Help Transform a Local Nursery for Disadvantaged 1-3 year olds 

Context 

Help us transform the nursery in the community of San Juan de Llullundongo, Ecuador, into a vibrant, safe and comfortable place for learning for 36 of the youngest and most vulnerable children in Ecuador. Together we can provide the facilities and learning resources every child deserves during their most important years of development. 

All children are entitled to a safe, engaging environment in which they can learn and grow. Unfortunately, this is not the reality for the infants in San Juan Ecuador; the community nursery faces underfunding, limited resources and deteriorating infrastructure.

Walls are peeling, classrooms are bare, windows are broken or missing, faulty lighting and exposed electrical cables create safety concerns. Essential learning materials such as books, toys, puzzles, art supplies and educational resources are scarce, leaving teachers with minimal support for children's development.

Despite these challenges, the dedicated staff work tirelessly to provide the best possible care for the children. However, without improvements to the building and learning environment, they are limited in what they can offer. 

The early years are the foundation of a child's future, and every child deserves a space where they feel safe and inspired to learn.

Our motivations

We are Lucy and Maia, interns from the UK working with El Terreno in Ecuador.

Maia and I have grown up in the UK and seen the profound difference geography makes in learning and opportunities.

Maia Delin

Incoming 1st year student to Fordham Honors College studying International Political Economy. 

For the past two years I have worked in reception at local schools in my community gaining an understanding of what quality early years education should look like. In the future I aspire to work in education policy, exploring how economics and politics shape access to quality education. Working as an intern at El Terreno has exposed me to challenges rural communities face and the importance of first-hand experiences in developing meaningful projects especially in childcare.

Lucy Wadley

2nd year undergraduate student studying Human, Social and Political Sciences at the University of Cambridge.

I’m passionate about public policy, sustainability initiatives and the politics of both local and global development. I came to El Terreno to gain first hand experience in regional policy and development, and to understand the complex dynamics of inequality, cultural preservation and ethical work in communities abroad.  As an intern I work with local people to gain an invaluable insight into the needs, concerns and challenges that face these communities. 

After spending time at the San Juan Nursery, we were deeply moved by both the resilience of the children and the dedication of the staff, despite very few resources; however, it is impossible to ignore the condition of the nursery itself.

The Solution

With your support, we hope to completely transform San Juan’s physical and educational environments.  

Our project will include:

• Painting classrooms and creating colourful educational murals.

• Repairing damaged walls and improving the appearance of learning spaces.

• Replacing unsafe lighting and repairing electrical wiring.

• Installing new windows where broken or missing.

• Purchasing books, toys, art supplies and educational materials.

• Providing new classroom resources, including a television for educational activities.

We will personally coordinate the project, purchase the materials and complete much of the renovation work ourselves alongside the team at El Terreno, the staff at San Juan and local families.  

Impact

Your donation will directly improve the lives of 36 young children and the dedicated staff who care for them daily.

Your donation will contribute to a safer nursery, access to educational toys and an environment where children can develop socially. 

Success will be measured through the visible transformation of the nursery, the installation of essential resources, and feedback from the staff who will continue using the space long after the project is complete.

Most importantly, this renovation will leave a lasting legacy for future generations of children attending the San Juan Nursery.

Call to Action

By supporting this project, you will contribute to a project and children who are largely neglected, both financially and from mainstream development initiatives.

Your donation will prove invaluable in San Juan and allow us to make a genuinely meaningful contribution.

Fundraising Goal

At our essential level ($702.39) your donations will help us to: 

- Fill in holes and repaint walls

- Purchase paint, varnish and brushes

- Paint murals inside and outside classrooms 

- Create and print educational posters for the classrooms

- Purchase didactic games, toys, whiteboard pens, colouring books and paper 

- Purchase carpets for all classrooms

For our ideal goal ($1,005.02) your donations will help us to:

- Purchase light bulbs and electrical wiring 

- Fix broken lights and replace dangerous electrical cables

- Replace broken or missing windows

If we reach $1,599 your donations will enable us to:

- Purchase 1 television for teaching the children

- Purchase a printer 

If we reach a max goal of  $2,330 your donations will enable us to:

- Purchase another 1 television for teaching the children

- Purchase a high quality swing set