donations. The first was April 16 and the most recent May 6. We increased our support from 40 families to 50 families as well as increasing the amount provided to each family. We are under no illusions that this is going to end shortly. This is a long-term initiative that we expect to last well into the upcoming months.
With your support we can continue to provide to families in need. Donations are tax-deductible and all funds go directly to supporting residents of rural Ecuador. Donations can be made on our “Contributions” page and will be processed through PayPal. Thank you for your support. We wish you health and happiness in this difficult time.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Ecuador more so than other South American country. The small nation of approximately 17 million residents has been most affected in the coastal city of Guayaquil. News coming out of Ecuador points to overstretched resources as resulting in a situation where the deceased are being left on the sidewalks outside of homes for days, and where a local packaging manufacture has moved production from boxes for exports like shrimp to bananas to producing cardboard coffins. The situation in Guayaquil is critical.
Cases of COVID-19 in Manabi province (a few hours up the coast from Guayaquil) are fewer, but the economic impact of the virus has been significant. Coastal Manabi is home to numerous small communities that rely on fishing and tourism and where most residents live day to day based on the income from these activities. Both have come to a halt.
REDI has responded in various ways. We are working closely with our local collaborators to provide food for families and individuals in need. While what we can provide is small, every bit helps. Most recently, we provided food to over 40 families. This will continue in the upcoming weeks and months as we identify individuals and families with the greatest need. We are also working to provide economic support for the household economy while simultaneously providing much needed masks to individuals. We are contracting local women to sew masks that will be donated to community residents. This provides a small amount of income to families while also getting masks out to those in need.
REDI needs your support at this time more than ever. You can donate via the link on our donations page. All donations are tax-deductible and 100 percent of funds will go to providing relief to rural residents in coastal Ecuador.
One of the main goals of REDI is to support rural education while providing support for local institutions. Most recently, we collaborated with InfoCentro Salango to provide learning kits for children who are engaging in additional learning activities during their scheduled break from classes. This break occurs in the spring and is akin to a “summer break” in the United States. InfoCentro provides a space for all community members to engage in learning activities and have access to computers and technology based resources. InfoCentro also serves as the location for educational programs during the time of student breaks from school. REDI is proud to support educational initiatives in coastal Ecuador.
As our support for rural communities has expanded, so has our ability to establish partnerships with numerous organizations in coastal Ecuador. In fact, establishing partnerships has allowed for us to extend our influence and to create more meaningful change. Our most recent collaborations include partnerships with InfoCentro Salango, CEDESA, and the Association of Peoples with Disabilities Salango. We also have a long history of partnering with community schools and associated parent-teacher organizations. Working with local organizations allows REDI to address relevant issues in the communities we serve while expanding our support to those in need.
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