The average real minimum wage in Latin America has fallen by up to 35% since 1980
Labor is often the only asset the poor can use to improve their well-being
A 10% INCREASE IN AVERAGE INCOME REDUCES A COUNTRY’S POVERTY RATE BY 20-30%
Countries

Ecuador
THE NEED
- 3.5% of kids don’t work or study
- 69% of women are underemployed
- Overall underemployment is 23%
- 58.9% illiterate female adults
- Ecuador is #88 of 148 on the Gender Inequality Index measuring a female’s access to health, economic empowerment compared to males
THE RESPONSE
- Professional Development Workshops
- Women's Empowerment
- TEACHES
- Adult English
- Children’s English
- Library and Community Center
- Small Business Development

Nicaragua
THE NEED
- 76% of population lives on > $2/day
- Second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
- A doctor earns $544/month
- Price of a meal at McDonalds: $5.00
- A teacher earns around $205 a month
THE RESPONSE
- English
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- English Vocational Training
Ecuador Livelihood Programs
Few schools offer comprehensive English language tuition. Where classes do exist, subject material is frequently incorrect. Private English education is expensive and out of reach for low-income families, yet English fluency is a valuable skill in Ecuador’s job market. MPI Ecuador meets the huge demand for high-quality, affordable English language instruction from native-speaking teachers.
The Chillos Valley is home to some of the greatest wealth disparity in the region. Many lack basic education, sanitation, and utility coverage. At Manna Project's Community Center, kids can play, learn and read; teens can play video games, watch movies, read and hang out; and adults can pursue continued education through interactive workshops and internet access. Our Community Center also has a computer lab with laptops for English assistance as well as homework help. The Community Center partners with local universities to bring tutors to our location and help better the education of the children in our community. Similarly, there is a game room for kids to use with the supervision of Program Directors which includes ping pong, foosball and a wii.
The Ecuador site has two programs centered around Women. Women’s group mets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in the Community Center to discuss life, family, and empowerment while doing handicrafts. The women have learned how to make crafts to be sold for income, encouraging personal economic sustainability. Different women lead different classes teaching new crafts such as scarves, needlepoint, bracelet making, and much more. This core group of women are important participants in our community and help support in various ways. Similarly Program Directors work with local partner organization Hogar de la Madre Soltera, a teenage women’s shelter, to encourage weekly homework study, conflict resolution and female empowerment. Women’s programs are incredibly important in Ecuador, as statistics show.
Multiple studies have shown that children and adults who read do better in school or work. Reading reduces stress, increases focus, and improves analytical thinking, vocabulary, memory and writing skills. Manna Project's library is the first of its kind in the Chillos Valley and has a full range of books, games, puzzles and other intellectually stimulating activities for all ages.
Fluidez de inglés abre un mundo de oportunidades en Ecuador, donde la educación de inglés es demasiado caro para las comunidades de escasos recursos. La alta calidad de las clases de Manna Project ayudan a que los estudiantes prosperen. Clases pequeñas con relaciones sólidas entre estudiante / profesor combinados con sesiones de práctica suplementarios resultan en un alto grado de perfeccionamiento. Participantes de la clase ganan confianza y muchos graduados obtienen empleos mejores debidos a sus habilidades. También, nuestro sitio en Ecuador forma una colaboración con organizaciones locales como la Universidad ESPE par proveer clases de conversación en inglés una vez a la semana, dando apoyo con pronunciación y confianza para hablar. De vez en cuando también apoyamos con la Unidad Escuela de Misiones de Paz “Ecuador” con clases de conversación.
Muy pocas escuelas ofrecen una buena enseñanza del idioma inglés. En las clases que si existen, los materiales suelen estar incorrectos. La educación privada es muy cara y muchas veces fuera del alcance de las familias de bajos ingresos; sin embargo, la fluidez de inglés es una habilidad valiosa en el mercado laboral de Ecuador. MPI Ecuador cumple con la enorme demanda de enseñanza de inglés de alta calidad y de profesores nativos.
