One of our most successful programs at MPI Ecuador is our weekly English conversation club. This program is invaluable to our community members who appreciate the chance to practice their English with native speakers. In order to continue this program virtually, we assign a conservation club participant to each of our virtual interns. Interns participate in a language exchange with their ‘buddy’ which provides them the opportunity to practice Spanish, and for their ‘buddy’ in Ecuador to practice English. Our interns get very close with their exchange buddies, sharing personal stories and cultural experiences. One of our interns even traveled to Ecuador to visit hers once it was safe to do so!

Manna Project launched a microfinance program in early 2021 to assist families and small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador. We decided to work alongside our partner organization, Fundacion Ninos con Destino, to provide interest-free loans ranging from $200-$1000 to their families. These families live on very low incomes, in some cases no more than $75 per month.

Mental health has long been an invisibilized topic in Ecuador, but since the beginning of the pandemic as a consequence of COVID-19, people have become more concerned about their mental health. Therefore MPI created a space where community members, with the support of a professional, could learn about it, as well as acquire knowledge and skills that they could apply in their lives. For three months we held weekly talks on different topics of their interest, a support group, and free therapy was also offered. Volunteers helped to create presentation summaries and informational posters for program participants, and also helped evaluate the program metrics and compiled them into a final report for staff.

MPI launched a new mentorship program to provide our long-term volunteers with the opportunity to be mentored by a Manna alumni. Volunteers are matched with an alumni mentor based on their areas of interest and career goals. Pairs meet virtually once or twice a month and work on career development, including strengthening resumes, interview preparation, job/graduate school application process, etc.

In order to help provide more underrepresented individuals with the opportunity to participate in a career- and life-enhancing experience abroad, and to increase racial diversity in our organization, Manna Project International has created a Program Director Scholarship Fund for underrepresented students. This Scholarship Fund is designed for U.S. college students and recent college graduates who are part of the Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) community and also have financial need. The Fund will provide scholarships to eligible individuals to volunteer with MPI as Program Directors in Ecuador for 1 year, giving them the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.