Dear Friends,
Education. It comes in all kinds, formal and informal. For example, it took me about 3 years in Ecuador before I learned that you buy fruits and vegetables here not by the quantity you want, but rather by the amount you wish to spend. For example, when I go to our local corner market I say, “I’d like 50 cents of tomatoes, please.” The casero (owner) will then put what he believes to be the proper amount of tomatoes in a bag. At that point I may or may not haggle, encouraging him that for 50 cents we should receive seven tomatoes, not six. However, as I learned the hard way, if you were ever to ask, “How much is three tomatoes?” you would only be met with a blank stare, as that is not how the system works.
Formal education is sometimes the same way here. By that I mean it is incredibly valuable, however the system is very different from the US, and it doesn’t always seem fair. Public schools here are run by the government, and although they are technically free, students are required to pay a $15-30 a month for books, copies, fees, etc. For example, you actually have to pay for the right to take an exam, and then you have to pay for the right to know what you got on it! If you don’t pay whatever is required that month you are not allowed to attend class. There is a fee for almost any and everything; and that is just in the public schools. The most bizarre part to me is that the schools will not give you legal receipts for your payment, because it is technically free! And if you are one of 5 siblings, and your father is not around, and your mother makes $80 a month (as is the case with so many that we know), you are in a difficult position to say the least.
Education is inexplicably important, and yet outside of the reach of so many. It is this reality that caused us to start a scholarship program. I myself was afforded a phenomenal education with scholarship support, for which I am still deeply grateful. It is a blessing to see this new program grow from 4 children the first year, to 88 students last year! So many of you are involved in the program, thank you! This year we are hoping to put at least 100 children in school, which will start the first of September. I will attach the sheet that explains the program if by chance you would like to know more.
Other happenings in July and August:
-End of the Quito Quest summer! We had a wonderful and exhausting summer with 14 short term mission teams. To all you team members: know that we are praying for you and that you may bear fruit!
-Roberto started his second year at Semi-Sud. Next week he begins Hebrew, so please pray for him in that!
-Roberto also continues as the music minister at the English Fellowship Church. Last Sunday everyone got to see the influence the southeastern part of the US has had in him as he played a 6-string banjo and sangs songs like “Down in the River to Pray” and “I Saw the Light.”
-We have had two full time staff get married this summer. Laura in June, and last Saturday Dario Guerrero married Juanita Hubbard. I got to be on the flower and decoration crew as well as give a Youth World orientation to the pastor who came from the States to do the wedding. The funny part was that the orientation was in the middle of the reception!
- The Diocese of Central Ecuador has a new bishop. Rt. Rev. Luis Fernando Ruiz was installed on August 1, 2009. Please pray that he be an excellent, wise and Godly leader for the Diocese. He is starting in a difficult situation, and as always, the youth ministry hangs in the balance.
Thank you all for your faithful and remarkable support of Roberto and me. The written word does not suffice, so I will trust God to let you know how dear you are to us.
Blessings,
Cameron and Roberto
SAMS/VIVANCO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Education Equals Hope
Thank you for being interested in providing scholarship support for a child in Quito, Ecuador. It is a privilege to work with you and to provide educational resources for children who are trying to break the cycle of poverty. This sheet will tell you how the program works and how you can be involved.
The way it works:
Students and their families must fill out a ‘solicitude’ or application for the program through the local church that is supported through the program (Argelia Alta, Carmen Bajo, or Emaus). This is to ensure their willingness to participate according to the guidelines. Those guidelines include that the student must pass their course or grade to continue to receive scholarship money, and that they must hand in all receipts for money received before the next allotment may be dispersed.
Who gets supported?
Some sponsors have a relationship with a particular family or child; others want to support the larger community or church. We are excited about either situation; however, please understand that those who live and work with the families and children often know best who needs what support. We certainly do not want to support only the cute or outgoing children, but those that we can help as God leads and provides.
How do I support a child?
The scholarship fund is run through the missionary support account of Cameron and Roberto Vivanco, missionaries with the South American Missionary Society (SAMS).www.sams-usa.org. As of the writing of this document SAMS does not take out any percentage of the support, but may need to in the future as the program grows.
· You may send the donation to: SAMS, PO Box 399, Ambridge, PA 15003
· Make the check payable to: SAMS, and put Vivanco Special Project in the memo line. This is VERY IMPORTANT, OTHERWISE IT WILL BE CREDITED TO THEIR PERSONAL SUPPORT ACCOUNT AND NOT TO THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. There is also the option of automatic account drafting by contacting the SAMS office at 724-266-0669
· Every time you send in a donation you will receive a tax receipt back in the mail and an envelope for your next contribution. Other than that envelope there will be no reminders sent.
· Also, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you email cameron.vivanco@iteams.org and notify her that you are sending so she knows how much money there is to allot.
· We recommend a monthly donation of $40. Feel free to send more or less depending on what you are able to do. If possible please send double payment in Aug/Sept as the new school year costs are steep!
Notes:
All monies donated to the scholarship program will be used for the education and related expenses of the children. We want this to be very clear: once you donate money it becomes property of the scholarship fund, and not that of the child you are supporting. For example if you are supporting ‘Juan’, at the end of the school year if Juan has $15 left in his account, he will not be given that money in his hand, rather it will goes towards another child’s education or held for the next year of Juan’s education. (This is important as some families think that the money should go to them. This is not our practice and we want to make sure that you as a donor understand this. We are endeavoring to help with the education of the students, not be a welfare agency).
