Help Feed Hundreds of Hungry People

Summary

According to the World Food Program, two million Ecuadorians currently suffer from severe hunger. This crisis is exacerbated by national strikes, increasing cartel violence, and ongoing economic instability. Those at the lowest levels of the socio-economic spectrum have the fewest resources and experience the greatest hardship.

 By addressing food insecurity, The Cuenca Foundation (TCF) strengthens access to health, education, and opportunities for more stable and productive futures.

 Challenge

 Food insecurity places an overwhelming burden on families. As resources are consumed by the daily struggle to obtain food, education and healthcare are often neglected. This perpetuates a cycle of poverty and hunger that can persist for generations.

 Solution

 Each applicant is carefully screened and monitored by a social worker to ensure that limited resources are used effectively.

 1. Food Security:

  Through partnerships with monthly donors, TCF provides food kits to vulnerable families, reducing hunger, improving health, and allowing families to focus on long-term stability.

 2. Education:

 All children served by TCF are required to attend school. TCF provides school supplies and offers free English instruction through the EmpowerEd program, conducted in collaboration with the City of Cuenca and Dr. Sonya Groves. English proficiency is essential for admission to free public universities and

 significantly enhances employability in Cuenca’s growing tourism sector.

 3. Health and Hygiene:

 In partnership with Dr. Maite Depreeuw, TCF conducts physician-led workshops on hygiene and sexual education for mothers and daughters. These sessions provide vital reproductive health information and often help identify and support victims of abuse. Participants receive reusable, eco-friendly feminine hygiene kits.

 Additional workshops on newborn and early childhood care distribute reusable diaper kits, reducing household expenses for vulnerable families. A new dental health initiative, developed with Dr. Grace Ordoñez, provides dental care to children who have never before seen a dentist.

 As beneficiary families achieve stability, they are transitioned out of the program, making space for new families from TCF’s extensive waiting list.

 Long-Term Impact

 Reducing food insecurity leads to lasting improvements in health, particularly through the reduction of child malnutrition. As families gain stability, they can prioritize education and employment, breaking the cycle of poverty.

The long-term results are evident: several former TCF students are now pursuing higher education. Two recent graduates, María and Rosa (names changed for privacy), are currently enrolled in university programs. María is pursuing a degree in nutrition and Rosa is studying education. Both opportunities were made possible by the educational and nutritional support they received through TCF. Their success demonstrates how targeted, sustained intervention can transform individual lives and contribute to the overall well-being and economic resilience of the community

Summary
Two million Ecuadorians suffer from severe hunger according to the World Food Program. Food
insecurity in Cuenca, Ecuador also impacts education, employment, and hygiene. The people at
the bottom of the socio-economic ladder have the fewest resources and suffer the most from
these far reaching impacts.
By addressing food insecurity, The Cuenca foundation (TCF) provides greater access to health,
education, and more productive futures. Providing food security is a challenge given the
ongoing threat of drought, the negative impact of drug cartels, as well as the residual effects of
the pandemic and nationwide strikes.
Challenge
Food insecurity creates an often insurmountable burden for families. In addition, as a family's
resources are dedicated to the daily search for food, education and health often suffer, thereby
creating a cycle of poverty and food insecurity for generations to come.
Solution
Each applicant is screened and monitored by a social worker in order to focus and make the
most of limited resources.
First, by providing food kits the Cuenca Foundation decreases food insecurity, improves health,
and gives families the time, energy, and ability to improve their futures.
Second, all children served by TCF must attend school. TCF provides school supplies for all
children. The TCF EmpowerEd program provides free English language instruction to students
who have demonstrated an interest in and commitment to this program. All instructors have
been specially trained in teaching English as a second language. English is required in order for
students to access free higher education. It also significantly increases their ability to be hired in
an ever more touristic city.
Third, TCF supports hygiene and sexual education through physician-led educational
workshops which address reproductive information for mothers and daughters, a format that
often uncovers and subsequently provides support for victims of sexual abuse. All attendees are
given reusable, eco-friendly feminine hygiene kits. A separate series of physician-led workshops
address newborn and early childhood care. Each participant receives a reusable, eco-friendly
diaper kit which eliminates the cost of diapers for these economically vulnerable families.
As beneficiaries reach stability they are transitioned out of the program and families from the
extensive waiting list are brought in.

Long-Term Impact
Reducing food insecurity positively impacts health both in the short and in the long term by
diminishing child malnutrition. It also provides opportunity for a better future as families can
focus on education, increasing employment opportunities, and earning