ROSTRO DE CRISTO INC

INTRODUCTION IN 2024 ROSTRO DE CRISTO (WHICH MEANS "THE FACE OF CHRIST" IN SPANISH) COMPLETED ITS 35TH YEAR OF EXISTENCE PROVIDING VOLUNTEER LAY MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES IN ECUADOR AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO ECUADORIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND MEDICAL PROJECTS IN ECUADOR. UNTIL 2023, ROSTRO DE CRISTO (RDC) OFFERED SHORT-TERM AND YEAR-LONG OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG ADULTS WHO LIVE SIMPLY AND SERVE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ECUADOR'S LARGEST CITY, GUAYAQUIL. DUE TO GANG VIOLENCE IN THE CITY WE MADE THE DECISION TO SUSPEND THE PROGRAM IN GUAYAQUIL IN FEBRUARY OF 2023 AND MOVE OUR VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY TO QUITO, ECUADOR'S CAPITAL. IN JANUARY OF 2024 WE HAD THREE VOLUNTEERS WORKING ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF QUITO WHEN THE GANG VIOLENCE ERUPTED IN QUITO. DUE TO THIS OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE AND THE GENERAL INSTABILITY OF THE SECURITY SITUATION IN ECUADOR WE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO SUSPEND OUR PROGRAM IN ECUADOR INDEFINITELY AND SEEK A NEW LOCATION TO SERVE THOSE IN NEED AND TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH. WE SPENT THE REMAINDER OF 2024 INVESTIGATING AND DEVELOPING A NEW PROGRAM IN CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN COLLABORATION WITH ASCALA, (SCALABRINI ASSOCIATION IN THE SERVICE OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES). ASCALA, A MINISTRY OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF ST CHARLES BORROMEO, IS A TEAM OF OVER 30 DOMINICAN, HAITIAN, AND RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING "SERVICES TO DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROMOTE HUMAN AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR VULNERABLE MIGRANTS," MOST PRINCIPALLY HAITIAN RESIDENTS AND IMMIGRANTS, AND DOMINICANS OF HAITIAN DESCENT LIVING IN THE AREAS MANY BATEYES. ASCALA WORKS ON INITIATIVES THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MIGRANTS AND THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH LEGAL AID, EDUCATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING AND SUPPORT, AND SOCIAL SERVICES. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY AND CONTINUE TO BE IN PRAYERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ECUADORIAN NEIGHBORS AND PARTNERS. WE HAVE RECRUITED THREE HIGHLY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL BEGIN WORKING AS ROSTRO DE CRISTO FELLOWS IN CONSUELO WITH ASCALA IN EARLY 2025. ROSTRO DE CRISTO VOLUNTEER PROGRAM 2024: QUITO, ECUADOR THE FOLLOWING NAMES ARE THOSE VOLUNTEERS THAT SERVICE IN QUITO, ECUADOR DURING 2024: GRACE GLEASON PETER OLIVER ANNA ZENK ROSTRO DE CRISTO VOLUNTEER SUPPORTED PROJECTS AND PARTNERS IN QUITO EL CENTRO DIURNO DE COMEDOR AND APOYA ESCOLAR "MARIA ISABEL MAZZA" (THE MARIA ISABEL MAZZA DAY KITCHEN AND EDUCATIONAL REINFORCEMENT CENTER): EL CENTRO DIURNO DE COMEDOR AND APOYA ESCOLAR "MARIA ISABEL MAZZA" (CDCA) WAS FOUNDED BY THE MISSIONARIES OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (LAS MISIONERAS DE LA ESCUELA CRISTIANA), A WOMEN'S RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION, TWENTY YEARS AGO. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE LEARNING AND GROWING ENVIRONMENT FOR OVER SEVENTY CHILDREN 4-12 YEARS OLD BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL TUTORING, RECREATION ACTIVITIES, AND NUTRITION. THE CHILDREN SERVED THROUGH THE CDCA PROGRAM COME FROM SINGLE PARENT HOMES AND/OR LOW- INCOME FAMILIES. ROSTRO DE CRISTO VOLUNTEERS SERVED AS TUTORS AND ENSURED THAT THE CHILDREN HAD THE PROPER SUPERVISION AND POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TO STAY ON THE COURSE WHICH WILL LEAD TO HEALTHY AND MEANINGFUL FUTURES, AND BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. ROSTRO DE CRISTO RETREAT PROGRAM 2024 IN A NORMAL PROGRAM YEAR RDC OFFERS SHORT-TERM RETREAT/IMMERSION EXPERIENCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL UNIVERSITY, PARISH OR OTHER GROUPS. IN 2024, WE HOSTED ONE GROUP OF 17 PARTICIPANTS FROM BOSTON COLLEGE. DUE TO THE OUTBREAK OF GANG VIOLENCE IN QUITO THE GROUP'S TIME WAS CUT SHORT AND THEY RETURNED HOME TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER JUST 4 DAYS.