When They Learn How To Write, They Will Thank You

Joan and The Ecuadorian Children

The Chimborazo Children's Fund for Ecuador began from a chance meeting.

My name is Joan O'Connor and in December 1997 my husband Tom and I were fortunate enough to have an amazing 3-4 week trip to Ecuador.  The purpose of our trip was to visit a friend of ours who was teaching in Ecuador for a year, but I never could have known that the trip would turn into so much more.

In those 3-4 weeks, Tom and I were able to travel extensively and part of our travels took us to the heart of Ecuador and to the city of Riobamba. 

Riobamba

While in Riobamba, Tom and I met and stayed with a super family for several days - the Walsh's - Tom, Julia and their 4 children. 

Tom is originally from the Toronto area and he met Julia, an Ecuadorian many years ago when he was working and studying in South America. 

Tom and Julia were Lay Missionaries with the Scarboro Foreign Mission Society (headquartered here in Toronto).  They are a very down to earth family with regular jobs but in their spare time they have been working for years with the indigenous communities that live on Mount Chimborazo, elevation  20,561 feet (6,267 m).

We had the privilege of visiting some of these communities of native people high up in the mountains with Tom Walsh.  The experience stayed with my husband Tom and I over all these years and we vowed that at some point we would do something to help these wonderful people who have so little.  There are 100 of these indigenous communities living on Mt. Chimborazo and 80 of them are without schools for their children.

We saw for ourselves the great needs these people have and how many of the children are not able to be educated. 

Educating The Children of Ecuador

It costs about $8000.00 US to build a school and about $100.00 US to send a child to high school for a year once they have finished elementary school.  So we felt that by pledging to raise money to build schools in the area we could help the people who so touched our lives during our visit with them.  

This is how the Chimborazo Children's Fund came to be. 

A truly wonderful group of people have come together and formed a committee to help us make our dream of building a school become a reality.

This past May 2007 we had our 2nd Annual Chimborazo Children's Fund fundraising event at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario - it was such a great success that we are now planning our 3rd Annual fundraiser which will take place on May 10th, 2008. 

For more information on the Chimborazo Children's Fund and  how you can help these Ecuadorian children and thier communities,  take a moment to visit this site.  

Through your help and contribution, you can make a difference in the lives of these  children and, "When They Learn How To Write, They Will Thank You..."