Adopt-a-Dream

Aim

This projects aims to provide economic and social support to especially needy CENIT children and their families.

Project Information

This child sponsorship program is designed for children involved in CENIT programs who are selected based on their economic need, their academic performance, and their family situation. To be involved in this program, the child must be a currently-enrolled student in good academic standing. The social workers and program directors choose the children based on need. The child and their family are provided with between $30 and $50 per month. This money covers their school fees such as inscription fee, uniform, books and school supplies, etc. It also covers basic medical costs for the children, allows their participation in CENIT’s lunch program, buys new clothing for the children, may pay their transport to and from school, and may provide basic food for the family. Once a month the children and their families go shopping with CENIT personnel for these items.

Additionally, this program includes house visits to the children’s houses in order to fill out socio-economic reports, and keeping track of the reality in which the family is living. Sponsor parents are provided with these reports as well as the child’s school grades, a hand-written card, and photos of the child. This program is administered both by an Ecuadorian social worker, and by volunteers. Adopt a Dream can be contacted at adopt-a-dream@cenitecuador.org.

If you want to adopt a child through this program, please refer to the Donations section.

Volunteer Requirements

A volunteer in this program must be at CENIT for 9 months, and must speak an intermediate to advanced level of Spanish. This is required as there is a high level of contact with both the children and their families, and communication is crucial. The volunteer is expected to attend the monthly shopping trips, to help organize the collection and mailing of photos, grades, etc., and to help with the house visits to the children's houses, which often take place on a Saturday. The volunteer is also expected to manage the money for the program, which includes contact with the donors.