About six years ago, a small group of Rotarian volunteers traveled from New Jersey, USA, to Ecuador to build homes for people displaced by the storms triggered by El Niño in the late 1990s. What began as a project to construct low-cost housing has since developed into a flourishing community.

In 2002, while Rotarians from Ecuador and the United States looked for a way to help those who had been left homeless by severe flooding, mudslides, and other devastation, it soon became clear that survivors needed more than just shelter. So, over the next five years, volunteers from District 7510 (New Jersey and Pennsylvania) worked with their Ecuadorian counterparts to build a community infrastructure that would ensure the health and welfare of those living in Ciudadela Rotaria Río Guayas – a project known as Homes of Hope.

The Rotarians first set out to build bamboo housing for 43 displaced families on more than 80 acres of land donated by the nearby village of San Pablo. Because space was limited, prospective families had to qualify for the community by contributing financially toward their home and having at least one employed adult member.

“We wanted to provide a hand up, not a handout,” says project founder Doug Merritt, of the Rotary Club of Branchburg Township, N.J.

To support the effort, the clubs raised money and secured Rotary Foundation Matching Grant funds. With help from organizations including Ecuador’s Ark of Hope Foundation and Connecticut’s Avon Old Farms School, along with the Rotary clubs of Río Guayas and Guayaquil Centenario in Ecuador and Pincher Creek in Alberta, Canada, the community began to blossom.

Every year, Homes of Hope volunteers travel to the project site for about 10 days, working alongside community members to build day-care and other facilities, replace the original bamboo homes with housing made from concrete block, and install electricity and running water.

Ecuadorian Rotarians have worked with residents to come up with a development plan and prioritize needs, says Cesar Cansing, of the Guayaquil Centenario club, who notes that the initial lack of infrastructure made it difficult to create a sense of community. “The water project not only brought water,” he explains, “but also increased the feeling of being part of a neighborhood.”

In 2005, health care professionals joined the effort. During their trips to the community, doctors, dentists, nurses, and other volunteers operate a clinic where as many as 1,000 patients receive medical care, health education, vitamins, and medications.

The project has also focused on the local elementary school, which is undergoing extensive renovations. “Conditions in parts of the school are deplorable and hazardous,” says Brian Fischer, manager of the Homes of Hope project and a member of the Rotary Club of Clinton Sunrise, N.J. “We needed to provide a safe environment for these kids to learn.” A child sponsorship program ensures students receive an education, a nutritious breakfast, school supplies, uniforms, and medical and dental checkups.

“We can’t put patches on the problems,” Merritt stresses. “Every year, we see an improvement in the health and knowledge level of the children. These are clear examples of what a well thought-out, long-term project can accomplish.”