While preparing for the monthly Peace Education
Workshop, we took a little time to relax. Left to right: Amelia Brandt, Yessenia Pozo,
Daniela Sanchez
I served as an intern at the Quito Mennonite Church from January to July, 2009, and worked with the church’s refugee project. I am originally from Hillsboro, KS and my home church is First Mennonite Church of Hillsboro. I became interested in Ecuador while serving my second Mennonite Voluntary Service term in Washington, DC with the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees. Ecuador is one of the only Latin American countries with a large refugee population and a relatively liberal refugee law.
My main responsibility with the refugee program of the Mennonite and Episcopal church was providing psychosocial support to refugee families and especially children. I visited each family on a biweekly basis and spent time talking with them and assisting with homework. As the program had recently been given funding, it was expanding during my time there. I assisted with ideas for addressing psychosocial and educational needs and also developed a record keeping system for home visits to improve communication and monitoring of the program.
Students (and a little sister!) in my Sunday School class at Quito Mennonite Church pose for a photo during one of my last Sundays in Quito.
I taught English at the Hazel McCallion school several daysa week and also provided counseling sessions to several students.
In collaboration with the Quito Mennonite Church, I taught Sunday School and assisted with the monthly Peace Education workshops.
