Who am I?
Looking back, I remember my seventeenth year when I first devoted myself to working with kids in an orphanage, what I would later realize was a kind of social development work. At that age I wanted to change lives, everything seemed easy at one point, the world was at my feet, and I had the mindset that when I got older, I could do anything. Now that I am older, nothing is simple. The world seems out of reach, and more complicated but because we, people, want it that way. We can find marginalized people who struggle for access to basic needs, more injustice, and inaccurate balances between in-excess and at-risk communities, or the big gap between the poor and rich.
There is a line in a Spanish song that says: “Caminante no hay camino se hace camino al andar” (Walker, there is no road, the road is made when you walk). Since early ages I started creating my road. I was involved in different programs, increasing my knowledge of many dilemmas that humanity has. It allowed me to be part of many of social and religious developments to search solutions for problems. Even though my skills of management and planning were not developed yet, I still ran interreligious programs to achieve understanding between different faiths and position with regards to the millennium goals of the United Nations. In short, my entire awareness has been shaped and influenced by the Council for the Parliament of the Worlds Religions for social work and humanism.
Increasingly, I realized more and more how much I cared about social venture entrepreneurship, opening my mind to the mystery of social knowledge, its causes and consequences. I started living my life with excitement and passion. So, I founded a Rehabilitation Center called Cecit, where I was able to develop many programs directed to vulnerable people with special needs. I learned the best lessons I will never forget. I made my personality strong but caring and professionally skilled on social business development with an “I can do” approach and I increased my interest in developing practice and learning in a community.
Many people think that success is found in economic growth; based on this philosophy they work around their interest, opening the doors to poverty, injustice and inaccurate balance between in-excess and at-risk communities. Some capitalist entrepreneurs focus on producing more, faster and cheaper, minimizing costs, reducing human labor and using more machines. It seems that the mentality of the industrial revolution still remains nowadays. Many social organizations and other associations that belong to the development sectors are aware of these issues. They have an interest in approaching local communities needs with new development programs that focus on different kinds of management, assuring improvement in the quality of life of citizens, responsibility with the environment, and promoting sustainability and what in Ecuador is known as Sumak Kawsay - El buen vivir (Quichua word that means Well-being).
Good social organizations need good professionals and good professionals need organizations with good initiatives and values that motive us to believe and work to achieve them. Many priorities and strategies are part of these sectors of development to reduce the poverty and unfairness in order to reach sustainable growth. Ecuador, the most bio diverse country per square meter in the world, full of unique nature, particularly in San Cristobal Island in Galapagos, faces many challenges to be addressed immediately. Since May 20th, 2015 I have been involved in the Beyond Chacay Foundation as a volunteer because of its unique initiatives and community development projects. We share common values, which motivated me to help with the Ecohelix project in the socialization activities in the community. Establishing a balance between and within in-excess and at-risk communities depends on trained people and leadership to manage these programs. Chacay gave me the opportunity to work in communities facing development challenges not only in the economic side, but also in social, environmental, technical, human, legal, social, and other areas. San Cristobal, capital of the Galapagos Archipelago, is at the beginning of a long road and is a perfect setting to apply good knowledge and practices. There are many cities and towns in Ecuador that are very attractive to tourists, but very few visitors know further that the nice places.
I am very enthusiastic and blessed to be part of Regis University and Chacay since 2015 and be part of the Global Classroom Program, sustainable work, learn from other people and their experiences in their countries. Also, the fact that I get every time new knowledge to add to my leadership skills and social work contribute a lot to continue with my life´s mission. I appreciate all opportunities to have access to all opportunities to help make the world a better place, the opportunity to make a difference.
Loca, clown, teacher, sportwoman.
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