Thank you for thinking of the Ecuador orphans.

This site is set up to help connect the orphan children of Ecuador to you, the people who have a heart to help them, and to help you the adult understand what is really needed for these children thus making a real difference in their lives.

Important Note:

I am NOT about to tell you just bad stuff, and the stuff that does sound bad is not to make you feel guilty. I am NOT going to tell you that for the price of one cup of coffee you can help a child, and then the child gets nothing. Please understand, we can prove to you that this is NOT the same thing you have seen and heard before. This is a real attempt to be a real solution to a real problem that can truly help real orphan children in all areas of their life.

A little history…

There are many orphans in Ecuador who are never adopted; thus, for many of these children there are very few options and very little hope for a normal life once put into the orphanage. Orphanages in Ecuador normally get set up by non-profit and/or church organizations, and most of the time these organizations supply housing, food, and clothes for the children. This is a great starting point but many people are under the impression the job is over because the child is "alive and safe". It is not over. It is only the beginning if you and I want to help the children grow into productive, functional adults.

One of the biggest needs there is in any orphanage is adult men and women that can spend significant time with the children on an extended basis. The time that needs to be spent with a child is not measured in weeks or months, but by how many days an adult can continue to be a part of the life of a child over a long period of time. Ideally, a long period of time would be measured in years, not months. In reality, most orphanages depend to a significant extent on volunteer assistance, and it is rare that any volunteer program can make a commitment for this period of time. I am not saying to the people who do give their time to not give their time.

The best solution would be adoption but, as mentioned earlier, many of the orphans grow from childhood to adulthood without ever having been adopted . However, there are still some major building blocks that are missing in their lives that would help them to develop and grow into more normal and functioning adults. Some of these things are simple for us to give but are very valuable to the children who receive them. Thus a little effort and a moment of time would make a huge difference in their entire lives. Most of the orphaned children in Ecuador rarely leave the orphanage where they have lived their whole lives.

They have minimal interaction with others outside the orphanage and this lack of interaction with people and experiences outside the orphanage leaves them at a disadvantage in terms of social skills and intellectual development. While there are staff and volunteers who see to the feeding and clothing of the children, because the children do not leave the orphanage, they do not have the experiences to help them fully develop the skills they will need in the adult world. The orphanages do not have any means to take the children anywhere.

Orphanage resources are very limited so anything more than a trip for medical attention, such as educational or social events, are considered non-essential, and put to the bottom of the list of needs. However, educational and social events are some of the building blocks for normal development in a child's life and are very important and essential for the child to become a productive adult. Offers have been made to the orphanages for the children to go to a variety of stimulating sites and activities with free admission such as the zoo, the cinema, children's plays and concerts, etc. but there is no available way for transporting the children to and from each event. They need a van or bus.

Now for the good news! "Project Van"

"Project Van" is a project set up to buy a van by the end of Jan. 2009 for the orphan children of Cuenca, Ecuador. This is a unique opportunity because 100% of the money you give will go directly to "Project Van" for the orphan kids with absolutely no administration or any other fees.

The reason 100% of your money can go for this project is because I am using my own money for all web sites, web hosting, administration costs, the first year of insurance, license plate, etc., plus I am contributing the first $2000.00 to "Project Van". The reason I am doing this is to help the children and to let you know I am serious about getting some real help from some of you.

Again, the van is a very practical thing to do because it can be used for a real need that these children have right now. The van will only be used to transport the children from the orphanages to field trip type outings, like going to the zoo, parks, and other places that benefit the kids directly in their social skills. This van will be available to different orphanages in Cuenca, Ecuador as long as a licensed driver who meets the requirements of our insurance policy is available and they agree to use the van only for transporting the children to social events.

"Project Van" is not a particularly big project because there are not many people who will get the opportunity to participate. This is a brand new web site and we are not advertising. You are being contacted by me or someone that I have contacted to hear about this site. If we get 28 people to give $1000.00, it is done. I already put in the first $2000.00!

If you absolutely can not give $1000.00 because you don't have it, then do what you can but please consider it if you do have it. I am asking you for this money for the kids. I am not getting anything from it and it is the reason I can ask so vehemently!!!

So, if you are interested in making a huge difference in the entire lives of many orphaned kids, then please contact us for more details.