Help Feed Hundreds of Hungry People

Summary:
Join the Cuenca Soup Kitchen and change the future of thousands of food insecure children
and adults in Cuenca, Ecuador. Two million Ecuadorians suffer from severe hunger according to
the World Food Program. The Cuenca Soup Kitchen is committed to providing food and other
assistance to these families. By doing so, CSK provides greater access to health, education,
and hope. Food is the key to unlocking brighter futures
Challenge:
Aside from hunger, living hand to mouth has social and economic impacts. It leads to poorer
education and decreased earning power. Women, infants, children, and adolescents are at
particular risk. At 27%, Ecuador has the second-highest rate of chronic child malnutrition in Latin
America and the Caribbean (World Food Program). Hunger, unemployment, teen pregnancy,
and lack of education are the problems that most commonly impact this population. CSK
volunteers and donors have spent over six years dedicated to serving people with food
insecurity in Cuenca, Ecuador. With hundreds of people relying on us for food kits and other
assistance each month and with hundreds more on our waiting list, we're facing increased
demand for our services.
Solution:
CSK helps people break the cycle of poverty by addressing hunger first, empowering people to
improve their lives. CSK’s food kits provide nutritionally sound and culturally appropriate shelf-
stable foods rice, beans, grains, etc. as well as fresh produce and eggs.
Only 57% of primary-school-age children in Ecuador are enrolled in school which puts them at
risk of being exploited, getting married early, and earning less income (Starfish Foundation).
CSK is committed to changing that by ensuring that all children in our program are enrolled in
school and providing them with the school supplies they need for a better future.
Hygiene products are expensive and unobtainable by many. This means that disposable
diapers are often reused and during their cycles, girls and women will often use rags and
leaves. CSK teams with an Ecuadorian company that produces eco-friendly, reusable,
biodegradable diapers and sanitary napkins. The kits are distributed at physician-led workshops
which teach best practices for infant and female health. These workshops provide mothers and
daughters with accurate reproductive information and dispel old wives’ tales with the hope of
reducing the high rates of teen pregnancy as well as reducing time missed from school.
Long-term Impact:

Thousands of people have received nutritional assistance allowing them to focus on education
and a brighter future for their families. Their children have been provided with the tools they
need for school and all have been enrolled in public schools. Some have been able to finish
their university training and have joined the professional workforce. Others continue to work
towards financial security working to become teachers, doctors, comestologists, and more.
We want you to feel the gravity of our mission and the impact that your support will have. Every
tax deductible donation has the power to transform lives today and unlock brighter tomorrows!

Summary

Two million Ecuadorians suffer from severe hunger according to the
World Food Program. Food insecurity in Cuenca, Ecuador has been
impacted by the mass migration of Venezuelan refugees, COVID, a host
of natural disasters, and two national strikes. In addition, the United
Nations says that poverty is a root cause of the surging violence and
insecurity in Ecuador and the UN calls for an increased investment in
education, healthcare and social protection. By addressing food insecurity,
access to education, and hygiene, the Cuenca Soup Kitchen works to
provide access to a more productive future.

Challenge

Food insecurity creates an often insurmountable burden for
families. As a family's resources are dedicated to the daily search
for food, education and health often suffer, thereby creating a
cycle of poverty and food insecurity for generations to come. All of
this takes place against the backdrop of increasing violence.
Ecuador is now ranked as the least safe country in Latin America
(Gallup).

Solution
By providing food kits the Cuenca Soup Kitchen decreases food
insecurity, improves health, gives families the ability to improve
their futures, thereby reducing some of the problems fueling
increased violence in Ecuador. Each applicant is screened and
monitored by a social worker. All children are required to attend
school. As applicants reach stability they are transitioned out of

the program and families from our waiting list take their place.

Long-Term Impact

Reducing food insecurity positively impacts health both in the
short and in the long term. It decreases the child malnutrition rate
of 27%, the second highest rate in Latin America (World Food
Programme). It also provides an opportunity for a better future as
families can focus on education, increasing employment
opportunities, and earning ability. These are positive impacts for
families as well as for the community.