Celebrating its 10th year of service, Hogar de Esperanza invites the public to visit its new home

By Garry Vatcher

On December 8th, 1993, as the plane ascended above Guayaquil, I thought I would never return to my beloved Ecuador again. It had been an incredible twelve years of travel, forming friendships, and falling deeply in love with its people and traditions. But without my partner, Severo, I believed living here on my own was unfeasible. I returned to Toronto, alone and uncertain about the future. However, destiny had other plans.

Esperanza … the Foundation’s part-time therapist and namesake.

Back then, Ecuador was a very different place. Aside from missing manhole covers on the sidewalks and potholes large enough to swallow a car, I never considered Ecuador dangerous. I loved this country deeply, yet as a foreigner, I was always acutely aware that I was an outsider.

After nearly twenty years of “wandering in the wilderness,” I decided to visit Ecuador again, which quickly turned into a desire to stay. I met a street dog named Esperanza, who adopted me, and together we moved to the Yunguilla Valley. Despite this new chapter, I still felt like an outsider. Until…

Every Sunday, I made morning trips to the market in Girón — Severo’s birthplace — in search of a sense of belonging. In the afternoons, I took the bus to Cuenca to visit Severo’s grave. My driver, Carlos, listened patiently to my endless talk about not fitting in, though he was clearly growing weary of it.

One Sunday morning, Carlos abruptly pulled over to the side of the road and turned to me with a look that reminded me of my fifth-grade teacher. “Garry! Stop this!” he said firmly. “You were married to an Ecuadorian, so that makes you one of us. We have adopted you. You are not a foreigner —you are Ecuadorian. You are home.”

Carlos drove on toward the market, eyes fixed on the road. I sat there in silence, feeling a powerful sense of gratitude and, for the first time, a real sense of belonging. I would never admit it, but a tear might have formed in the corner of my eye.

That afternoon, at the cemetery, the flower lady smiled warmly. “Hi, Garry, the usual?” she asked.

“Yes,” I replied.

A group of children in Esmeraldas.

The cemetery guard greeted me as I passed. When I arrived at Severo’s grave, I sat down and said, “Hi Severo, I am home.”

That moment set in motion a series of events that would eventually lead me to start Hogar de Esperanza. The name, meaning Home of Hope, was an obvious choice.

Hogar de Esperanza is heading into its 10th year, and we have so much to celebrate.
Not only have we grown to become one of the larger and well-respected charities in Cuenca, but we now work with over 50 organizations across Ecuador — from the Amazon to Esmeraldas. With our dedicated team of professionals, we don’t just bring hope to those in need; we create a sense of home — a sense of belonging. We aim to bridge connections between the expat community and the local communities we serve. One small but meaningful way is that each package given to children includes the donor’s name.

Over the years, there have been many special moments, but one stands out vividly in my memory.

After the devastating floods in Esmeraldas, I wanted to reach a particular community that had been severely affected. Faced with armed bandits blocking the roads, we chose to take a dangerous back route. When we arrived, the community was astonished that we had made it through. We were the only foundation that had succeeded in bringing them food and hygiene kits for the children.

As the children excitedly surrounded our car, one little girl stood perfectly still, holding her package. She gently traced her finger over the donor’s name — back and forth — as if she was trying to feel a connection. To her, this was more than just a gift; it was a message of kindness and love. In that moment, she was welcoming the donor into her world — into her home — and silently thanking them for their compassion.

A boy in the Amazon gets a new pair of boots.

During Christmas, we visited a remote Amazon tribe to bring boots for the children. One little boy was so nervous that he wouldn’t come forward to accept his boots, so his mother took them for him. Later, while we were having lunch with the tribal elders, the same little boy approached me, proudly wearing his new boots. With a shy yet joyful expression, he let us know in his own way that we were welcome in his community.

When I first visited Ecuador back in the 1980s, there were few options for those living in poverty. People died simply because they lacked access to healthcare, food, and basic services. Thankfully, much has changed since then.

Cuenca is unique in many ways. Its large and generous expat community, through various charities, has helped transform support services for those in need—not just by providing financial help, but also by teaching the best practices in delivering these services.

Since the 1980s, options for those living in poverty have improved significantly. Hogar de Esperanza, was one of the pioneers of the Supermaxi food recycling program. This initiative supports not only our foundation but also many families and other charities, greatly reducing the cost of food. To date, we have redistributed over $50,000 worth of food.

Our foundation also serves as an educational resource, training over 100 international and local university students in charity work. Due to our high accounting standards, we were selected by the Catholic University to train students in best practices for nonprofit financial management.

Planning for the Future
Now entering our 10th year, Fundación Hogar de Esperanza has taken over Hostal Pichincha to expand our services and to generate sustainable income. Many Ecuadorians affectionately refer to us as “El Hogar” — their home. We want you to know more about who we are and what we do.

We invite you to our official opening at our new location on Saturday, July 5th, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Enjoy live music from The Blues Enigma Band, food, and connect with others in the community. Come and learn why you, too, can proudly call us “home.”

To sign up, register at this link: https://tinyurl.com/59j4p4wj or contact Patricia at admin@hogaresperanza.org.

Our new location is at Juan Montalvo 9-78 between Gran Colombia and Bolivar at the Hostal Pichincha.
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Garry Vatcher is president and founder of Foundation Hogar de Esperanza. He has been coming to Ecuador since 1987 and permanently moved to Cuenca 11 years ago. The foundation provides emergency assistance to thousands of people each year. With his guidance, the foundation has forged alliances with some of Ecuador’s major institutions including hospitals, the National Police, Amazon communities, universities, and governments. The foundation has received numerous awards and recognition for its work from local and international bodies. For information about all Foundation Hogar de Esperanza projects, go to https://hogaresperanza.org