Salud
Our relief mission in Canoa, Ecuador has culminated in the rebuilding of the Church of San Andres. We celebrated the completion of the project on July 13, 2019.
The Heart of Canoa Beats Again
Play Video
Rebuilding with Faith in Canoa, Ecuador
On April 16, 2016, a horrific 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook the coast of Ecuador. The disaster leveled the infrastructure, reduced homes and schools to rubble, claimed the lives of hundreds, and injured thousands more. Scenes of immense pain and widespread damage could be seen across Manabi province, especially in small coastal communities all but reduced to rubble, the small beach town of Canoa among them.
The heart of their community – a cherished house of worship – was destroyed as a result of the quake. Over the last four years, our relief has culminated in the rebuilding of this spiritual home in Canoa. We celebrated the completion of the project on July 13, 2019.
Play Video
2019
JULY 15
Medical Outreach continues in Manta, Ecuador
JULY 14
With the church officially open to the public, the next stage of our humanitarian mission in Ecuador is now underway.
Grand Opening Ceremony
We invite you to witness how the light of interfaith collaboration and humanity truly shines through to uplift those who are struggling. The mission to return La Parroquia San Andrés to the people of Canoa was brought to fruition through the power great love, and the extraordinary efforts put forth by everyone involved.
Watch the LIVE broadcast of the Grand Opening ceremony of La Parroquia San Andrés on July 13th, 2019. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness brotherhood, unity, and love amongst communities of different faiths.
Preparations for Grand Opening
On July 10th, 2019, a team of Tzu Chi volunteers returned to Canoa to begin preparations for our forthcoming medical outreach mission – and celebration. This was also the first time the volunteers had witnessed the newly completed project for themselves. Hand-in-hand with Canoa’s nuns and the locals we’d forged lasting bonds with, it had been an emotional day, indeed, but also a tremendously joyous one.
Local and global volunteers were up at the break of dawn to rehearse one more time and put the final touches on a very anticipated day of celebration.
We’re so excited to look back and reflect on the success we’ve seen leading up to tomorrow’s grand re-opening of La Parroquia San Andrés, a beloved church in Canoa destroyed by the 2016 Ecuador Earthquake.
Play Video
“It’s way beyond our expectation… You know all these workers here, I see they are proud to be part of it.”
Tzu Chi volunteers had arrived in Ecuador on July 9th. Their first stop was in the coastal city of Manta, where volunteers mapped out all the logistics for the medical outreach. Manta Mayor, Agustín Intriago tells us that “working together means hope.” See more in our latest video:
Play Video
“Our territory needs a lot of help. The budget is limited and our people need assistance. We’re very happy there are hearts so kind to come back again to knock on our door.”
Junio
A month before the opening ceremony, work continues to progress, one goal firmly held in their minds: to restore normalcy after a catastrophe had shattered all of their lives, and thus rekindling the light of love within their community.
Mayo
Canoa’s church is nearly completed! Take a video tour through La Parroquia San Andrés in Canoa, and witness the fruits of love, unity, and dedication in action.
Play Video
“People are excited. It’s the most spectacular thing to happen in Canoa right now”
United by the spirit of universal love and courage, local volunteers organized an interfaith Buddha Bathing Ceremony entirely on their own in Canoa.
Play Video
“What drives my motivation is Master Cheng Yen's example to work with love in order to serve others”
While the completion of La Parroquia San Andrés in Canoa may mark the end of one chapter for Tzu Chi’s long-term relief mission, the next chapter has yet to be written. Indeed, an additional complex on the church campus has been devoted to carrying out Tzu Chi’s future outreach events in the area.
2018
Octubre
Where there had only been a foundation lain mere months before, by the end of October, the living quarters for priests and nuns were completed.
Play Video
"I’m happy because the nuns will finally have a place where they can help other people. It’s not only a physical reconstruction but a spiritual one that is essential for a better town."
Now, with work on the dormitories finished, the construction of the church itself could officially begin.
Abril
Returning to Ecuador nearly one year after the floods, and the earthquake the year before that, Tzu Chi volunteers joined hands with the people of Canoa to actively engage in local acts of charity. While our construction teams are working diligently to rebuild Canoa’s church, acts of compassion were inspired as more seeds of love were sewn at the local level.
Play Video
Today has been beautiful, their presence here says a lot. They continue to bring us hope.
Junio
To ensure the church and its adjoining buildings are as strong as the people of Ecuador, special building techniques were put into place which are not commonly used in the country. Due to the nature of our rebuilding project, The residencies for the nuns were the first structures to be built.
- 2017
-
2016
2017
Mayo
Even months after the earthquake, the nuns from Canoa still felt the pain of their loss keenly, as the church where the community they served could congregate was the very heart of their life. Having taken the first steps to rebuild the cherished spiritual home, however, had allowed a wonderful sense of happiness to return once more.
Abril
Recovery after a disaster is a long road to travel, and one that demands great effort. Many in Ecuador still took shelter in hostels after the earthquake, but held firmly onto the hope that through their hard work their homes would be restored. Locals also knew that they would not be traveling this road alone – their Tzu Chi family was there for them.
