Joliseb lives with her father and her mother. She is responsible for running errands. Her father is employed as a laborer and her mother is sometimes employed as a laborer.
As part of Compassion's ministry, Joliseb participates in church activities. She is also in primary school where her performance is average. Telling stories, listening to music and reading are her favorite activities.
Because of your sponsorship, Joliseb will have new opportunities to learn and grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Thank you for your concern and prayers.
Joliseb lives in the mountainous community of Carapungo, home to approximately 75,000 residents. Typical houses are constructed of cement. The primary ethnic group is Mestizo and the most commonly spoken language is Spanish.
The regional diet consists of rice. Common health problems in this area include parasites and gastrointestinal diseases. Most adults in Carapungo are unemployed but some work as laborers and earn the equivalent of $200 per month. This community needs employment opportunities, fair wages, shelters, parks and public safety.
Your sponsorship allows the staff of El Shaddai Student Center to provide Joliseb with Bible teaching, medical exams, health education, social events, recreational activities, special celebrations and academic support. The center staff will also provide lectures and workshops for the parents or guardians of Joliseb.
Straddling the equator, Ecuador has two Andes mountain ranges that split it into three zones: the western coastal lowlands, the central Andean highlands and the eastern jungles of the Amazon basin. The lowlands and islands are hot and humid and the highlands are temperate.
The Ecuadorian population is about 25 percent Amerindian and 65 percent mestizo (Amerindian and Caucasian). The remainder is of Spanish or African descent. Most people live in urban settings. Spanish is the official language but many Indians speak Quechua, the language of the Incas, and practice traditional religions. Ninety-five percent of Ecuadorians are Catholic. Compassion works throughout central and western Ecuador.
Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro invaded Ecuador, home of the Inca Empire, in 1532 and controlled it within two years. In 1822, Ecuador gained freedom as part of a federation known as Gran Colombia. In 1830, it gained independence as Ecuador.
In recent decades, Ecuador's economy has relied heavily on oil export revenue, so fluctuations in world market prices have a significant economic impact. A drop in world oil prices combined with natural disasters in the late 1990s to drive Ecuador's economy into poverty. In 2000, Congress enacted reforms and adopted the U.S. dollar as legal tender, which helped stabilize the economy. In recent years, however, economic reforms have been reversed, making Ecuador again vulnerable to oil price swings and financial crises. And though Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, it has been troubled by political instability, including the ouster of the last three democratically elected presidents. Rafael Correa is the current president.
Map of Ecuador
Child's Location: North section of Quito
