Fall 2025 Newsletter - FFGE Has a New Name

September 12, 2025                     

FFGE, aka For Future Generations, Ecuador

Fall Newsletter

Dear Friends,

There is a lot to share…a lot going on with FFGE!  We have a new name and new logo (I know…it looks the same)!  We explain the reasoning behind the change.  We have added four new students to our scholarship roster and had four graduates, resulting in a total of 24 students on scholarship.  We have nine graduates who are gainfully employed!  We have added a new board member, Eric Glendening, PhD, faculty at Indiana State University—that and more in our newsletter.  Last, but not least, we want to share some significant donations by Indiana State University students and our own grandchildren.

Cotopaxi

Name change.  We adopted a more expansive name because we are expanding the focus of the charity beyond Guangaje to other parishes and counties within the Province of Cotopaxi.  Cotopaxi, with its iconic 19,347-foot volcano of the same name (see photo), is among the poorest provinces in Ecuador.  It has a population of approximately 470,000.   60% of families live in extreme poverty.  Child malnutrition is at similar rates, and very low educational outcomes are incredibly high.  Access to quality education is limited, and opportunities for advancement in the dominant society are even more restricted.  Along with our expansion into school-based Positive Youth Development programs (see prior May 2025 Newsletter), we are seeking to expand the work of our non-profit to the entire Province of Cotopaxi, along with our partner organizations in Cotopaxi, FUNYAJ, headed by Rodrigo Ilaquiche, Hombro a Hombro (another Ecuadorian non-profit), and the Patronato of Cotopaxi (the social services arm of the Provincial Government).  Our vision is to make positive youth development programs and access to higher education available for all poor, vulnerable, and indigenous youth in Cotopaxi.

New Board Member Dr. Eric Glendening

Eric Glendening is a professor of chemistry at Indiana State University (ISU).  His interest in Latin American people, culture, and history began during family travels to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula in the 1970s.  He now leads medical service brigades to Guangaje, providing over 200 ISU students with global service-learning experiences.  When he's not teaching or organizing the next brigade, Dr. Glendening develops software for computational chemistry.  He lives in Terre Haute with his wife, Sanae, their two children, and four grandchildren.

Indiana State University Students in Guangaje

Indiana State University students provide healthcare to Guangaje families twice a year through Medical Brigades, spending six days traveling from village to village and assisting physicians with exams and health education. When they heard of our college scholarship program, they jumped right in and have been providing one student’s expenses each of the past 3 years. Thank you, American students, for connecting with Ecuadorian students. You are a Gift!

4 New Student Scholarship Recipients (pictures to follow)

In the Spring (in Ecuador, Universities have two start times for new students: the fall and the spring), we welcomed four new students on FFGE scholarships.  All of these students come from impoverished families, are first-generation students, and have great plans for the future.  We will provide photos and more information on them in future newsletters.

They are:

·         L. is studying Architecture

·         M. is studying Biochemistry/Pharmacy

·         M. is studying Social Work

·         F. is studying Civil Engineering

Speaking of “Future Generations”…  

We (Julie and Dave) wanted to share how our grandchildren presented us with a heartfelt note and a generous donation after hearing, at the dinner table, the excitement we felt for our FFGE scholarship students who were working toward their college degrees and getting good, fun jobs.  We love their hearts! 

Please donate to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable and indigenous youth in Cotopaxi, Ecuador!

Mail: Checks can be made payable to For Future Generations, Ecuador and mailed to 179 Glass Road, Johnson City, TN 37615 

Online: at www.forthefuturege.com, select the DONATE NOW icon  Consider sponsoring a student for $180/month. 

Thank you! 

Dave & Julie Wood     forthefuturege@gmail.com