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In the middle of the world

I traveled to Ecuador to document the activities of two Italian NGOs. During my trip, I also explored the city and visited several volcanoes, including Quilotoa, Cotopaxi, and the famous Otavalo market.

My journey began in Esmeraldas, a city of 270,000 people primarily dependent on oil refineries for its economy. Unfortunately, the available jobs are insufficient to meet the needs of everyone, forcing many residents to migrate in search of work. This situation has resulted in family separations.

In the "Barrio Nueva Esperanza," located in the Parish of Santa Marianita, the community has faced significant hardships. This area was once destitute, abandoned, and dangerous, with many houses in dire condition or built on stilts, often housing multiple families. The neighborhood had a reputation for violence, with many young people resorting to theft and even murder. The streets were muddy, foul-smelling, and prone to flooding from the Esmeraldas River. As a result, residents suffered from various diseases, including malaria, asthma, and fevers.

Over the years, both civil and military authorities have made commendable efforts to improve the living conditions by implementing sewage systems and paving roads. Today, Barrio Nueva Esperanza is a more orderly and cleaner community. Here, the missionaries of Cottolengo, an NGO founded in Turin, Italy, provide charitable services to the Ecuadorian people. They run a school, a college, a medical clinic, and a nursing home for the mentally ill. Unfortunately, the college and the nursing home sustained significant damage during the earthquake that struck the country on April 16, 2016.

Before heading to my next destination, I took the opportunity to explore more of the country, with its stunning seas, volcanoes, and vibrant markets.

My second leg of the journey took me to the Chimborazo Province, about an hour from the capital, Riobamba. There, I met Michele, an Italian who founded the NGO Ayuda Directa, which supports the Esperanza community, home to around 200 residents who rely mainly on subsistence farming.

With the assistance of a retired veterinarian, Michele has developed a project aimed at improving the community's quality of life. This initiative includes the construction of an aqueduct to provide clean water to nearby houses and the establishment of a cheese factory to produce mozzarella for a pizzeria in the capital, generating income for the residents. Esperanza is situated at an altitude of 3,800 meters above sea level, and under these conditions, the cows only produce 2 to 3 liters of milk per day. The veterinarian's goal is to teach the community the proper way to feed their livestock, potentially increasing milk production to 8 liters per day.

 

The school in the community is staffed by volunteer teachers from Riobamba, further supporting the development of this resilient community.

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