Why is the foundation called «Minadores de Sueños»? «Minadores» are people expelled from society. They live, work and struggle on the marginality and try to survive in the trash of the city.
For us, they are also people with dreams (sueños) and hope. Dreams are essential for people. We have dreams helping us to build up a life worth living, giving us hope and letting us fight for better times in our lives. «Minadores de Sueños» is an invitation for people to let their dreams become true.
Foundation «Minadores de Sueños» - Ecuador
Project: homework and tutoring - more than schoolwork
This project is still the most important and most sophisticated of the foundation. In the past, children arrived in the afternoon in the premises of the foundation to do their homework, but the experience showed that more support is needed. Because of the economical crisis, many children can not attend classes at all. Therefore, benefits in form of school uniforms and schoolbooks are very important. Free education in Ecuador is still an illusion!
In Ecuador, many children grow up in families with a history of violence, negligence, alcoholism and malnutrition. Psychological tests carried out during the last year clearly showed that most children have big deficits with regard to both their academic and personal development leading to the conclusion that individual support for each child is necessary. Therefore, well-trained, professional staff is required. This year, we were already able to expand our staff helping the children to do their homework. But professional teachers for individual academic support (tutoring) and also for social work are still missing. We also noticed a growing dissolution of family structures and a loss of values as well as ideals. Therefore, we started the pilot project “family accompaniment”. This project aims at interventions with the family system to change behaviour and habits in order to reach a higher quality of life and to improve the development of the children.
The formation of a youth group – a chance for a new youth culture
In November 2008, the youth group “Bien Propios” was founded. In cooperation with the foundation, this group aims at recreative and educating activities to realize and show young people alternative behaviour patterns and new ways of life. It all began in March 2007 with recreative activities such as bingo, excursions and parties. By the end of 2007, priority was given to educating activities. The aim was to sensibilize the young people for social topics. The topics were suggested by the young as well as by the project managers. We had, for example, classes about drugs, sexuality, garden work and cooking. We watched movies about cancer as well as mistreatment and reflected on them. Furthermore, we visited a mental hospital. In August 2008, the project was intensified during a week of group building activities. This week strengthened the solidarity within the group and showed which young people had leading qualities. It was time to give the group an official form.
In co-operation with the young people, a name and a logo were created as well as aims, the organisation and rules were defined. After work, in Ecuador, there is traditionally a celebration. The foundation, therefore, organised a presentation for the parents, the community and the institutions to make the formation of this new youth group official and to celebrate the formation in a worthy way. It was also the start of independence for the group. By now, the youth group already organised its first activities. In the future, the members of the group will work in projects such as the secondhand-clothing shop or the recycling point, as teachers in the project “homework help” or in the vacation programme.
The Construction of the building is making progress
Work on a construction site makes big financial and personal efforts necessary. Despite the constant rain which delayed the construction work, we will soon complete the second schoolroom and the office space. This fast progress wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our hard-working volunteers. In this context, I would like to mention an Austrian volunteer team. In co-operation with local workers, they constructed a big part of the supporting wall within only two weeks. For the placing of concrete on the wall, even the parents of the children receiving individual support were asked to help. Therefore, the wall is the result of an international community and co-operation.
In the name of the foundation, I would - once again - like to thank all the national and international volunteers for the many hours they invested in the project.
Marco Nyffeler
Association «Pro Minadores de Sueños» - Switzerland
In 2008, we could increase the number of events organised compared to 2007, the association’s first year. Because of the diversity of events, everybody could be reached. Apart from a short summer break, we realized monthly events for the children in Rancho los pinos. It was wonderful for the managing committee to count on former volunteers, friends, work colleagues and social institutions supporting the project. This support and the enormous commitment do not go without saying and earn a great THANK YOU! The exhibition of drawings and pictures, the “Strohhus”- and Christmas markets, the soup days, various religious services, the benefit concert of the school in Wil, the efforts of the school in Cham and many private events resulted in generous donations. With this money, the construction of the school and the supporting wall in Ecuador could be further progressed, a car relieving the daily life in Ecuador was purchased and the main projects “homework help”, “meals during school breaks” and “tutoring” could be financed and their future ensured. Thank you all very much for your small, big and huge donations! Also many thanks to all the volunteers who, with their lifeblood and big personal effort, made a big change for the children in Ranchos los pinos.