Our parish in Canal Ocho is one of the poorest areas of Guayaquil. Apart from the more obvious aspects of this poverty exist other even more devastating effects endemic to family life here. For example, there is a sense of hopelessness, entrapment and a “now” mentality of the poor that says, “we’ve had nothing, we have nothing now and we’ll have nothing in the future.” This defeatist mindset is devastating to the upward mobility, to educational opportunities to better one’s future and to bonding as a community to plan for a brighter and hope-filled future to entice families not to spend what little they have on non-essential and non-productive things.
Our two missionaries Anceleta and Josephina and I envision the establishment of the only social centre for the promotion of human development in the community. The centre will provide certified training courses for men and women to help them end the downward spiral of family life.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
We propose to offer the following programmes:
~Family therapy groups
~Teaching ways of meal preparation that while economical are also healthy, thereby stemming disease and malnutrition.
~Programmes to change the high rates of illiteracy that exist here.
~The formation of catechists and catechetical programmes.
~Sewing classes for families to complement their household budgets.
~Craft workshops to produce souvenirs for the tourist market and a revenue stream for the local community.
~Beautician job training classes.
~Computer classes to provide the young with marketable skills.
~Space for a study room and library.
~Trade skills such as plumbing, electrical work and welding.
~A small nursery to assist working single parents.
