The Ecumenical Foundation for Integral Development, Training and Education (FEDICE) coordinates educational, health, agriculture, and community development projects for the indigenous population in rural communities of Ecuador, a country where between 70 and 80 percent of the population lives in poverty.  With the help of Global Ministries and other partners, FEDICE carries out construction projects, medical clinics, pastoral work, and other programs in the provinces of Imbabura and Cotopaxi.  FEDICE has been instrumental in the development of water systems and agricultural and animal husbandry programs that bring sustainable income to poor families most of which have a woman as head of household and who are responsible for the support of the family.

FEDICE is now proud to announce the opening of Caluquí Child Care Center in the province of Imbabura, dedicated to the memory of former missionary, Violet Groth Vaca.  Violet began her long career as a missionary in 1950 when she was assigned to Ecuador by the Evangelical Covenant Church of America as a missionary.  During her service in Ecuador, Violet married Victor Vaca in September 1965; and, in 1970, Violet and Victor were assigned to Friendship Mission, Asunción, Paraguay through the Disciples Division of Overseas Ministries, where she also worked as a teacher at Colegio Internacional.  From 1977 to 1982, Violet was assigned to the International Office of the YMCA in Geneva, Switzerland, returning to Ecuador where she and Victor served with the Ecuadorian Pastoral Ministry (PRE); the Evangelical United Church of Ecuador; and the Ecumenical Foundation for Integral Development, Training and Education (FEDICE) based in Quito. After 22 years of missionary work, Violet retired from full-time employment in 1992, but continued to serve in a volunteer capacity until 2005.  Violet died on February 27, 2008, in Quito, Ecuador.  FEDICE decided to reinforce and launch the Caluqui Child Care Center in Violet's memory.

The Caluquí Child Care Center currently has 26 children enrolled who come daily because their mothers do not have anywhere else to leave them when they go to work.  Most of the children's mothers work mainly in large agricultural enterprises as fieldhands.  The community came together to address the need for child care.  As is the custom in Ecuador, all child care centers are built with contributions from the community and by means of volunteer communal labor.  They purchased concrete blocks and built the shell of a house that is still in need of materials and supplies that will allow for adequate care of the children.  The center does not have doors or windows, and it has a dirt floor.  There are no restroom facilities and no divisional

barriers to separate the area of meal preparation and service from the areas of rest, instruction, and play.

The Center is in need of the following:  paving the floor inside the building, building of columns and permanent ceilings, separation walls, plastering of walls, restrooms, as well as day care and kitchen equipment.  The identified budget for this stage of the project is approximately $6,000, and requests are being made to provincial and local government agencies to help with stone material (rubble, sand, cement) or whatever else they can provide to help complete the center.  FEDICE is also requesting donations from other sources such as Global Ministries and the different church groups that visit Ecuador as part of their outreach ministry.

If you wish to support this project, below is a list of special way in which you can:

• $50.00 will purchase kitchen equipment or utensils
• $75 will pay for  a mattress and linens for the sleeping quarters
• $100 will help purchase developmental education equipment
• $150 or more will help purchase building materials