Ecuador: Sustainable help for indigenous people

Indigenous people account for 35 % of the Ecuadorian population. For 500 years, they have been socially, economically and politically discriminated and lived on the margins of society. The land they were entitled to brings only small yields. They are lacking jobs, health care, school education and above all the right to have a say.

The greatest rate of indigenous people live in the province of Chimborazo. This is also the part of Ecuador where the standard of living is smallest. Therefore, together with the Indian self-help organization Yachachic CARE helps more than 100 Indian communities in Chimborazo to improve their situation.

Wells, health centres and community halls are constructed in close co-operation with the peasant families. Furthermore, the project is focused on the promotion of saving groups, improvement of agriculture, sheep breeding or wool processing as well as training and further education in technical and social professions and skilled trades. In addition, kindergartens and schools are built in the villages in order to provide children a well-founded jump-start into life.

Since these projects require a high degree of personal participation, responsibility and training, people are committed and keep on working even after CARE has left. Hence CARE only provides a jump start and acts as a catalyst for a community process which creates self-confidence: The self-confidence to be able to successfully organize oneself in order to improve the own situation and actively implement one’s rights and needs. For a better and self-determined future.
Microcredits
10 Euro per month.
CARE needs financial support in order to provide indigenous people access to saving and credit groups. Read more