Baños is a tourist town. Known for its healing mineral waters, it has always been host to ailing and disabled people who frequent the thermal baths. In 1998 members of FUVIRESE set out to convince the city to begin improving conditions by permitting the construction of ramps and special parking places to accommodate these people.

Until FUVIRESE was formed there was no voice to speak for the rights of handicapped people in regards to the elimination of physical barriers like curbs and steps throughout the city. Volunteers enlisted by FUVIRESE worked with businesses under the endorsement of local government to build the much-needed ramps.

Baños is now the only city in Ecuador, which provides accessibility for persons in wheelchairs in a comprehensive manner. FUVIRESE continues to work toward the realization of improved handicapped access to Baños' mineral bath facilities in hopes that disabled persons may one day have completely independent access to these valuable hydrotherapy treatments.

The Beginnings

Alfonso Morales

In 1989 Alfonso Morales was in the Ecuadorian army working on a road-building project when the bulldozer he was driving slid down a mountainside killing two of his co-workers, and leaving him with a broken back. At 19 years of age he became paralyzed from the waist down. Because he was in the military he was sent to Venezuela for rehabilitation. Had he been a civilian, he would have had a hard time finding any therapy at all. Ecuador has scarce resources for rehabilitation.

Alfonso returned to his hometown of Baños, determined to start an organization to assist people with disabilities. In 1993, he and a small group formed Fundación de Vida, Realidad y Servicio (FUVIRESE) registering the organization with the Ecuadorian government. In 1995 they invited parents of local disabled children to join their organization. Their plan was to provide therapy and education for members. All they needed was some money...

Dick EganIn March 1997 Dick Egan, a retired American businessman, came to Baños to learn the Spanish language and to discover the culture of Latin America. He lived there for almost three months during which he met Alfonso Morales, the physical therapist and many members of FUVIRESE.

Inspired by their dedication to helping themselves and realizing the need for funding, he returned to the United States and formed FUVIRESE USA, Inc. a private charitable foundation with the sole purpose of supporting the work of FUVIRESE in Baños.

In February of 1998, FUVIRESE USA, Inc. received its 501(c) (3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

For the past few years, Alfonso had been less active with FUVIRESE as he served as a member of the Baños city council. Veronica Silva Sanchez The organization continues to revitalize itself. Now, the responsibility once exercised by the founding members falls to, Ms. Veronica Silva Sanchez, one of the founders who is now the Executive Director, together with her staff of professionals and a board of directors.