Long-standing partner of the Foundation, AMI is an Ecuadorian child protection organization founded in 2003, located on the slopes of the Cotacachi volcano in the mountainous province of Imbabura. AMI’s work is divided between management of the Casa de los Niños (Children’s Home), the AMI Solidarity project and the association’s Cine-Theatre.
Casa de los Niños
The main project of the AMI Foundation, the Casa de los Niños is a home for children aged 0 to 8 and their parents, mainly single mothers. The aim of the Casa de los Niños is to welcome, care for and educate children who have been abandoned, abused or disabled, and to support their social reintegration.
The educational approach adopted at Casa de los Niños is based on love and respect for the children. They learn to express their needs, desires and fears, and interact freely in a calm, reassuring environment. Children’s personal development and safety are the hallmarks of AMI’s work: the teams working on site are trained in children’s special needs and in respecting each child’s autonomy and rhythm.
Casa de los Niños also supports families through :
- Professional, stable and respectful support
- An inclusive space: all cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds are welcome
- An environment for sharing knowledge and reflections with other parents about the relationship with their children in everyday life
- Ethical and theoretical foundations that promote appropriate learning for their children and families, through autonomous and spontaneous activities
Since October 2015, the AMI Foundation has focused its actions on preventing the mistreatment, abuse and abandonment of children by their biological families. These children in care are mostly from very poor rural communities in the Cotacachi region, and have been victims of situations of violence or malnutrition.
AMI is now recognized locally and internationally for the quality of its work with young children. In Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Japan and various European countries, AMI provides training in the pedagogical approach used at Casa de los Niños. Through training seminars, conferences and practical workshops, AMI teaches the importance of getting to know and understand the child to better meet his or her needs.
Other projects :
AMI Solidarity
In 2016, AMI made a commitment through the AMI Solidarité program to help people in the Guayaquil region following the earthquake that hit Ecuador and left more than 26,000 people homeless. The Foundation supported this project with 7,000 euros, enabling the construction of a protection center for children and their families.
AMI Ciné Théâtre
Since 2017, AMI has opened a cinema, performing arts and concert hall to the public, giving residents access to culture in a region where cultural activities are rare. Events are regularly organized for children, teenagers, and adults, creating cohesion between local communities. All proceeds are donated to the AMI Foundation to help at-risk children and families in the region.
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