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Long Beach Manta Sister Cities Programs
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Project Ecuador |
2010 to present
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Humanitarian
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Project Ecuador started in 2006 and Long
Beach - Manta Sister Cities became its lead
sponsor in 2010. Project Ecuador is an
international lifesaving venture for the
Long Beach Lifeguard Association. The
purpose is to train citizens in Ecuador to
become lifeguards, then to help guide groups
to become self-sustained Professional Ocean
Lifeguard Services and ultimately join the
International Life Saving Federation. Before
Project Ecuador, there were no lifeguards or
voluntary lifeguards without training or
equipment.
On the job
training is conducted each year during
"Carnival", the 4-day national holiday
celebrating the coming of Lent. Over 85
American volunteers have traveled to Ecuador
at their own cost to train and assist the
Ecuadorians on 20 supported beaches. Lives
are being saved. Since 2006, over 1,000
rescues have been documented. Over 200
Ecuadorians have received training
consistent with international standards.
Rescue equipment including rescue buoys,
fins, radios and uniforms have been
distributed to the four coastal Provinces.
Many Lifeguards are now being paid a living
wage as professional lifeguards due to the
diligence and persistence of American
Lifeguard volunteers.
In 2011, the
government created a Lifeguard division,
Rescate Acuatico within the same structure
as the Fire Department to continue Project
Ecuador's work. Project Ecuador continues to
work closely with the International Life
Saving Federation to help Latin American
nations and utilizing Sister Cities
International to support lifeguarding
worldwide.
In
2008, Project Ecuador received the National
Lifesaving Award from the United States
Lifesaving Association.
In 2011,
Manta Sister Cities / Paul Dunning received
a Proclamation of Thanks from Ecuador’s
Consul General.
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Disabled Persons Project |
2009 |
Health
Care |
In 2009, over 100 wheelchairs and walkers
were donated to the city of Manta. These
were distributed to disabled citizens
through Manta’s center for disabilities
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Library
Project |
2004 - 2005 |
Education |
During 2004 and 2005 we collected over 500
reading and text books, in Spanish and in
English, to help build up the local library
at the "Patronato Municipal de Amparo
Social" (a social services organization
under the Manta Municipality). Books were
also sent to our "adopted" school in
Varaspamba.
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Scholarship Program |
2003 - 2005 |
Education |
To continue with our goal of providing
educational assistance to the youth, we
implemented a Scholarship Program. The first
scholarship was awarded to a student in
Ecuador to continue his education in music.
The second scholarship was awarded to a
student in Southern California who is
pursuing a career in the arts. To be a
scholarship recipient, the candidate has to
be of Ecuadorian descent, a high school
senior or college student with a desire to
give back to the community.
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Pen Pal
Project |
2003 |
Cultural |
In 2003, students from the Orange County
High School of the Arts (in Santa Ana,
California) Spanish classes corresponded
with students in Manta. We are looking for
schools in the city of Long Beach who might
be interested in participating in this
exchange
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Computer Learning Center Project |
2010 |
Humanitarian |
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We started this project in 2002 by
soliciting donations of used computers and
shipping them to Manta to set up
computer-learning centers in public schools.
Between 2002 and 2008, over 55 computers
have been donated.
In August
2002, two computer-learning centers were
established. In May of 2003, six more
centers were opened. In the early part of
2004, 15 computers and 12 printers were sent
to Manta to open six more computer learning
centers. Before the end of 2005, 30
additional computers, printers and other
computer accessories were sent to other
schools. Computers were also sent to the
Children’s Hospital at Universidad Laica
“Eloy Alfaro” de Manabi, the Manta-Long
Beach Sister Cities Committee and Manta’s
Mayor’s office of administration.
Organizations
and individuals donated all computers.
Computer technicians checked the computers
before being shipped to Ecuador. This
project ended in 2008.
The local
university in Manta provides technical
support and teachers. Free computer classes
are offered to students and also adult
classes are provided when possible. We have
adopted a school in Varaspamba (in the
highland region of Ecuador) serving 50
students and we donated 6 computers,
printers and other educational materials.
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