Updates

This week, a new school year begins across Ecuador, and classrooms in our community are once again filling with energy, anticipation, and hope. At Mission Santa Maria, more than 1,300 students—from toddlers at Esperanza Home to university students in our Bridge Program—are stepping into a new season of learning. But behind each first day of school is a very real and immediate need: tuition, uniforms, supplies, food support, and the resources required to keep our programs running. These are costs we must cover upfront to ensure that every child can begin the year ready to learn.

That is why, throughout this next month, we are launching our Back-to-School Campaign with a goal of raising $60,000 to support students at every stage of their educational journey. This funding allows us to meet immediate needs while sustaining the long-term support that changes the trajectory of a child’s life, ensuring that students not only begin the school year, but are equipped to turn their education into a pathway for their future.

In the weeks ahead, we will be sharing stories of students like Maria Belén and Kengie, stories that reflect both the challenges our community faces and the incredible resilience and potential within it. We invite you to walk alongside them this school year and help ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and build a brighter future.