Education Ecuador Project #58749

Prevents domestic violence of 200 women in Ecuador

by Fundacion de Desarrollo Integral Sembrar

Project Report | Feb 13, 2026
Sowing a Culture of Peace

By Meritrina Baute | Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator

Mother Reading Conflict Resolution Guide

Ecuador closed 2025 with 411 femicides—the highest number ever recorded in the country. Violence against women is not only continuing, it is worsening in a context marked by organized crime, widespread firearm use, and the absence of sustained preventive policies. In this challenging scenario, we began a new cycle accompanying 340 women, convinced that prevention starts at home.

Between October and January, we maintained 93% coverage in home visits, which remain essential spaces for listening, guiding, and responding early. We identified 8 cases of violence; 2 women began psychological treatment and 1 has an active protection order. Close, consistent support continues to be our first line of protection.

In December, we completed the Conflict Resolution module, addressing conflicts within couples, families, and neighborhoods. Mothers recognized that unresolved emotional conflicts influence how they relate to others, and they discovered that dialogue and agreements are possible paths forward. They proudly received their certificates—recognition of their commitment and a concrete step toward building a culture of peace.

In November, parenting specialist Nadya Sánchez led the workshop “Learning to Educate Our Children,” strengthening tools for respectful parenting in times of social tension.

Community life also played an important role. We helped organize the Pisulí neighborhood festivities, participated in the Encuentro Quito cultural event, and held celebrations for Quito’s festivities and Christmas, bringing together nearly 200 participants. These spaces strengthen bonds and remind us that peace is also built through shared celebration.

Our Christmas campaign allowed us to deliver nearly 400 food baskets to families in the program, and through our emergency fund we provided 9 additional food and medical support packages.

In the face of structural violence, we continue to invest in something both simple and profound: educating for dialogue, accompanying with closeness, and building community. Because a culture of peace is not just an idea—it is a daily practice that begins at home.

Thank you for standing with these women and their families. Your support makes it possible to turn fear into dialogue, isolation into community, and violence into hope.

Parents Watching the Nativity Play

Family Receiving Emergency Food Support

Home Visit with Mother and Daughter

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Oct 16, 2025
Encounters that transform

By Meritrina Baute | Meritrina Baute

Delivery of school kits for back-to-school season

This quarter marked the end of the academic year, a key moment to look back on what we have achieved together and what lies ahead.

Thanks to your support, more than 300 women and their families strengthened their bonds, regained their self-esteem, and took concrete steps to transform their reality. The training sessions have helped them recognize and value themselves as individuals and women, strengthen their self-esteem and decision-making skills, move beyond a vision focused solely on the home, and develop expectations. “I have valued myself, I have recognized myself, I have grown stronger in every way,” and learned from shared experiences.

The monthly visits continue to be one of the most valuable spaces. They allow us to listen closely, guide, and accompany them in difficult moments. During this time, we were able to identify nine victims of violence; four of them are now out of danger and three are receiving professional care.

We closed this cycle by sharing beautiful moments: meals, walks, and spaces to remind them that they are not alone.

And we started the new year with a bang. More than 300 people participated in a kick-off day to present the activities, and together with the Ecuadorian Red Cross, we provided medical care and school kits to 180 families.

This new cycle brings new challenges. The training will be organized into three modules: Conflict Resolution, Financial Education, and Parenting Skills. Upon completion of each module, mothers will receive a certificate recognizing their commitment, which may also open up new opportunities for them. In addition, we will continue to strengthen the culture of peace, which is so necessary in these times of conflict and growing violence in our communities. We will also promote activities where fathers can become more involved in order to strengthen family unity.

For many women, support has been the impetus for transforming their lives. Ismenia, 35, puts it this way: "I try to be more independent, to pursue dreams and goals. I decided to finish my studies for my children, to help them better. When you don't study, you feel incomplete." Ismenia began to show progress three years ago. She trained in organic gardening, learned to save money and manage household finances, and today she is working hard to acquire her own land. Her story reminds us that with support, perseverance, and hope, it is always possible to start over.

Integration activity (breakfast among parents)

Integration activity (trip to the forest)

Monthly home visit

Follow-up with a mother and her organic garden

Ismenia and her daughters

Links:

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Jun 18, 2025
STOP WALKING BLINDLY

By Meritrina Baute | Meritrina Baute

Training meeting for mothers

While in Ecuador the figures of gender violence reach alarming levels (a woman is murdered every 21 hours), with your support, we continue to promote the recovery of the value of the person and the construction of positive bonds in more than 300 families.

During this period, we continued the monthly formative meetings focused on affectivity, where mothers reflected on overprotection, true love, healthy couple relationships and dignity. We also strengthened integration spaces with shared meals and snacks, a bingo night, a trip to the Middle of the World, and a family day in honor of mothers, with more than 150 participants and the presence of the Italian Embassy in a friendly soccer match, games and cultural events. These activities allow many women to get out of the house, get to know new places, share with other women and establish a support network.

Thanks to donations and the joint work with allies, we delivered more than 60 material supports in food. In addition, together with the firm “Puente & Asociados”, we conducted a workshop on alimony, land deeds and economics, which helped many women to know their rights and protect their families.

The home visits are experienced by the mothers as a close accompaniment that “goes beyond education”. It allows them to express their concerns, receive guidance and find concrete solutions.

With your help, we continue to make it possible for women like Rosa to feel more secure, recognized, accompanied and motivated to improve their lives: "If it hadn't been for this Foundation, we would be walking around blind. Here we have learned a lot: to reason, to socialize... I have learned to value myself (I am just now recognizing who I am), to see expectations outside my home. Sometimes you need affection, someone to tell you: ‘you still exist, live, breathe, stand up’.

Integration dinner for parents

Integration and cultural outing (Mitad del Mundo)

Workshop on legal advice with Puente y Asociados

Family integration day with 150 participants

Integration: soccer match with the Italian embassy

Links:

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