Hogar Esperanza plans to make a lasting community impact as it prepares to move to a new location

By Garry Vatcher

When we think of charity, most of us imagine doing good deeds. People donate money, volunteers give their time, and kind acts are carried out. However, based on my life experiences, I believe charity goes beyond just doing good things — it’s about making a lasting impact on people’s lives.

At ten years old, I lost my sister to leukemia. Nothing could change her situation, but I still remember the people who truly made a difference: those who brought meals, took care of us, and simply stood by us as friends. While practical help mattered, the one who had the greatest impact was our neighbor — she was consistently present and supportive in a way that left a deep impression.

Hogar de Esperanza will soon be moving to a new location at the Hostal Pichincha International, located at Juan Montalvo 9-70 in the historic district.

We all recall individuals who influenced us profoundly. For me, it was my partner, who passed away in 1993. We first came to Ecuador in 1987. Being from Cuenca, he taught me so much about the culture here. The more we traveled, the more I fell in love with this country.

Severo was insistent about the difference between simple charity and meaningful impact. In 1992, I noticed a family living in a flimsy shack and wanted to help by providing food or repairing their home. Severo said, “No.” They were used to leaks and a shortage of food. The biggest impact we could make was helping their little boy who was gravely ill. He needed medication his family couldn’t afford. By saving his life, we empowered him — and that impacted the entire family. Eleven years ago, I moved here permanently and recently reconnected with that same family. The boy is now an architect, earning a good living, has a new home with plenty of food.

I officially opened Foundation Hogar de Esperanza (which means “Home of Hope”) in May 2016. Our goal is to bring hope to individuals. We do carry out charitable actions, but our focus is on making the greatest possible impact in each case. That’s why we employ a full-time, licensed social worker, Valeria, who thoroughly reviews each situation, gathering detailed histories. Our team then decides how we can best create a life-changing difference for them.

Several years ago, a widowed mother of three came seeking food. They all had a mysterious rash preventing her from working and the children from attending school. The doctors could not offer a solution, other than creams. Valeria investigated, sent a team to the mother’s house and found that their beds were overrun with bed bugs. We burned the old mattresses, fumigated the house, and gave them new mattresses. The rash disappeared, the children returned to school, and the mother returned to work — ending her need for food assistance. Simply handing out groceries would never have addressed the root cause of their struggles.

Valeria, Hogar de Esperanza’s social worker.

During Ecuador’s 2016 earthquake, I heard that tons of donated clothing ended up in landfills. That was the spark for starting the Esperanza Thrift Shop. Not everything donated can be used directly, so we sell, donate, or recycle items in ways that prevent waste. Today, the Thrift Shop and our Expat Services Center together generate 30% of our monthly income, helping fund our programs and ensuring nothing goes to waste if it can still make an impact.

Through these efforts — valuing impact over mere distribution — we have a vision of charity that brings hope, embraces responsibility, and respects the dignity of those we serve.

Hogar de Esperanza: Accountability in Action
At Hogar de Esperanza, we stand on four core values: Compassion, Respect, Collaboration, and Accountability. As an accountant myself, I’m especially committed to accountability, and I believe our foundation should be run with the same discipline and efficiency as a business.

To achieve long-term financial sustainability for our core services — food distribution, housing, transportation and medical support, and other daily needs — we plan to operate self-sustaining businesses that generate steady income. Many of you are already familiar with our Expat Services Center, which offers bill payments, translation services, banking assistance, and more. Expats often donate their IVA refunds back to the foundation through the Center, which produces over $1,000 per month in profits—funds that go directly toward our mission.

Right now, our core services account for roughly 60% of our operational expenses. Our aim is that by the end of 2025, we’ll be able to cover these costs entirely through our business models. This will enable us to channel more of your generous donations into special projects, allowing us to expand our outreach and impact.

With that objective in mind, we’re transitioning to a new location over a five-month period. We’ll be moving into the Hostal Pichincha International, located at Juan Montalvo 9-70. Here, we’ll operate a hotel, manage a parking lot, and create an event space. Beyond generating fresh income streams, this move will broaden our capacity to serve those in need. We will also use this space as a training center, where individuals can gain new skills through employment and hands-on learning.

Oscar, one of our directors, meeting with Amazon leaders.

Some might see this new venture as competition, but the hotel is already operational; our approach simply reinvests profits into helping others. Through these initiatives, we stay true to our commitment to compassion, respect, collaboration, and especially accountability — ensuring that every step we take amplifies the good we do for our community.

On a recent trip to the Amazon, I was deeply moved as children ran through the jungle to greet us, brimming with excitement about our visit. Later, a community leader told us we’re the only foundation that invests such careful effort to understand what each community truly needs. When we arrive, the children know we’re bringing something that will positively impact their lives.

In collaboration with a U.S. organization, we’re developing an agricultural program that will provide employment, income, medical support, and educational services to 20 Amazonian communities — making a lasting difference.

Everything we do at Hogar de Esperanza revolves around impact — change that endures. We invite you to join us in making that lasting impact. We’re always ready to discuss our plans, show you our work, and partner with you.

Right now, our immediate need is to prepare our new location so we can open it. As with any new place, there are essential renovations to ensure it meets our needs. Our goal is to raise $15,000 for these upgrades. In the long term — within five years—we plan to purchase this building so that Foundation Hogar de Esperanza has a permanent home.

Any support you can provide for these renovations would be greatly appreciated. Rest assured, every dollar you donate goes toward sustainable, life-changing impact in communities that need it most. To donate: https://foundationhogardeesperanza-bloom.kindful.com/
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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