Quito, Ecuador, January 13, 2025 — In November 2024, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Ecuador's Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at transforming local education systems and creating a more just and inclusive Ecuador.
Key areas of focus between IRC and MINEDUC:
With a strong emphasis on innovation, inclusion, and sustainability, this partnership establishes the groundwork for an education system that safeguards and empowers children and transforms lives. Its key initiatives include:
- Safe educational communities: The creation of safe educational environments with a socio-ecological and humanitarian approach.
- Digital educational transformation: Implementation of technological solutions, such as the “EduBot”, to improve academic access and management in emergencies.
Child development through play: A prioritization of early childhood learning using play, focusing on family well-being. - Continuity of education during emergencies: To tackle educational emergencies, strengthen risk management strategies and teacher training.
- Child protection: The InfoPa'lante digital platform will empower children and adolescents in vulnerable situations by providing access to reliable information and essential services.
The IRC and the Ministry of Education will work closely with other key stakeholders to ensure these initiatives are sustainable and have a lasting impact. Through this partnership, the goal is to reach over 10,000 children and adolescents, along with their communities, in the regions of Esmeraldas, Sucumbíos, Pichincha, Guayas, Manabí, Azuay, Cañar, and El Oro, with the potential for nationwide expansion.