House offers education, job opportunities in Indigenous communities
(MissionNewswire) The Salesian House in Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador, is increasing its capacity thanks to the supporters and friends of the Salesian mission in Ecuador and the generosity of the 2024 Missionary Campaign. The house now has an upgraded infrastructure and has been expanded to increase its hospitality capacity. The renovations include replacing plaster walls with concrete ones, reinforcing the roof and floor, adding four bedrooms with private bathrooms, and adapting the dining and community spaces.
The house has been a pillar for the holistic development of Indigenous communities in the Bolívar province of Ecuador since 1971. Over the years, Salesians have carried out their work with the support of national and international volunteers, non-governmental organizations, benefactors, and local communities.
A Salesian explained, “The mission house is a symbol of hope and transformation, offering education, job opportunities, and personal growth. It has given rise to initiatives such as a candy factory, an essential oil processing plant and a food processing workshop — all projects that not only generate employment and income for the local population but also strengthen their sense of identity and pride, improving the quality of life in Salinas.”
The renovation will also include improvements to the ground floor, allowing for the operation of an oratory that serves 300 people, a handicraft shop benefiting 200 Indigenous women from Simiatug, a café and a co-working space for youth entrepreneurship.
The Salesian added, “A particularly meaningful element of the renovation was the preservation of the kitchen table, considered the essence of the house. This table was built using pieces from the altar of an old church in the area, crafted by the first Italian volunteers of the Salesian missionary project ‘Operation Mato Grosso.’ To honor this history, the first gathering in the newly renovated spaces took place around this very table, where participants shared words of encouragement, a meal, and the joy of dreams fulfilled.”
Ecuador is one of the most inequitable societies in the world, according to UNICEF. The richest 20% of the population receives almost 50% of the national income, while the poorest 20% receives only 5%. According to the World Food Programme, almost 26% of all children under age 5 have stunted growth, increasing to 31% in rural areas and 47% in Indigenous communities.