PROJECT FOCUS (2005 to date)

Help-for-Hope has invested in four projects so far, focusing on Ecuador, in the areas of:
   1) Health (5 projects)
   2) Education (2 projects)

NEW PROJECTS (2009): click here

1) Hospital "Un Canto A La Vida"

Help-for-Hope has chosen to support the construction of a much needed, state-of-the-art health facility in Quito South, one of the poorest areas of Ecuador's capital. The hospital's construction is the fruit of a private initiative, led by Padre Carollo. The hospital will be the new center-piece of the public health service aiming at Quito South's total population of over 1 million people. For more info on the hospital, please click here to visit its website.

Help-for-Hope has engaged in the financing of three construction projects:
     2005: the hospital's main surgery room (read more...)
     2006: the hospital's pediatric consultation area (read more...)
     2007: the hospital's early oncology diagnosis (read more...)
     2008: the hospital's Neurol. Therapy Unit and Center for Disabled Children (read more...)

2a) Highschool formation of top students

Target students are children from poor neighbourhoods in Quito, Ecuador, who will have achieved excellent grades throughout primary education (top 1-2 percentile of their class), and who wish to pursue higher education. These students are met personally and screened for motivation and potential by members of Help-for-Hope. We will pay school tuitions for private or semi-private higher education of selected students, on condition that academic results continue to be superior (first quartile of student body).

The objective of Help-for-Hope is to offer a platform for academically brilliant students with very limited financial abilities to become future leaders in Ecuador's civil society, and act as key agents for a better home country. Currently, Christian Leonardo Toapanta Cantuña, student of age 14 years and residing in Quito, benefits from this program (read more...).

2b) Special education of children with mental and/or physical disabilities

Equally, Help-for-Hope is engaging in providing selected children affected by mental and/or physical disabilities with the prospect of an autonomous and prosperous future, especially where these children can become champions for other children and adults.

The story of Ana Francisca Gualan (Anita), now 10 years old and the last of 7 children, is an inspiration (click here to read more). Anita was born with Down Syndrome, in Quito Ecuador, and has not received adequate attention so far. Like her siblings, she comes from a very difficult background. And like her siblings, she is very bright.

The choice of supporting Anita Gualan is based on the inspirational value and signalling effect that the Gualan siblings can have on other children from distressed backgrounds. They incorporate the slogan "sì se puede", or "yes you can", so popular in Ecuador.

Anita will be attending "FRUTOS", a school in Quito specialized in children with Down Syndrome. There, she will receive special education, physical therapy, language therapy, psychorehabilitation, ludotherapy workshops, music therapy, children yoga, hyppotherapy and swimming. Very special appreciation goes to the generous couple who has graciously pledged to sponsor Anita's education. THANK YOU!!