Play Video
“Thankfully, Tzu Chi arrived, and although they are from a different religion, they're helping us a lot.”
Marzo
The Groundbreaking ceremony for Canoa’s church was held on March 10th, 2017. It was a moment of great joy and excitement for the town, but also one of deep, heartfelt reverence.
Enero
On January 18, several volunteers traveled to Canoa to present Tzu Chi’s long-term relief plans for the town – a plan which began with the rebuilding of the local Catholic church and a home for the nuns, as well as the construction of a classroom for the children of the community.
- 2016
2016
Julio
This documentary follows our disaster relief mission that began just days after this tragic catastrophe. Witness the solidarity and positive energy that was unleashed as people, homeless and unemployed, were given a chance to contribute to their own salvation, helping restore hope in the future.
Play Video
Mayo
On May 6th, 2016, Tzu Chi’s Cash-For-Relief program in Ecuador launched simultaneously in both Manta and Portoviejo, then continued to Canoa, Pedernales and Jama over the next few weeks. The goal was to provide much-needed job opportunities and to clean up the cities in the shortest possible time.
Participants in the Cash-For-Relief program received $15 a day for their labor. In each city, residents were eager to join, offering their aid in the clean-up while earning money to feed their family. As the rubble disappeared from the streets due to their solidarity and work, everyone felt hope returning.
Thanks to the program, the economy also got a jump start in coastal areas where jobs had depended on tourism, and were suddenly gone after the earthquake. Over the course of the program in five cities, Tzu Chi provided over $500,000 USD in aid, creating approximately 34,000 temporary jobs.
Participants in the Cash-For-Relief program received $15 a day for their labor. In each city, residents were eager to join, offering their aid in the clean-up while earning money to feed their family. As the rubble disappeared from the streets due to their solidarity and work, everyone felt hope returning.
Thanks to the program, the economy also got a jump start in coastal areas where jobs had depended on tourism, and were suddenly gone after the earthquake. Over the course of the program in five cities, Tzu Chi provided over $500,000 USD in aid, creating approximately 34,000 temporary jobs.
During the Cash-For-Relief program in Manta, Portoviejo, Canoa, Pedernales and Jama, touching connections between the local people and Tzu Chi volunteers were formed as everyone toiled together, shoulder to shoulder with one goal in mind: Restoring a normal way of life as quickly as possible. In Canoa, one connection in particular stood out in the heart of Master Cheng Yen – that with three Catholic nuns whose church was destroyed. Over 50 years ago, Master Cheng Yen had met three Catholic nuns in Hualien, Taiwan. Their mission of charity reinforced her own aspiration to provide aid to those in need, and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation was established soon after. Helping the Franciscan Sisters of Canoa, by rebuilding the church that was the spiritual home of this community, became a goal close to Master’s heart.
During the Cash-For-Relief program in Manta, Portoviejo, Canoa, Pedernales and Jama, touching connections between the local people and Tzu Chi volunteers were formed as everyone toiled together, shoulder to shoulder with one goal in mind: Restoring a normal way of life as quickly as possible. In Canoa, one connection in particular stood out in the heart of Master Cheng Yen – that with three Catholic nuns whose church was destroyed.
Over 50 years ago, Master Cheng Yen had met three Catholic nuns in Hualien, Taiwan. Their mission of charity reinforced her own aspiration to provide aid to those in need, and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation was established soon after. Helping the Franciscan Sisters of Canoa, by rebuilding the church that was the spiritual home of this community, became a goal close to Master’s heart.
Abril
Tzu Chi mobilized an assessment team of nine volunteers from the USA and Chile, who then traveled to Ecuador to begin their disaster relief assessment mission.
It came as an utter shock – one moment, Catholic nuns in Canoa were preparing for mass, and the next, part of their beloved church had been claimed by the earthquake. The house of worship was the center of their lives, and a place where people could seek guidance and support in times of hardship. But now, in what was perhaps their greatest time of need for the people of Canoa, it was terribly damaged.
Play Video
“With the earthquake, many hopes have gone down [...] but at least now we know, that the solidarity of the people is something real.”
With no home to return to, the dedicated Sisters who’d devoted their lives to serving so many, needed a hand as well. Thanks to ten women who were part of Tzu Chi’s Cash-For-Relief program, however, much of the church was cleaned in just one day.
A moment of reverent prayer was later shared among the women, so that they might be spared from disasters in the future.
With no home to return to, the dedicated Sisters who’d devoted their lives to serving so many, needed a hand as well. Thanks to ten women who were part of Tzu Chi’s Cash-For-Relief program, however, much of the church was cleaned in just one day.
A moment of reverent prayer was later shared among the women, so that they might be spared from disasters in the future.
Consider becoming a donor today and help Tzu Chi continue to offer support to communities in need.
Together, we’re unstoppable in our power to ease suffering and change the world for the better.
Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a 501(c)(3). Copyright © Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, 2019. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions