Portoviejo Area Program

Portoviejo is home to 12,315 people, 5,643 of whom are children. Because of Portoviejo's tropical landscape and coastal location, the area is prone to unpredictable weather spells, such as droughts, storms and sudden changes in temperature. Portoviejo has become highly polluted over the years, affecting natural resources and causing respiratory diseases and infections among the community, particularly young children.

Many households rely on agriculture and fishing to support their families, but are restricted by dwindling natural resources. Limited access to clean water and health information makes children especially vulnerable to disease. Children are also exposed to harsh, physical discipline, which is a deeply entrenched part of the community's larger

Health
Children in Portoviejo face numerous barriers to enjoying good health. Because many are tasked with completing household chores such as fishing early in the morning, at least 67 per cent of children under five don't eat breakfast. Many parents don't have access to information on nutrition, diet, or healthy child growth. Parents receive very little support from health care units or diverse food supply. As a result, many children become malnourished. At least 29 per cent of children under five are reported as underweight for their age.

Clean water and good sanitation is in poor supply, leaving children vulnerable to diseases, further contributing to poor health. Children under age five are exposed to mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria. A lack of education and health information means 65 per cent of mothers are unable to recognize signs of respiratory infections, and 72 per cent can't recognize the warning signs of diarrhea.

Education
Many children in this community struggle to access a good education. Often, children as young as 15 are required to work and contribute financially, which forces them to either miss class or arrive tired and unfocused. This strain is reflected in their progress: of the 60 per cent of middle school students who practice reading regularly, only 11 per cent of those students read well. Minimal resources, poor infrastructure, limited parental involvement and limited training for teachers results in a poor quality of education overall.

Given the challenges, it's unsurprising that up to 60 per cent of students age 13 to 18 don't continue to or complete secondary school. In fact, at least 24 per cent of youth drop out to work, or get married. Early marriage puts girls as young as 13 at risk of abandoning their education or becoming pregnant.

Child Protection & Participation
In Portoviejo, children's rights aren't being diligently protected. In fact, community leadership overall is limited with very few people encouraged to lead or advocate for others.

For example, an average of 16 per cent of 10 to 18-year-olds are subject to corporal punishment at school or at home, a recurring cycle that many of their parents also endured. Since this tactic is deeply entrenched in the community, not many adults recognize the need to advocate for children or stand up for their rights. Currently, no programs exist for community members to learn how to lead their families, participation in conversations on community development or protect children from domestic violence.