La Fraternidad Ecuador

Every summer when my family and I returned to visit our home and family in Ecuador, we would always, without fail, pass by La Fraternidad Universitaria Santa María Del Paraíso, and see how things were going for the students, the coordinator Leo, and the community they were serving. We would provide clothes for the students, money for tuition and housing repairs, as well as groceries. The building and living space weren’t much but the vibrance and pure happiness and camaraderie that exuded from the students was just contagious. I’m sure to them I was just a little kid in a family that helps La Fraternidad financially but I was left in awe by this program.

The moment I finally realized that I wanted to contribute and help the students at La Fraternidad couldn’t have come at a better time, as La Frate had been struggling with funds ever since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. I was compelled and motivated to raise awareness of this life-saving program that has changed the lives of so many high school graduates in Ecuador with dreams and passions that must be nurtured through forms of higher education.

La Fraternidad is a program that aims to discourage a life of crime and poverty for Ecuadorian students who live in those situations, and encourage education and moral values along the way, through community service requirements and responsibilities in and around their new shelter. This program has been successful in the past with La Fraternidad alumni excelling in their careers after university.

La Fraternidad is such a unique and beautiful program that not only provides food and housing to underprivileged high school graduates in Ecuador, but also teaches these students the importance of unity, service, respect, responsibility, and paying it forward to your community.

For more information and stories about the students La Fraternidad Ecuador helps visit: lafraternidadecuador.org