According to recent data, published in the «Ecuador – Civil Society Alternative Report» [1], public spending on education has increased only 1.2% in the last decade and not as established in the Constitution for a progressive increase 0.5% of GDP, so that the amount allocated to early childhood education, elementary and high school reaches at least 6%. This percentage should have been completed by 2012. In this context, Ecuadorian families continue to make direct and indirect economic contributions to complement food, transportation, payment of teachers, teaching materials, among others.

Due to the limited state investment, Nahuel works to alleviate this burden of many Ecuadorian families by running its aid projects in rural areas, addressed to an integral development of children and adolescents.

The mainly reasons for not attending school can be found in economic problems, as the need of a job (especially for men), housework (in the case of women) or topics related to bullying, sexual harassment and sexual orientation

The report also shows that in initial education, between the ages of 3 and 4, one out of two children is still out of educational coverage. 4% of the population of children and adolescents from 5 to 14 years old is still outside the educational system.

It is relevant, and very satisfying for us, as promoters and executors of the Pachijal High School, to point out that in 2017 the first graduates were incorporated. Young people from around twelve communities settled in that area. Children were and continue being accompanied in their studies from their very young age.

For the new graduated, it appears a new and better perspective for their future. Some of them will be helped by Nahuel to access the higher education system of Ecuador (universities).

This is our experience in the Northwest of Quito, where Nahuel has been working for at least eight years, along with several families in the parishes of Pacto and Gualea.

The aid given to children determined in 2010 the need to provide them with a structure for their secondary studies. It was then that Nahuel, together with the local community, financed the building of a school structure in the community of Pachijal, work that culminated on April 2, 2011 and which is currently in charge of the Ecuadorean Ministry of Education.

Informe Alternativo del Cumplimiento de la Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño y sus Protocolos Facultativos por parte del Estado Ecuatoriano