World Vision brings love and development to children

Three years ago, things were different in nine-year-old Cynthia’s community. Parents didn’t know the importance of sending their children to school. Child abuse was common. There were few basic services.

“Parents used to maltreat their children; children were not understood by their parents. Nutrition was poor and parents were feeding their children with what they could,” says Cynthia’s mother Celia.

With World Vision’s support, this community, a marginal urban area in Esmeraldas province at the North Coast of Ecuador, has been transformed. World Vision sponsorship has impacted the development and safety of children in this community.

Cynthia always has sponsorship on her mind and quickly recites her sponsorship number. She takes out her sponsorship card from her backpack and shows it with a big smile on her face. “I like language classes and I want to continue studying to be a teacher,” she says.

At the school, children now have tutoring classes. Selena, Cynthia’s older sister, attends these after-school sessions. “I've learned how to divide thanks to the tutoring that World Vision gives at my school,” says Selena, who is in Grade 6. “They have given us books and snacks, it has been very helpful.”

Parents have been involved in workshops where they learned how to raise their children with love and respect. Parents have also learned about nutrition and health that help to prevent illnesses at home.

The girls’ mom, Celia, has also received support from World Vision as a health volunteer and now is a community leader. “Now that World Vision is here, the parents, I include myself, have changed the way of thinking. I used to maltreat my children and I did not understand them, now I can talk with them.”

Celia often attends various World Vision training sessions. “At the workshops I receive guidelines on how to feed my family well. They teach us how to make delicious and nutritious recipes for our family. We also receive support to vaccinate our children.

“World Vision has encouraged us and our children to love our culture and art. Children also receive academic support and that is a benefit for all the children in the community. On the other hand, children know their rights and obligations which is interesting and they also challenges us to be better parents every day.”