The small country situated in the Andes crossed by the equator has beautiful beaches, snow-capped mountains, quiet rain forests, old colonial cities, and most notably friendly, heartily inhabitants. These geographic differences are also reflected in the population.
Lots of people suffer from poverty, a few possess a lot. The efforts for improving the people´s situation undertaken by the governments are hindered by instability of the political systems, mismanagement, and unfortunately corruption. The economic situation in the country depends intensely on foreign countries because Ecuador gets its foreign currencies and money for the national budget from exporting oil and oil-related products as well as few agricultural goods. These gains are also used for repaying foreign debts – or these debts and interest are not paid as in 2009. The result is an absent trust of possible external investors and no economic progress. The efforts and approaches for improvements started by the current government are connected to available money.
Furthermore, there is no certainty that improvements and changes started by governmental authorities arrive at the correct places where the needs are. This fact is not only connected to the sector of health, but also for education. As long as the people do not have the possibility getting access to those existential areas, lots of approaches will not be successful and no improvements can be made.
Map of Ecuador with its provinces – similar to federal states (for enlargement click on the map)
Map of the El Páramo Region – the map was made by project work from volunteers using a GPS for determining the locality (for enlargement click on the map)
