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LATEST NEWS: A LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDERS
We attended the Guangaje High School graduation ceremony in July this year. What an honor to be there to witness this event. We want to paint you a picture of it and help you to see why we are so moved to help these families and youth have access to higher education and the dignity of a professional career in a culture that views them as “less than.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL LETTER AND STATEMENT
July 2023 Visit
July encountered FFGE Founder David Wood in Guangaje giving instruction to local teachers on Youth
Development, a project he is working on in connection with Universidad San Francisco de Quito and East
Tennessee State University. Julie Wood then joined him and ETSU students and faculty, and
Optometrist Dr. David Mills of Elizabethton for 5 days of medical clinics in 5 different Guangaje villages.
We so enjoyed the Guangaje folks as we screened for Diabetes, treated infections, poor vision, joint
pains and much more. What a wonderful experience for the ETSU students to serve those hard-working
families who live with poverty and malnutrition. A highlight of the week in Guangaje was bringing donor
Peter Dunn to the Guangaje High School Graduation! Nineteen graduates! Potential scholarship recipients!
Dave, Julie, Peter and Rodrigo with students on top of our new building, Casa Guangaje
Celebrating with the Guangaje High School Graduates
Introducing Casa Guangaje
With excitement we announce the purchase and dedication of Casa Guangaje! This 3-story apartment building near Universidad Tecnica de Cotopaxi in Latacunga has become dormitory housing for the Para El Futuro Scholarship students. It provides safe, affordable housing, giving students the opportunity to support each other in this challenging time of life.
Casa Guagaje’s dedication, which occurred in July 2022, was a wonderful time of speeches by students, parents, mentor Rodrigo Ilaquiche and Para El Futuro founder David Wood. A celebration meal was shared by all.
Here is a video excerpt of one student’s emotional expression of what it means for her, as an indigenous woman, to have access to higher education.
Casa Guangaje was donated by the Founders to Fundacion Yanapak Jumandy Funyaj, who will maintain the building, supervise the students and continue to provide mentoring and accountability. Vamos Adelante!
Our new building, Casa Guangaje!
Dave inspecting the bunk beds.
Archived News
Summer Boat Raffle Winners
Congratulations to our 2022 Summer Raffle winners who got to enjoy a pontoon rental for the afternoon! Due to your support, we were able to raise a wonderful amount of money to support our students from Guangaje.
Raffle for Guangaje Winners
And the winners are... Matt and Kathi!! We hope you enjoyed your Authentic Spanish Paella! The youth in Guangaje also thank you all for your support in helping them realize their dreams for their future.
We raised $1500 with the Paella Raffle! Roughly enough to cover one student’s annual expenses! Thank you to all those who participated! And a special thank you to Trinidad Vicente of “Paellas Trinidad” and Bonefish Grill of Johnson City, Tennessee for donating the Paella dinner and dessert.
Que Dios les bendiga!
Smile Amazon
Amazon has discontinued the Smile Amazon program for non-profits. Thank you for having participated!