How do you do it: In the beginning, I utilized the help of Ecuadorian friends to find contacts in Ecuador. I had already been there twice, and had contacts with my family, and in one major public hospital in Quito. Through these contacts I managed to branch out to other hospitals and clinics in Quito, and to other hospitals outside of Quito. My classmates also made contacts while they were here, and we have found ways to ship supplies to Ecuador. A small group will return in December to redistribute the supplies we could not bring, and we will begin fundraising again in September to buy specific supplies requested by hospitals in Ecuador. We used many fundraising techniques such as mass mailing, dances, game tournaments, and picnics to raise money.

Innovation: This strategy is innovative because it was founded by a single person and has grown into a much larger operation. Each year we will be able to make more contacts and gather more supplies in order to help more each year. This year was a pilot study, that taught us many things about how to organize. I have spoken with various charitable organizations in the US that used to work with Ecuador, and they told me that helping Ecuador is almost impossible due to corruption, and I should help some other country. Because of our persistance we managed to save several lives, and saved money for many families that cannot afford to eat. I believe that our perserverance, and the manner in which we implemented our strategy makes our program innovative.

Impact: We have recruited medical students, undergraduate students, residents, and physicians to work together to make this project a success. In Ecuador we have helped the elderly, orphans, neonates, people of all ages. We believe that little by little we can change the attitude of the doctors and nurses in Ecuador who are very apathetic and used to working with corruption. With our good hearts we are showing them that there are people that are willing to help, and that with our help, they can make a difference in the public health system in Ecuador. The work of each of our students in various hospitals is changing, although slowly, the infrastructure of the hospital administration and allowing us to help more each time we go to Ecuador.

Ethical Action: In one hospital I spent over $3000 to purchase medical supplies for patients. Patients, upon admission, are given a prescription for medication and supplies, and are not admitted without these items. Many times I myself went to the pharmacy to purchase the items for them because they could not afford to be admitted. When hospital administration saw this, they began to come to me for help, and I led by example. Some nurses began to purchase items that they could afford, and word has spread to students in the US that will help next year. With each trip, more awareness is built in the students that come, and they spread this awareness to their friends and family. This awareness eventually can lead to change in the public health administration.

Replication: This year we are implicating an application process. In September our administration will meet to produce brochures, presentations, and applications for new members. We will personally select the physicians and students that will come with us. We will use some of the same fundraising techniques, but with expansion, in order to raise more money. We have made countless contacts in the government, in health care, and personal contacts in Ecuador. Each year this project will be repeated, and hopefully, with more success as we learn more about the system and how to work with it. Now that we have proven that we can implicate this project, more trust will be built in our community in the US enabling us to collect more money and donations.

Sustainability: I personally serve as the president and founder of this organization. I am currently working with my university to found a formal collaboration between our university and Universidad San Francisco de Quito. With this formal collaboration it will be more easy for students to come on trips in the future, even after I graduate. However, I plan to work hard after I earn my MD, in order to earn money to spend building a clinic in Ecuador with the help of my colleagues. Several of them have already been on trips with me, and wish to continue in the future. I do not foresee any problems replicating this project, or sustaining it in the future. Eventually with the formal support of my university, even more advertising and recruiting can be done.

Position in the Ethics Mosaic of Solutions:

Factor: Individualism

Principle: Building ability to care, uphold values, and make

Contact Information:
Name: Francesca Antonaci - President
Organization: Aid for Ecuador (Francesca Antonaci president, founder)
Mailing address: 1127 Lancaster Dr. Champaign, IL 61821
Country: United States
Email: antonaci@uiuc.edu
Tel: 217-359-2850

Organization Size: Currently we are 28 volunteers. This year we will attempt to recruit more members, starting at the beginning of the fall semester. There are no employees as no one is being paid for this project.