Giving back

Before I made this journey to a different country, I always thought about what this experience was going to do for me. What I could gain from this experience, what I could learn, but not once did I actually think what I could bring to this country, these beautiful here. Never once did I think about how I could change someone else life just by being here. Even though I did not think like that, now I can say maybe just maybe I can or have already impacted someone life. November the 20th a group of us international students volunteered for Hogar de Criso. Hogar de Cristo is a place that not only provide homes, but build the homes from the ground up for the most neediest people in Ecuador. If you are not aware 80% of Ecuador's population is poor. There is no middle class here. You are rich or poor, and with such a big gap the people at the bottom are the people that a treat with no respect and ignored in an economy that is trying so hard to become greater. The thing is the poor people are being forgotten, as they never really got anything from their country in the first place, but now it is even worst with only 20% of this country population growing. Hogar de Cristo is a place that looks out for those poor people, for those who are being left behind. The house cost about 800 dollars and last about 8 years minimum. Now I sure you saying what kind of house is that, but to those who have nothing and nowhere to sleep this is their palace and quite frankly with all the hard work that is put into it feels like a palace to those who build them. At Hogar de Cristo they manufacture the parts for the houses there and then send them off to the location and volunteers like us go out and start literally with the ground itself, but by the end of the day it is a rewarding experience when those kids, or families run in their home and can finally say they have a place to lay their head. It was the hardest work I ever did in my life because it meant so much to me. Hogar de Cristo is a blessing for those that cannot even phantom what a home looks like. They give back to their country. Donations pay for mostly everything and it is what keeps this place going. If you want to donate contact me and I can get it all done. Email me at eryka.sandridge@gmail.com the thing about donations is that the amount is not what is important as the thought of giving is. Realize in the states we see twenty dollars easily everyday come and go now imagine seeing twenty dollars every month!!! Can you even phantom that in your mind what it would be to live off $240.00 a month. Well these people here can and that is the amount for the working people. That is the minimum wage for people who do the same jobs as we do in the states, so know ten dollars can go a long way here. Give to your hearts content... Here are photos...I will put up more besides these...DONATE IF POSSIBLE. "THROUGH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE"