Rebuilding the Future In Coastal Ecuador

On April 16, 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake racked the northern coast of Ecuador. There were over 650 deaths and over 7,000 houses plus many other buildings and infrastructure destroyed. The Yachana Foundation sees this as an opportunity to provide some solutions that will have a long-term effect.  The Foundation will provide training for young people 18 years and older from the affected region. Initially the focus will be on construction techniques that they can apply when they return home. In the small village of Coaque 90% of the houses were destroyed or damaged. The mayor of this village is very supportive of the Yachana program and has over 100 youth anxious to take part. These young people are grasping for a feeling of hope and desire a chance to reverse the devastation that they confront every day.

In the city of Bahia de Caraques, virtually everybody is out of work. Without the necessary skills to help with rebuilding the community, there are few opportunities for work. The owner of a hotel that has been extensively damaged in the earthquake understands the need to give a helping hand to the young people. Learning a construction related skill gives them more control over their lives and enables them to help their families in the reconstruction process. The owner is supporting Yachana’s effort by helping to identify and screen young people in his area who are good candidates to participate in our project. He is even willing to provide a bus to transport the participants from his town to Yachana so that they can complete the training program.

The courses for this project are designed to be 80% in practical applications and only 20% in theory. Yachana Foundation has developed courses based on the philosophy of Teach a Man to Fish - a hands-on approach that emphasizes learning-by-doing methodology. The first course is in masonry, an area with a tremendous immediate need. Yachana has also been asked to provide another course in bamboo construction since it is more earthquake resistant and may be a good alternative to reconstruction of homes and buildings. The National Organization of Tradesman certifies the courses being taught at Yachana. Completing a certified course provides credibility to the youths’ skills when they return to their villages.

On May 11, 2016, GlobalGiving granted $15,000 to Yachana Foundation to jump-start this project. This support is wonderful and much needed to assure that the training can start in early July. We will keep all of our supporters informed as the program advances and will send periodic reports of the training and share the thoughts and appreciation of the students in the course.