The hills of the inactive volcano Casitagua near Pomasqui were supposed to be reforested. This was the beginning of our involvement in Ecuador. Via the Senior-Expert-Service we were able to win over a German forester, who elaborated an excellent concept for our reforestation efforts. Those efforts were financed by Swiss donors and were complemented by social help. This included the provision of sponsorships for children and the funding of a playing ground which was entirely constructed by the parents of the supported children. The first of our volunteers worked in the kindergarden of Pomasqui.

To improve their level of income, the mothers of the sponsored children cooperated in a handicraft project which was also joined by their sons and daughters. They still produce beautiful embroideries, crotchet and stitch. They display their products in a showcase for potential customers in the German-Ecuadorian restaurant Hosteria Alemana, which is located close to the equator-memorial. The women are entirely independent of third party assistance since 2005 and they are building financial reserves and administer microcredits. Every year, the group submits a flawless bookkeeping that covers incomes from the sponsorships and the financial situation and development of the group. Director of the group became Sra. Luz Imelda Loja, mother of one of the sponsored children. Somewhat older sponsored children are taught to be co-responsible for the group and are asked to take charge of different tasks related to the group’s mission.

“Manos Magicas = Magic Hands - MM” is the name the group proudly gave itself. In December 2006, when the group displayed a collection of their works at the Christmas bazaar of the “Damas Alemanas” they were approached by Textiles Latinoamericanos Textisimo S.A., a company that since then regularly places orders for ponchos and other textiles according to the ideas of German designers Kathrin Zimmermann und Ute Auwärter.

In summer 2007, Manos Magicas merged with a women’s group from San Antonio that was since then also led by Sra. Imelda. They changed their name to “El Arte de tejer y bordar Manos Magicas” (Quichua: Alaja Rurashca Aguashca Bordado M.M.) and started to seek for new means of distribution. They started to organized fashion shows, which are enriched by Cuencan-style folkloric costumes and dances and managed to close a supply deal with a French textile company.

The vision of opening an own shop for their works has not yet been realized, but a first step towards this goal is taken. Sra. Imelda tore down a wall in her house and replaced it with a window glass. Thereby, she established a Kiosk and a showcase at the same time.

The group’s success makes us very happy and it shows, that “helping others to help themselves” is not just a noble cause, but indeed possible. Some of our sponsored children managed to pursue university studies and are going to be supported until graduation. Lorena was the first young woman of the group to receive a university degree in computer sciences.