Karina & Ruth

Karina and Ruth (names have been changed), 10 and 12 years old, are two sisters that are involved in CENIT's programs. Their family moved to Quito from the rural province of Cotapaxi in search of a better way of life. However, upon arrival in the city the family found themselves facing extreme poverty and backbreaking working conditions. They all work making bricks: between the various family members they average 150 bricks per week which hardly provides enough income to provide for the family. Karina and Ruth became involved with CENIT and began to study at our primary school where they received classes in subjects such as writing, math, sciences and social sciences. After visiting their home and seeing the reality in which they live, CENIT found resources to help them attend a school specifically for children with learning disabilities. Currently the children attend this school in the morning and CENIT's homework help center in the afternoon.

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Art Classes

Aim

This project aims to help women develop their artistic skills, provide the class participants with a fair wage and an extra income through the sale of their paintings, and allow women to form a social support group amongst themselves.

Project Information

Art class participants attend CENIT once a week for a two hour art class. Topics range from landscapes, portraits, shading, proportions, etc. Women practice their skills at CENIT, and then go home and actually make their paintings on their own time. They then return these paintings to CENIT, where they are then marketed and sold. The women receive the full sale price for their paintings.

Volunteer Requirements

Volunteers for the art class are expected to be at CENIT for two months, and have at least a basic level of Spanish. An ideal volunteer has experience either teaching art or working in sales and marketing. Volunteers are expected to plan and teach classes, and must also help with the sale of the paintings. The volunteer is responsible for managing the money for this project, making sure everything is well accounted for so that the women are fairly paid.