I am always touched and moved when I read the words of The Teacher’s Prayer by Gabriela Mistral, the Chilean poet and first Latin American Woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.

“let me be more mother than the mother

herself in my love and defense  of the child

who is not flesh of my flesh. Help me to make

one of my children my most perfect poem, and

leave within him or her my most melodious melody

from that day when my own lips no longer sing.”

The many times that I am asked why I do what I do with Causes the question has me ponder on the innocence of childhood and the importance of protecting and taking care of the children.

The children in the many villages and communities we have visited are very inquisitive about where we come from, the world, how to get an education, and how to become successful and help their parents and communities.

They do not desire pity or be a cause for humiliation and become the poster child for some group. Like me and you, they seek opportunities for knowledge and good health to continue; to experience play, laughter and true happiness in all aspects of life.

I can see the important role Causes for Change International (CCI) plays in successfully recycling medical equipment to those in need.  They are giving medical support to people like myself, that do not not have the medicare or medicaid option.The sincere and genuine efforts that everyone extended to me to deliver and to offer delivery/return of wheelchair is a blessing! With my wheelchair, came a memorable compassionate delivery that really made a difference! Thank-you, forever! “
Many thanks.
Sharon DeLaCruz
Chicago, IL 60640

CCI had been in communication with University of Milagro who together with
dentists, doctors, nursing students, community health care trainees, were
making all the needed preparations to receive the mobile clinic and get to work with this
wonderful gift being made available to them.

Causes for Change International worked together  with The Manaaki Foundation, Indima Foundation, Rotary Club of Cicero, Rotary Club One of Chicago , District 6540 as well as Dr. Wigdor of the School of Dentistry at Illinois Masonic Hospital in planning the shipment of the mobile clinic.

Unfortunately this past Monday we were told the mobile clinic had been vandalized. The following message from the Facilities Manager at Illinois Masonic was received:

“Due to the van sitting as long as it has, many issues make it
not useful. The van has been vandalized so much of the remaining equipment
has been stripped from it. The chairs are now ripped and stripped for metal
content. Two of the windows have been broken and the windshield now needs
replacement. I have decided to salvage the remaining parts through a scrap
yard since it can no longer serve as a dental unit.”

Despite the bad news, CCI is not giving up. The organization plans to get the vandalized unit replaced and ship it to Ecuador as it was first intended. Where this mobile clinic is going to be shipped, the health conditions are very poor and sometimes a doctor is hours away.

“This is a setback, but not an impossibility for us to obtain another Mobile Unit. Please help me and CCI continue with this major project of seeing people in need receive proper dental and health care.” -Zully JF Alvarado, Founder of Causes for Change International.

If you would like to support this cause please contact us at info@causesforchange.org, causesforchange@gmail.com

Causes for Change International, Causas para el Cambio-Ecuador, FWM (Free Wheelchair Mission) together with NE Lions Club worked in a collaborative manner with Miami Interamerican Lions Club to deliver the container  to Manos de Compasion in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  The wheelchairs are for national distribution to persons with physical disabilities, many who have been waiting for a very long time for someone to notice their need and desire for mobility.

We are very pleased with the work and participation of all those that helped and made this possible.

The following organizations serve as participants in this first shipment:

• Amigos de Los Angeles – Manabi

• Club de Leones de Portoviejo – Manabi

• Centro de Rehabilitación – Playas

• Fundación A.E.I. – Guayaquil

• Fundación María Gracia – Guayaquil

• Fundación Comité Auxilio Social – Quito

• Club de Leones La Chala – Guayaquil

• Fundación Mercedes de Jesús Molina – Guayaquil

• Hogar Para Ancianos GIRASOL – Daule

• Manos de Compasión – Guayaquil

• Causas para el Cambio – Guayaquil

Ligia Bobadilla of Proyeto Daniel, had mentioned in May the importance of a wheelchair for Dennis. We learned about how this young man’s mother had to carry him around and the difference that a wheelchair would make in their lives. Thanks to the wonderful supporters of CCI who took an interest in the cause, a wheelchair was delivered to Dennis in Costa Rica on Friday, August 26^th.

“It went very well, very emotional. Thank you Causes for Change for making this possible, he really needs the chair and it will make a lot of difference in his quality of life and for his family. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live this beautiful and rewarding moment.  Moments like the ones lived today are what life is all about.”

–Ligia Bobadilla, Proyecto Daniel

Dennis, with family and Ligia Bobadilla from Proyecto Daniel after receiving the wheelchair.

What I learned more than anything about this experience is that when I look into the face of an individual whether male or female, whatever race or religion, whether old or young, I saw myself. I learned that the light shines in all of us regardless of where we live or what we are living with. It is the connection. The communion with one another.

“Not only was Causes for Change International healing the people of Ecuador, but the people of Ecuador healed me.”

I am not the same woman as when I left. I carry the light of the children and the strength of the women I met with me. I am blessed beyond measure. This was my first journey with a non-profit and after this experience I realize that my life is only beginning. I am ever thankfull. May this organization be blessed with love and light.

Michelle with local kids in the Coast of Ecuador.

Michelle Christian Corp

Member of 2011 Mission Trip Volunteer Team

“He is the happiest child in the world, thanks to all our friends.” –Zully, president and founder of Causes for Change International, said after giving the tryke to Pablito.

We delivered the wheelchair to Daniela, worked with her parents and a local therapist to teach them how to provide stimulation. Now she can be positioned to feel the world from a different vantage point. We are ecstatic that we were able to help Daniela and Pablito. It has been a group effort, thank you so much to everyone that supported these causes and helped make this possible.

This has been one of the most difficult experiences thus far, seeing so many children with disabilities and in need of dental care. We ask why is there such a high incidence of children with disabilities in Posorja and surrounding communities?

How Inclusion of this population benefits all sectors of society. This began with a conversation by the founders of CCI and the Vice Prefecta, Luzmila Nicolaide, during their encounter in the month of January and they both said “let’s do it” let’s have this conference where mayors, civil society and persons with disabilities come together and learn how to work together to develop laws, work on accessibility issues, develop programs and ideas where everyone can benefit.

“Today came together where this had not been possible before.” –Zully, founder of CCI.

Everyone traveled many distances to attend this conference, as the Province of Guayas is the largest Province in Ecuador. The 225+ attendees were able to learn about Universal Design, the importance of community involvement in the social inclusion, what Occupational Therapy is and the development of orthesis and prostheses for children and adults so that they may be productive members of society.

The response from everyone about the conference was “this is fantastic.”