Condor Trust for Education

Mauricio has lived with his uncle, aunt and their two children since his parents died when he was five. His uncle has irregular work as a builder, and his aunt tries to find cleaning jobs. Mauricio likes school and is keen to learn to play the guitar.

Genesis was the best student in her class this last year, and she enjoys school very much. She is the third of four children, and lives with her brothers, sister and mother, after her parents separated last year. She does not yet know what she would like to do when she finishes school. At the moment, she enjoys music and has begun to learn to play the cello at school.

Susana lives with her mother and two brothers. Her younger sister lives with her father, who left the family home when Susana was small. She is a very lively girl, who has done well at school so far. Susana is very keen on music and dancing, and loves to help other children who are not as advanced as her.

Christian lives with his mother and sister high in the mountains on the outskirts of Quito. His mother has arthritis in her hands and has difficulty working, so both Christian and his sister help out as much as they can at home. Until recently, the family lived in a house without a bathroom and with a leaking roof and poorly fitting doors and windows. This meant that Christian was often ill and had difficulty going to school and studying. Help from the local community, other family members and the Condor Trust has enabled them to make substantial improvements. This has greatly helped Christian, who is now much healthier and doing well at school. He is interested in most subjects, and is also keen on doing voluntary work organized by the school. When he graduates from high school, he would like to spend a year volunteering in different parts of Ecuador.

Genesis lives with her mother and older brother in a rented room on the outskirts of the city. Her father abandoned the family some years ago. They share a kitchen and a bathroom with other families. Her mother works selling food to local people when she can, but she has severe health problems and often cannot work. Genesis enjoys going to school and has always tried hard to attend regularly. This has not been easy, as she sometimes has to look after her mother when she is ill. The financial and other support Condor Trust has given over the past year has helped, and her first year at secondary school has been successful. Genesis is very keen to do well. She is a mature girl and knows that in the long run education is the best way for her to improve her own and her mother's situation.

Katherine obtained high grades in her primary school and very much likes going to school. When not studying, she enjoys painting and listening to music. She is learning the violin at the Condor Trust. At the moment, her ambition is to become a psychologist.