Hope At The Fringes: Ecuador ’09
Many of the people in Ecuador live life on the razor’s edge – all the time! Their nights are frequently interrupted by the blast of guns, barking dogs or blaring music … their streets are often little more than rivers of mud … few are employed, gangs roam freely, and the pressure of poverty is immense and unrelenting. We recently took a team of people to two different communities in Ecuador – a beach camp in Playas and a jungle village on the Onzole River – to serve alongside the locals and to bring hope to those on the fringes of society.
In recent years many from Canada have participated alongside our Ecuadorian friends to accomplish a significant feat in the remote town of Playas: over the space of just a few years, a wonderful camp facility has risen from the scrub and sands that border the Pacific Ocean. The camp’s mission is to provide a place for children, youth and families, most of whom live their lives in harsh and dangerous conditions, to get away for times of refreshment, restoration, and discovery. In the middle of February, our team arrived in Playas and spent several days working alongside emerging Ecuadorian leaders as they prepa red for camp. When the campers arrived later that week, we completely embedded ourselves in the daily activities of the camp program, working with Ecuadorian volunteers and joining together with the Ecuadorian youth in every way possible. It never ceases to astound us how, across the chasm of culture, economics, and language, the bridges of deep friendship invariably form – and we’re happy to say that this week was no exception.
The second half of our team spent the same 10 days in a small, vibrant community with a unique history. Years ago, a small group of Africans destined for a lifetime of slavery made a desperate flight for freedom. After their escape, they traversed the perils of the Columbian jungles and settled in small villages along the shores of the swiftly flowing Onzole River. Thoroughly traumatised, they attempted in every way possible to protect themselves from the perils of the world outside. Only a few years ago, with their health at risk, did they reconnect with the outside world. This trip was a unique opportunity to venture into a world on the edge. We were invited to live in their community and to invest in their children – their hope for the future – by working alongside the locals to construct and restore a dilapidated school building. We engaged in painting, parging, foundation repair, and classroom carpentry … and somehow managed to find time to spend time with the local kids and introduce everyone to one of our favourite national pastimes – ball hockey. The Onzole community welcomed a second LCA team a week later, continuing the work begun by the first group of volunteers and taking on the ambitious project of giving the school a new roof.
LCA is committed to helping Ecuadorians bring about positive, sustainable change in their communities … and we want you to join us! Contact us today to get involved or for further information on the next trips we’re planning.