People Helping People!

When FUVIRESE USA, Inc. was established in 1997 its funding support breathed life into FUVIRESE in Baños. Instead of depending on a single volunteer for one program in physical therapy, FUVIRESE was able to hire trained Ecuadorians to provide not only physical therapy but special education as well. When the government made the Old Hospital building Therapist working with children available in 1998, services were expanded and broadened. A social worker was hired and programs in nutrition and early childhood stimulation were begun. When the wheelchair shop opened in 1999, the practice of preferential hiring of members allowed two parents of handicapped kids to have steady, good paying jobs and wheelchairs were provided to many poor members of the region.From one volunteer therapist serving the needs of ten members in 1997, FUVIRESE has grown to an organization employing fourteen people full time and providing important services to more than seventy members and to the general community of Baños on a fee-for-service basis.

It is the only source for assistance of this type in the region. None of this would be possible without the support of FUVIRESE USA, Inc.

As FUVIRESE has grown, so have its needs for financial support. Raging inflation has fueled Therapist working with a child using a walker the need for more funding. The policy of FUVIRESE is to pay all of its employees a just living wage and between 2001 and 2002, the payroll was increased almost 50% to allow the wages of the employees of FUVIRESE to keep up with inflation. We need to expand our donor base to keep the financial support flowing.

When FUVIRESE USA, Inc. was founded, a pact was made with the members of FUVIRESE in Ecuador. In return for responsible management and delivery of essential services by FUVIRESE in Baños, FUVIRESE USA promised to raise money and provide support. The good people of FUVIRESE in Baños have more than lived up to their end of the bargain.

Now, as they are working together on more local fund-raising, we need your help to keep our promise to provide support to this inspiring, dedicated group of handicapped people - creative and strong-willed people who dared to believe that they could create an organization to help themselves and their handicapped neighbors.

In a recent conversation with a prospective donor, we heard the reply that, since there is so much need here in the United States, it's hard to understand the point of sending financial help to people so far away. The answer is pretty straightforward: while it's undeniable that we have major domestic problems that need to be addressed, there are many organizations, both private and public, that are working on those issues..

In Ecuador and in Baños, the government can’t meet many of the basic needs of the people, and therefore, the services FUVIRESE offers would be otherwise unavailable. FUVIRESE can’t continue without your help. Please, help us help our friends who have done so much to help themselves and to serve others! Your Children of Banos economic support is literally the lifeblood of the services that are so desperately needed by our neighbors.We realize that there are many worthy charitable enterprises in the United States and Europe and people occasionally ask, "Why should I donate money to people in a faraway place like Ecuador?"

The answer is simple: If we don't help FUVIRESE, who will?U.S. citizens can make tax deductible donations to assist the efforts of FUVIRESE. Please send checks or money orders payable to FUVIRESE USA to:

FUVIRESE USA
PO BOX13563
Green Bay, WI USA 54305
Phone: 303.722.5912
Email: FUVIRESE@aol.com