Less work and more education for children in Quito

Thank you again to you all for your continued support of ViaNinos and UBECI, especially at this most difficult of times for the working and street children of the markets of Southern Quito!

Unfortunately the global spread of the Corona pandemic didn’t stop at Ecuador’s doors. The country recorded its first case of Corona virus at the beginning of March. By mid-April Ecuador had become the South American country with the highest infection rate per capita.

The government reacted swiftly with very strict measures – closing schools, total curfew from 2pm to 6am, a complete stop to all but essential activity. In spite of the measures taken, the virus spread at lightning speed.

Whilst we welcome the introduction of ‘social distancing‘ measures, we can’t ignore the impact this is having on the poorest. Confined to small spaces and with hardly any money, it is extremely difficult for poor families to remain at home for long and simply accept the disappearance of what is a meagre income at the best of times, with children especially paying the consequences.

Our partner organisation UBECI writes:

“Many of the families and children we support are no longer allowed to work in the markets, as they are itinerant vendors (although they represent 40% of sellers at the markets). These street vendors earn $ 3-4 a day at the most in normal circumstances. They have now lost the little income they were earning”.

This unfortunately typifies the situation in Ecuador and globally: the poor are hit the hardest by measures taken against the virus, and are at the same time those that can do the least to mitigate the consequences of the epidemic. Unfortunately cases of domestic abuse against women and children have also increased significantly and worryingly since the lockdown started.

Although the Ecuadorian government is trying to offer some relief to poorer families, it has limited resources and can’t offer the sort of support developed countries have.

We can also assume that support for international aid and the willingness to donate to developing countries will suffer as a consequence of the global economic crisis.

Let’s hope that the strict measures taken in Ecuador will soon lead to a visible containment and reduction of the virus’ spread and alleviate suffering of street and working children and their families from both a health and economic point of view.

The outreach workers are continuing their work as best as they can helping the children and their families by telephone with emotional support, health and other advice, and with homework, and providing some food assistance where possible. Think of the challenges of online schooling for these children, whose parents are often illiterate and who at best may have a WhatsApp connection on a relatives’ phone.

It is vital to remain close to these families in this moment of need and assist the children to avoid them dropping out of school now or when the lockdown ends. 

We need to ensure that ViaNinos’ and UBECI’s success over the past years in

Reducing working hours amongst the children

• Growing school enrollment levels
• Providing medical care, getting parents involved in their children’s health
• Educating the children about their rights and how to exercise these

Is not lost, but continues over the phone now and in the market playgroups again later.

At this most difficult of times our partner organisations need our help more than ever and we would really welcome your support.

If you would like to continue supporting the project you may want to consider setting up a recurring donation. Even 5-10 pounds a month would make a difference!

I hope you are all well and are keeping safe in these challenging times.

Thank you.

The ViaNinos Team

2019 was another successful year for UBECI and their work to help working children access education and basic healthcare.

The number of children enrolled in UBECI’s market playgroups and workshops increased from 686 in 2018 to 770 in 2019.

To mention just a few of the achievements for the year…

• Opening of the UBECI Children’s Reception centre
• Further development of the curriculum of the market playgroups and workshops programmes with the support of educational psychologists
• In 100 workshops the children were taught the importance of creativity, values, organisation and discipline, cooperation, just to mention a few areas of focus…
• 8 workshops focussed on topics such as
  - encouraging parents to show affection towards their children to foster their confidence
  - the importance of ensuring their children don’t drop out of school and return to work losing
    their chance of receiving an education
• 8 campaigns benefitting the children, including
  - School bags (80) and Pencil case (156) campaign
  - Social-affective workshops
  - Dental prevention for 280 and Dental care for 22 children
  - Birthday campaign
  - Christmas present campaign (clothes and sweets)
• 1 more member of staff to provide greater support to the children

UBECI Reception Centre
In 2019 UBECI opened its first Reception Centre following an evaluation carried out in 2018 on future activities needed to consolidate and strengthen its programmes, which identified the need to establish a reception centre open and accessible to the children on all working days.

The Centre was opened to tend to children who are in the markets on a permanent basis, with the aim of reducing their working hours and increase their awareness of the importance of studying. 

Activities at the Centre are intended to improve the children’s quality of life through a focus on:

-       Logical thinking

-       Mathematical thinking

-       Writing

-       English

-       Music

-       Bodily expression

-       Plastic arts

-       Gender and prevention

25  children between the ages of 4 and 12 attend the Centre on a daily basis.

Homework help provided at the Centre is key to ensuring that the children remain in school, as most parents are illiterate and can’t help the children with school work. 

We’ll keep you posted on further progress…

Thank you again for your support… It allows ViaNinos and UBECI to continue with their valuable work in the markets of Southern Quito offering children a brighter future! Gracias!