Guaya-what?
| Guayaquil quick info:1. The population of Guayaquil is estimated at 3.5+ million.
2. Approximately 34% of the inhabitants live in poverty. 3. 53% of the population is under the age of 25, 35% of whom are under the age of 15. 4. Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador and is the economic “powerhouse.” 5. Guayaquil is widely recognized as the most dangerous and corrupt city of the country. Major industry: Bananas, petrol, flowers, seafood, coffee
State of the family: 1 in 8 women are physically or sexually abused. 30% of children are sexually abused, 1 in 7 are abused by their school teachers, the remaining by family members or friends. The majority of children living in the slums are being raised by grandparents or single mothers, from this community few are educated beyond 5th grade. Many head to the streets for lack of supervision and others flee from an extremely abusive home. State of the church: There are many evangelical churches in the city, primarily found in the middle class. Few can be found in the poorest areas. The church is becoming aware and interested in integral ministry, but few know how to combat the problems their communities face.
General Info: Fast Facts of Ecuador |
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| The Land and the People of Ecuador | |
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Located on the Pacific coast of South America and straddling the equator from which it draws its name, the nation of Ecuador is roughly the size of Nevada. The Andes Mountains form two parallel ridges extending the length of the country from north to south. One of the world’s highest active volcanoes, Cotopaxi, is located in the highland plateau region between these ridges. The Andean peaks descend on either side to lowlands — a flat coastal region to the west and thick tropical forests covering nearly half the country on the east, bordering Peru. The well-known Galapagos Islands are also part of Ecuador.A mix of indigenous communities, groups of Spanish origin and descendants of African slaves, Ecuador is a melting pot of Latin American cultures. Quito, the capital, was once a center of activity of the ancient Incan empire. Today, a small percentage of the population descended from European colonists makes up the wealthiest and most powerful group in the country. Ecuadorians of native and mixed ancestry rank far below this class. Many of those living in rural areas suffer from poverty, malnutrition and illness. More Ecuadorians are employed in agriculture than any other economic activity. Ecuador produces a wide variety of goods, from foodstuffs such as bananas, cocoa and shrimp, to tropical woods such as mahogany. Ecuador ranks as one of the world’s leading exporters of balsa wood. The nation also has substantial oil resources. |
