"While my wife and I were traveling through Ecuador (June 2004), we undertook a two-week volunteer program in Bahia de Caraquez teaching English to children in middle school (ages six to 13). The program was put together by Genesis, a private school with good facilities and credentialed teachers. We spent a couple days training at Genesis and then left to teach at the public school in Fanka. At Fanka, we were so shocked by the terrible conditions of the public school that we met with Vladir, Genesis's founder, to create a scholarship/sponsorship program to move "high potential" kids from Fanka to Genesis.

This concept was the first of its kind for Genesis. The bottom line: $650 per year covers a child's uniform, books/supplies, education, and a hot meal every day." -- Jeff Slye, 2004