Rumiloma has a high incidence of diet-based ailments, food-borne illnesses and malnutrition. Cooking and Nutrition class impacts families by teaching adults how food powers the body. Participants practice creative meal planning and learn how to make healthy choices on a small income. These practices help prevent onset of diabetes, obesity and malnutrition.

English fluency opens a world of opportunities in Ecuador, where English education is too expensive for the low-income communities who need it most. Manna Project’s high quality, affordable English classes help students thrive. Small class sizes, strong student/teacher relationships and supplemental practice sessions result in high proficiency. Class participants gain self-confidence and sharpened mental acuity, and many graduate go on to obtain well-paying jobs. Similarly, the Ecuador site partners with local University ESPE to provide English speaking classes once a week, and provides pronunciation help and encourages conversation. On occasion the site also works with the United Nations Peacekeeping Units to provide conversation classes.

Few schools offer comprehensive English language tuition. Where classes do exist, subject material is frequently incorrect. Private English education is expensive and out of reach for low-income families, yet English fluency is a valuable skill in Ecuador’s job market. MPI Ecuador meets the huge demand for high-quality, affordable English language instruction from native-speaking teachers.

Ecuador’s stunting rate is similar to those of Sub-Saharan countries with critical food shortages. The problem in this area is not a lack of food, but the consumption of nutritionally insufficient food. Children's Cooking and Nutrition teaches students to meet the basic nutritional requirements of their bodies. Similarly, weekly Children's exercise hours provide kids with structured methods to release energy and stay active in a time when video and computer games tend to take preference. Workshops enable children to recognize healthy food and make positive choices.

Each week the Community Center hosts various kids programming activities. These are frequently changing due to community and Program Director interest, but include weekly Movie Night, Chess Club, Craft Hours and Reading Hours. These programs provide kids the chance to think critically and be creative while executing activities which stimulate their brains. 

The Chillos Valley is home to some of the greatest wealth disparity in the region. Many lack basic education, sanitation, and utility coverage. At Manna Project's Community Center, kids can play, learn and read; teens can play video games, watch movies, read and hang out; and adults can pursue continued education through interactive workshops and internet access. Our Community Center also has a computer lab with laptops for English assistance as well as homework help. The Community Center partners with local universities to bring tutors to our location and help better the education of the children in our community. Similarly, there is a game room for kids to use with the supervision of Program Directors which includes ping pong, foosball and a wii.

The Ecuador site has two programs centered around Women. Women’s group mets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in the Community Center to discuss life, family, and empowerment while doing handicrafts. The women have learned how to make crafts to be sold for income, encouraging personal economic sustainability. Different women lead different classes teaching new crafts such as scarves, needlepoint, bracelet making, and much more. This core group of women are important participants in our community and help support in various ways. Similarly Program Directors work with local partner organization Hogar de la Madre Soltera, a teenage women’s shelter, to encourage weekly homework study, conflict resolution and female empowerment. Women’s programs are incredibly important in Ecuador, as statistics show.

Multiple studies have shown that children and adults who read do better in school or work. Reading reduces stress, increases focus, and improves analytical thinking, vocabulary, memory and writing skills. Manna Project's library is the first of its kind in the Chillos Valley and has a full range of books, games, puzzles and other intellectually stimulating activities for all ages.

The Teacher Empowerment and Advancement of Children's English Sangolqui (TEACHES) Project was developed as a resource for aspiring and current Ecuadorian teachers. TEACHES equips participants to succeed in the classroom and in their English language skills through preparation for the FCE B2 certification. Passing the B2 exam is required to teach English in public institutions in Ecuador.

MPI works with two public schools in Chillos Valley which lack access to needed educational resources. MPI's partnership with the schools focuses on health and nutrition education, English communication, and youth development. This relatonship extends to MPI's community center where these students can access a safe place to complete homework, hang out with friends, and have access to mentorship programs. MPI's current public school partners include Unidad Educativa Abelardo Flores and Unidad Educativa JM Jijon Caamaño Y Flores.

The Ecuador site partners with local nonprofit Antorcha de la Vida which provides education in the form of horse and water therapy for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities. Manna Ecuador partners with Antorcha de la Vida to assist in these programs, providing extra hands and support in an area which is much needed in Ecuador.