EDUCAPODER is an intensive education, training and community empowerment program that works to help marginalized youth in Ecuador develop the critical leadership skills to improve their lives. Educapoder targets marginalized indigenous adolescent girls, the most vulnerable members of the community, by enabling them to complete general education while strengthening their cultural identity, self-esteem and inclusion in decision-making forums in an active way. In effort to affect comprehensive and sustainable change, Educapoder also works with families, teachers and the local government to further prevent gender-based violence and child abuse.

Funds raised will be used to support Educapoder trainings and peer tutoring for adolescents. During the training, adolescents will learn how to develop dialogue about their rights, participate in decision-making in the community, and advocate for issues affecting their daily lives such as violence against women, child labor and reproductive health. By completing the 6-month Educapoder program, they will be better equipped to deal with child labor, sexual exploitation, teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence and fight for the improvement of living conditions in their own communities.

The project is working in two areas: Cayambe and Quito.

Cayambe: Most of the population belongs to a native indigenous group (Kichwa), working in subsistence agriculture and flower plantations in the mountains. Parents often leave their families for seasonal work on banana plantations on the coast or in the oil fields. Women are often illiterate and teenage pregnancy is common. Children start working in the flower plantations from a tender age (10-11 years), leading to massive drop-out in grades 5-6. There is high incidence of cancer in the population, possibly because of the pesticides used in the flower plantations, where whole families work for a living.

Quito: Urban population working in commerce, services or small industries. Most are migrants from rural areas. Many girls start working as domestic servants since 12-13 years of age and are often victims of sexual violence. Teenage pregnancy is common. Drop-out rates soar after grades 5-6. Gang violence and drug addiction are major issues affecting the adolescent population.

Community member details not available yet.

Direct Impact of Your Project

Educapoder aims to provide the following impact:

- Empowerment of girls
- Promotion of education for girls
- Prevention of child labor
- Prevention of gender-based violence
- Development of skills for income generation

The cost for each student to complete the 6-month Educapoder program is approximately $45.45, which includes:
1 - training (for both teachers and parents)
2 - peer education
3 - youth office
4 - school governance
5 - band, sports, HIV/Aids education

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

The outreach, training, and education provided by Educapoder will also impact Cayambe and Quito communities, including:

-Increased awareness about education
-Increased awareness on gender issues
-Decrease of violence
-Decrease of teenage pregnancy
-Increased participation on decision-making processes