Expats Helping Kids in Ecuador

May 21, 2012

The gringos are coming!  Four years ago, Todd and I had a hard time keeping many of our new Ecuadorian friends straight (“oh, you know – the short, black-haired, brown-eyed/brown skin, friendly guy…..” generally didn’t narrow down the description)…but now we laugh, because we have a harder time keeping track of all the gringos we meet these days.

Most everyone we have met either as visitors or as residents are people we enjoy, have interesting stories to tell, and come from varied backgrounds. One of the great things about living here is the chance to meet so many remarkable people from around the world.

A lot of the people here (or coming) are passionate about wanting to make a positive difference while living in Ecuador, are very capable of doing so, and bringing their unique talents, gifts, desires and generous spirits with them.

Some want to teach ingles, or are ardent about animal rescue and sterilization, or saving the turtles and other marine life, or preserving the environment. I could go on.

But the people I want to mention in particular are Salinas-based Tod and Mary Freeman. They are making a difference RIGHT NOW in our Southern Ecuador coastal area. Tod and Mary are the driving force behind the group called “Expats Helping Kids in Ecuador” (click on that link to take you to their Facebook page) to see more inspiring details and pictures about the kids they are helping.

In particular, Tod and Mary and other caring expats (many in Salinas) have been working with the kids at the Olon Orphanage for some time, and also actively raise funds for children with special medical needs.

“Expats Helping Kids in Ecuador” is a non-profit organization whose motto is “helping kids with medical attention, food and clothing”.

Their information (or “about”) tab on the Facebook page explains their vision best:

   

Mission

To improve the quality of children's lives by sponsoring surgeries and providing necessary commodities for everyday life. Uniting the expat community in a common effort to help one child at a time.

Company Overview

We are English speaking expats from many countries who have come together to make a difference in children's lives.

 We are non-denominational and help any child in need.

Description

We restored sight to a young girl by sponsoring eye surgery, sponsoring brain surgery (2/24) for a 8 month old baby girl (Narcisa) avoiding permanent brain damage and possible death. Helping to support the Olon orphanage through goods and encouragement.

General Information

Become a part of this helping effort of our expat community. You can donate clothes, school supplies, toiletries and funds for surgeries. We also welcome you to participate in our local fundraisers....they are great fun and for a good cause.

** Funds can be donated through Pay Pal: "to" expatshelpingkidsinecuador@yahoo.com

Medical update on Carolina:

Carolina was born with no anal track and had a colostomy bag attached at birth. Last July she had her first surgery to create an anal track and for the last several months has had many procedures to insure it healed correctly. Carolina is scheduled to have her second corrective surgery on 4/17 with the goal of having her colostomy bag removed. She will be in the hospital for 2 or 3 weeks. The doctors are confident that the second surgery will be successful and Carolina will be able to have a normal, healthy life.....




   More games for the kids at

  the orphanage thanks to the

donations  of Jeff and Chantal

 

The “Expats Helping Kids…” fundraisers (usually held in Salinas) are much fun and tickets sell out fast. The next fundraising dinner is this Tuesday at a private home with dishes from various countries being prepared, for $12.00 per person and a cash bar.

 “All the funds donated will be used to benefit the orphanage in Olon and other kids with medical needs… Again, the funds raised for the kids will come from the sale of raffle tickets and some items to be auctioned off. The gifts to be raffled off and the items for auction will be listed in a follow up email..”

….I imagine this event is already sold out, but to get on their mailing list, I suggest “liking” the “Expats Helping Kids in Ecuador” Facebook page, or contact Tod or Mary directly at expatshelpingkidsinecuador@yahoo.com.

Awhile back, a number of us were honored to be part of last year’s (second annual) Olon Orphanage Christmas Eve party. For those of us who could attend the festivities,  I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house after those special few hours with those special kids (refer to  “Yonder Valley the Myrtle Breathes”).

This little girl was born with an abnormal growth on her nose. A group of plastic surgeons from the US are tentatively scheduled to be in Salinas late October or early November. The doctors here think she should be treated by one of the specialists in the US group. Johanna will be seen by a plastic surgeon at that time and hopefuly she will be selected and have her nose fixed. If not October or November, we will have Johanna available whenever they get here.

** Any amount donated to their PayPal Account -please send to:
expatshelpingkidsinecuador@yahoo.com
All donations are appreciated and used for these children. Maybe in some countries, a one-time donation of $25, or a monthly commitment of $10 doesn’t go far, but it goes further here.

Almost magically with these kids.

.

**  You must first be a registered PayPal user to donate using this method. Email addresses are used as your "user" I.D.
Once you are a registered PayPal user, GO FIRST to PayPal, sign in, and then send the money, using the recipient's email address to send it "to".

It's free to register on PayPal and you would send money "to" expatshelpingkidsinecuador@yahoo.com in this case.

 

*** All photos and much verbiage courtesy of "Expats Helping Kids in Ecuador" Facebook page.