The inter-project coordination meeting was attended by the team from the Spanish Cooperation Office (OCE) in Ecuador, represented by Elena Palomar and Esteban López, as part of the projects funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation for the period 2026-2027.
On the Salesian side, the participants were Fr Robert García, Director of the ‘Proyecto Salesiano Costa Norte’ Foundation; Fr Enrique Lima, Director of the host work; Gloria Holguín, Coordinator of the María Auxiliadora Formation Centre (CEFORMAX); Freddy Ruiz, official of the Provincial Planning and Development Office; the technical staff of the centre; as well as representatives of the Apostolic Vicariate of Esmeraldas and the ‘Fondo Ecuadoriano Populorum Progressio’ (FEPP), institutions that also carry out initiatives funded by Spanish cooperation in the Province of Esmeraldas.
During the day, the Salesians’ proposal for intervention was presented in detail, highlighting their experience in technical formation and support for vulnerable populations. The operational structure of CEFORMAX, organised into three regional branches, was illustrated, along with its range of technical courses, the duration of the formation processes and the financial coverage forecast for the new period.
The methodological approach, which combines technical formation, the strengthening of all-embracing skills, the promotion of entrepreneurship and links with the local productive context, aroused particular interest in the delegation. In particular, the strategic focus of this second phase was highlighted: promoting the economic autonomy of women and young people, consolidating sustainable businesses and preventing gender-based violence through economic empowerment.
Active participation in the Cantonal Inter-institutional Roundtable on Gender, agreements with universities that strengthen pre-professional practices, and the solid alliance with the Fundación del Valle, based on rigorous planning, monitoring, and reporting processes, were also highlighted.
One of the most significant moments was the visit to the CEFORMAX workshops. Some beneficiaries of the Salesian educational proposal shared their life testimonies and showed the fruits of their efforts. A practical demonstration was given in the bakery workshop, while the girls recounted how the training process had transformed their lives. In the cutting and sewing workshop, another participant presented her business, its products and marketing dynamics, demonstrating growth, autonomy and hope.
These testimonies had a very positive impact on the delegation, which expressed its interest in maintaining closer accompaniment, participating in relevant activities such as graduation ceremonies, and strengthening the periodic monitoring of projects in the area.
Following the meeting, the three institutions involved agreed on concrete commitments: to establish referral mechanisms for beneficiaries; to carry out annual exchanges of teachers and good practices;
articulate joint actions to lobby local authorities on issues of entrepreneurship and fair trade, and hold quarterly monitoring meetings.
The day ended with a moment of fraternal dialogue, clarifying that coordinated work avoids duplication, enhances resources and generates strategic synergies.
The delegation particularly appreciated the comprehensiveness of the Salesian proposal and the consistency between the technical design, the rights-based approach and the effective implementation in the field.
Andrea Altafuya Marcillo
Local Communications Officer for the ‘Proyecto Salesiano Costa Norte’ Foundation