It Happens in Ecuador
Some of the poorest people on the planet are found in Latin America. And, Ecuador has more than its share. Now the concept “poor” is relative. A poor person in Ecuador would be considered a hair above middle class if he or she had an income level equivalent to what is considered the poverty level in the US. Many of the poor in Ecuador and other Latin American countries likely will not have income of even $500/year. They exist by raising their own food and living off the land. As one might imagine, most of the poor are also illiterate.
In Ecuador, when the poorer children either miss or fail the first grade, they do not attend school again. There is no education for them. One can imagine the great number of illiterates in the country this practice produces. There is help for these needy people however, through a few evangelical Christian organizations. Palm Missionary Ministries, Inc., (PMM) is helping ministries that work with the illiterate population in Ecuador. One such partnership is with Alfalit Ecuador, based in Quito.
A lack of funding by the government has resulted in the closing of many rural public schools in Ecuador. While cutting governmental costs is usually appreciated by citizens most of the time, this action has left poorer families in much despair. They know that without an education, their children will remain illiterate and live in poverty all their lives. The irony of the action is that it does not save the government very much since most rural schools consist of an open-sided building with a roof, equipped with makeshift tables and benches or chairs and a chalkboard. Each small school will employ from 1 – 3 teachers who are paid 