International Projects

Marco Island Rotary Sunrise Mission La Posada de San Francisco,
Cuenca Ecuador

Over 2000 men, women and children come to La Posada each year in search of basic and preventative medical and dental services.  Approximately 300 indigent and homeless men and women eat at La Posada on any given weekend.  30-50 children attend classes nightly at La Posada and that number increases to approximately 300 on weekends.

Our project will provide basic and preventative medical and dental services for those who are at or below the poverty level.  La Posada provides these services to thousands who, but for La Posada, would not have access to the services.  There is glaring deficiency in the availability of basic and preventative medical and dental services.  Those served by La Posada live in the City of Cuenca as well as the surrounding country side.

Cuenca has a high population of indigenous and afro-descendents.  Rates of poverty are higher for populations of indigenous and afro-descendents, and rural sectors, reaching 44% of the native ancestry population.  In a recent statistic, 7.6% of health spending went to the 20% of the poor, while 20% of the rich population received 38.1% of this expenditure.

Our project will transform and combine rooms to provide for the needs of the indigent and homeless men, women and children in Cuenca and its surrounding countryside.  With modern medical office space,  professionals can meet on a more timely basis and provide preventive medical and dental services those in need.

There will be a multipurpose room where, in addition to providing space to feed the hungry, it will serve as expanded space for social worker to train, coach, and provide motivational talks to both children and adults.  By addressing the issues of self-worth and self-reliance, we have seen more self-sufficient individuals, which results in increased trust and reliance in themselves and less and less of the Posada.  The recipients of the services of the worker are better able to find and maintain jobs and contribute to their community.

The renovation of the existing classrooms will likewise provide an ideal for environment for the children to learn.  The new rooms will be larger to reduce overcrowding and will be clean and brighter.  Similarly, restroom facilities will be accessible to the classrooms

Local members of the community are directly involved in the planning and execution of this project.  The religion of approximately 95% of the local population is Roman Catholic.  The church is central to providing for the needs of the indigent and homeless.  Many times, government assistance does not reach these individuals.  The Tomebamba Club has over thirty years of experience in working with the church and has the support of local governments and school officials to ensure its projects are expedited where possible and receives community support.   The Tomebamba Club teams up with not only the church officials and local government officials, but also local community leaders.

By receiving community feedback in determining the needs of the community, the Tomebamba Club creates community support to ensure the sustainability of the project, both financially and in enlisting volunteers.

Disease prevention and treatment

Father Rigoberto Jara, the parish priest responsible for overseeing the shelter ” La Posada de San Francisco”

This project drives disease prevention and treatment provides basic and preventative medical and dental services for those who are at or below the poverty level.  We also get the word out into the community that the treatments  are available and stress the importance of the treatments.  La Posada provides these services to thousands who, but for La Posada, would not have access to the services.   There is glaring deficiency in the availability of basic and preventative medical and dental services.  Those served by La Posada live in the City of Cuenca as well as the surrounding country side. Care needed beyond the scope of the clinic will be referred to local professional partners in the community that have free care arrangements.