El Valle de los Chillos es un lugar con una de las disparidades de riqueza más grandes de la región. Hace falta educación básica, saneamiento y la cobertura de servicios básicos. En el Centro Comunitario de Manna Project, los niños pueden jugar, aprender y leer; los adolescentes pueden jugar videojuegos, ver películas, leer y pasar tiempo en un ambiente seguro; y los adultos pueden seguir una educación continua través de talleres interactivos y acceso a Internet. Nuestro centro comunitario también tiene una aula de computación con laptops para ayuda en el inglés y deberes dirigidos. El centro comunitario tiene un convenio con universidades locales para traer alumnos como tutores para mejorar la educación de los niños de la comunidad. También contamos con una sala de juegos incluyendo una mesa de ping pong, futbolín, y un Wii para que los niños y jóvenes puedan jugar con las supervisión de los voluntarios.
En Ecuador tenemos dos programas enfocados en mujeres. El grupo de mujeres se reúne cada martes y jueves en el centro para compartir y discutir asuntos de sus vidas, familias, y empoderamiento mientras hacen manualidades. Las mujeres han aprendido hacer manualidades y han vendido sus productos promoviendo sostenibilidad económica. Varias mujeres han turnado liderando distintas clases incluyendo el tejido de bufandas, bordados, pulseras y más. El grupo se nos hace muy importante como participantes del centro. Apoyan en varios proyectos, eventos, y clubs del centro. También, nuestros voluntarios trabajan con un albergue de mujeres, Hogar de la Madre Soltera. Enseñamos inglés, apoyamos con deberes, y enseñamos resolución de conflictos y empoderamiento de la mujer. Los programas para mujeres son extremadamente importantes en Ecuador segun las estadisticas.
Varios estudios han demostrado que los niños y adultos que leen son más exitosos en la escuela o el trabajo. Leer reduce el estrés, aumenta la concentración y mejora el pensamiento analítico, el vocabulario, la memoria y las habilidades de escritura. La biblioteca de Manna Project es el primero de su tipo en el Valle de los Chillos y tiene un rango grande de libros, juegos, rompecabezas y otras actividades intelectualmente estimulantes para todas las edades.
Nicaragua Livelihood Programs
Students hone their English skills in Advanced English to fully prepare themselves for the employment opportunities available to English speakers in Nicaragua. Having mastered a large amount of knowledge in Levels 1 through 4, students enter Level 5, where the focus is on practicing what they have learned through various activities including projects, competitions, games, and more. Students who graduate from Level 5 English speak, comprehend, read, and write in English at a highly advanced or fluent level. Many of our students go on to obtain employment based on their English English-speaking skills.
In a country with very limited employment opportunities, learning English is one of the very best ways for Nicaraguans to obtain steady, quality employment to support themselves and their families. Our Beginner English classes consist of Levels 1 and 2, where large numbers of students learn the essentials of the English language. This includes basic vocabulary and grammar, and practice in speaking, reading, writing, and comprehending English. For both children and adults, the path to English fluency begins here.
One of the premier job opportunities for English-speakers in Nicaragua is to work for an English language call center. While there are many openings, few are qualified. MPI offers a course to train students in skills needed by local call centers. The end result of the course is that students possess the skills needed to successfully apply for and obtain employment at a local call center, thereby vastly improving the livelihoods of both themselves and their families.
Opportunities abound in Nicaragua for English speakers, and our English program prepares community members to take advantage of these opportunities to improve their financial stability. Having learned the basics of the English language, students enter Intermediate English, which consists of Levels 3 and 4. In these classes, students learn advanced details of the language, and fully transition over to hearing and speaking English exclusively during class. Once students finish Intermediate English, they speak English at an advanced level.
"In my house there are four people - my grandma, my aunt, my cousin and me. Neither my grandma or aunt work, so I need to study hard so I can work as a doctor to support my family."
- Genesis, 18
Resident of Cedro Galán, Nicaragua
"Economic growth is the most powerful instrument for reducing poverty and improving the quality of life in developing countries."
- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Building Jobs and Prosperity in Developing Countries
English fluency opens a world of opportunities in Ecuador, where English education is too expensive for the low-income communities who need it most. Manna Project’s high quality, affordable English classes help students thrive. Small class sizes, strong student/teacher relationships and supplemental practice sessions result in high proficiency. Class participants gain self-confidence and sharpened mental acuity, and many graduate go on to obtain well-paying jobs. Similarly, the Ecuador site partners with local University ESPE to provide English speaking classes once a week, and provides pronunciation help and encourages conversation. On occasion the site also works with the United Nations Peacekeeping Units to provide conversation classes.