ESMERALDAS YOUTH PROJECT: FUNDACION DE PROGRESO SOCIAL MANOS UNIDAS
REQUEST: US$985.83

The Fundacion de Progreso Social Manos Unidas requests from the Friends of Ecuador membership and other supporters funds for the US$985.83 budget for two upcoming workshops on handicrafts and light industrial arts (artisan and welding skills) in the coastal town of Esmeraldas. Manos Unidas is a small group of community activists who have lived and worked in the slums of urban Esmeraldas since 1994. The population of the Province of Esmeraldas is among the poorest in Ecuador and the most neglected by the national government. Because of the difficult conditions and lack of employment, more people migrate into the city. Today, the population of Esmeraldas is estimated to be 140,000 inhabitants and growing. Few people have a steady income and most jobs are short-term contracts at the local oil refinery, fishing, construction, or informal vendors. Education and health facilities are not adequate. As a result, poverty has increased, health conditions have worsened, the slums have spread, and crime, violence, drugs and gangs are on the rise among youth.

The Fundacion de Progeso Social Manos Unidas was founded to combat the challenges that youth face growing up and living in marginalized barrios of Esmeraldas. All of the Manos Unidas projects, programs, and activities strive to create long-term solutions in order to satisfy the basic needs of at risk youth and families, increase their standard of living, and help them achieve economic independence. They see unemployment as one of the largest contributors to social problems such as lack of access quality education, teenage pregnancy, the spread of HIV/AIDS, poor nutrition, low self esteem, violence, drugs, and numerous other problems plaguing Esmeraldas today. After years of work in the social sector, the foundation has come to the realization that productivity is a key aspect to development; and Manos Unidas is now developing an alternative for the youth of Esmeraldas creating a venue to educate them socially and economically.

Manos Unidas describes their work this way:

We are currently running two training talleres, amongst other programs, in our barrio, Bella Vista Norte, with youth from the most marginalized barrios in the city. We have also branched out with other projects to the entire province, but currently need funding to keep these inner city projects running effectively. We have just completed our second training course in our welding workshop and have completed several in our artisan workshop. In the next week we will be starting another training workshop for our artisans that will train roughly ten youth in the period of about two months. We will also be starting another welding workshop in January and there we plan to train about five more youth.

The aim of these projects realistically addresses the basic needs of our community's youth, and equips them with skills that enable them to earn money, secure jobs, and learn how to manage their lives healthily and successfully. We manage to employ the most dedicated youth in both of our workshops and provide charlas on small business, values, and general health knowledge (AIDS, drugs, alcoholism, etc.). Many of these jovenes have not been financially able to finish school, some can not read, and, certainly, many can not use a computer. Our organization is a classic example of grassroots development as we are supporting the very barrios we live in without any romanticized ideas ...