Meet Mateo Rafael in Ecuador | Children International | Child Sponsorship in Africa, India, South America, & USA

About me & my family

Name: Mateo Rafael
Avg Family Income in Community: $373.00
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Personality: Cheerful, enthusiastic, optimistic, Intelligent
Interests: , Drawing, painting, or coloring, Reading
Siblings:
Brithany Romina, 13, Female
Robert Andres, 11, Male
Lives with: Mother
Language: Spanish
School: Yes
Child ID #: 1813914

Learn more about education in this child's country.

About my house

Walls: Solid materials
Roof: Metal, cloth, cardboard, or plastic scraps
Floor: Cement or gravel
Water source: Water in home
Level of Overcrowding: Adequate privacy
Access to Internet: Occasional
Access to Telephone: Regular

Learn more about homes in this child's country.

Learn more about water in this child's country.

Poverty in Ecuador

Children growing up in poverty in Ecuador face serious barriers that can limit their opportunities — including unsafe environments, disrupted education, health and nutrition challenges, and few pathways to meaningful work.

That’s why our approach focuses on helping children stay in school, gain confidence and thrive in safe, supportive spaces — building the skills they need for the future. Through educational support, health and nutrition resources and other programs led by trained local staff, children develop self-assurance, resilience, and a solid foundation to grow into healthy, capable young adults who can shape their own futures.

How does child sponsorship work?

Your $39 monthly gift gives kids like Mateo Rafael access to life-changing benefits, like:

medical care
educational support
life skills
job-training before graduation.

More about child sponsorship:

+ When you sponsor, what do you receive? Click to find out.

When you sponsor, we'll send you more info about your child, including a photo and a quick-start guide to child sponsorship. You'll also:

Receive photos and updates about your child on a regular basis.
Receive letters from your child, and many letters will contain pictures drawn by your child.
Have access to MyCI, your online account where you can view photos of your child, learn more about him or her, read and write letters and cards, manage your giving, and join our online community of sponsors.
Be able to visit your child and tour our amazing community centers
Subscribe to receive emails and our Journeys magazine to see your impact in action.

+ Need to make a change? We can help.

You can make changes to your monthly giving anytime. Please contact our Care Team to adjust, delay or cancel. And because we've made a commitment that we'll be a part of our kids' lives until they graduate, your sponsored child will continue to receive benefits from the program, and we will work to find a new sponsor as soon as possible.