Family Profile

MissionInterview - Why Help | History | How it Works | About Cotacachi | Family Profile

Curious to know how your donation will help? Learn more about our families by reviewing the typical family profile below, based on a 2013 survey. Also, follow the link for testimonials from parents and students about how the program helps!

Fathers’ Employment
Average combined household income is $395 a month. Most of our students’ fathers work in construction, agriculture, or the production of artisan goods.

Community construction

Community construction

Hauling wheat

Hauling wheat

Traditional weaving

Traditional weaving

Mothers’ Employment
Most of our students’ mothers work at home in a variety of activities, including cooking, cleaning, child-rearing and family agriculture. Many mothers additionally fill what little spare time they have embroidering blouses, working the land of others, and making bracelets.

Traditional women's clothing

Traditional women's clothing

Sifting grains

Sifting grains

Artisan market

Artisan market

Homes
Houses are humble, and made of cement blocks, metal or tile roofs, and cement or dirt floors. All homes have water and electricity, although many lack proper plumbing for waste. Many cook over open fire.

Traditional home

Traditional home

Cooking over open fire

Cooking over open fire

Modern home

Modern home

Educational Level
The majority of parents did not have the opportunity to complete primary school. Parents are well aware of how their own lack of education has limited their work and life opportunities, and consequently work very hard to send their children to school.

Bilingual community school

Bilingual community school

After school fun

After school fun

After school activities

After school activities

Agriculture
Family agriculture provides important food security. Landholdings are less than 1 hectare in average, and are used to grow staple crops like maize, beans, favas, peas, potatoes and sometimes quinoa or barley. Many families also produce smaller amounts of fruit and vegetables, like limes, tangerines, avocadoes, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, radishes and beets. Crops are produced organically, and provide families an important food source given typically low wages and periods of unemployment.

Oca, an Andean tuber

Oca, an Andean tuber

Healthy maize crop

Healthy maize crop

Drying grains for seed and storage

Drying grains for seed and storage

Animal Husbandry
Animals are also important. Cows provide labor and milk, while pigs, chickens and guinea pigs provide a means of savings as these animals provide food for families and can be sold quickly for cash in times of need.

Sheep with lamb

Sheep with lamb

Guinea pig roasting

Guinea pig roasting

"Chanchito" or piglet

"Chanchito" or piglet

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