EC 02 - LIGHT AND HOPE IN THE CAYAPAS
Project Location
The project is carried out in the parish of Santa María de los Cayapas (with 50 small communities) in the upper and lower reaches of the Rio Cayapas (Canton Eloy Alfaro/ San Lorenzo), Province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
The communities of the Cayapas River live in a significant geographical area, depending on river navigation for all types of travel. This reality limits access to basic services and, at the same time, makes continuous spiritual and educational support difficult. There is a profound openness of the communities to receive the Good News, but logistical resources are needed to guarantee a constant, respectful presence of the culture and which also responds to its most urgent material needs.
Project description
The project includes the following activities:
- Training of Local Animators: selection and theological, human, and pastoral training of leaders from the communities themselves. The goal is for evangelization to speak their language and respect their legitimate traditions.
- Acquisition of a means of transport (outboard motor) to begin weekly itinerant missions to the most remote riverside communities.
- Human Development Workshops: alongside celebrations and catechesis, health prevention workshops (drugs, alcoholism, nutrition, and traditional medicine) will be conducted in coordination with the apostolic vicariate and health center.
Objectives
- To proclaim the Gospel and strengthen the Christian faith in the indigenous communities of the Cayapas River, while simultaneously promoting their integral human development and respect for their cultural identity.
- To establish a program of regular pastoral visits and itinerant missions along the river.
- To train local community leaders (Cachi catechists) to be the primary facilitators of the faith in their native language.
- To implement social support workshops (addressing drug abuse, alcoholism, nutrition, and traditional medicine).
Beneficiaries
Direct: 150 catechists, 2,800 children and adolescents
Indirect: families and local indigenous communities
Referent sister of the project: Marina Serralde Toledo
Project's costs