This is how Amor y Esperanza began – Always from the beginning by the hand of Abba Father.
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”.
This is our Story
The story of Fundación Amor y Esperanza began with a God-given vision: to serve the most vulnerable children, offering them an opportunity for a transformed life.
Pancho helping the community of Carmen Bajo
The first community day care centers
Afternoon academic tutoring classes
The Fundación Amor y Esperanza was born with the mission of transforming lives – the lives of children and their families – for the kingdom of God. Located in Quito, Ecuador, we have worked tirelessly to bring transformation in the communities we serve through projects such as education, food, income generation, among others.
This is Pancho’s testimony:
“Many years ago, during a prayer walk through the neighborhood of Carmen Bajo, I came across a scene that changed my life forever. All of the sudden, I heard children crying and as I got closer, I found they were locked in a tiny room, a very small place that was their home, with holes in the roof. When I took a look inside, I saw six children, all dirty, hopeless, with dirty feeding bottles, alone until their parents return from picking up trash. Their cry broke my heart and, at that moment, I prayed to God, ‘Help me do something.’ And that’s when it all began.”
Seeing the lack of attention and access to education in the community, God inspired the Zolas to open a daycare center, providing the children with a safe place where they would not only receive food and basic care but also a comprehensive education based on Christian principles. Over time, the number of children arriving increased, and the foundation grew to meet their needs.
From those early days, one of the basic principles of the foundation was to offer nutritional support to the children. Before going to school, the children were given a snack and a glass of oatmeal, a simple but essential act to ensure that they arrived at school with a full stomach and the energy to learn. In addition, Pancho and Pitty began distributing extra food, such as bread and oatmeal, to hundreds of children who needed a helping hand.
Over time, they realized that support had to go beyond food. As they worked more closely with the children, they recognized the urgent need to provide them with a quality education. Many of these children were coming to school with very low academic standards. It was then that God showed them the need to open an Academic Support Project. A group of 50 children from the dining hall received help with their homework, and on Saturdays, approximately 100 children benefited from reinforcement classes in math, English, and natural sciences. This academic support was crucial in raising the children’s academic level and laid the foundation for the comprehensive education that the foundation would continue to offer.
This effort to provide both nutrition and academic support was the cornerstone on which Fundación Amor y Esperanza would be built. Although they did not yet have their own building or school, they were already making a difference in the lives of these children, not only feeding them but also preparing them for a better future.
Finally, with God’s backing, the foundation began to take its first steps toward greater change. After realizing the need for a more structured education, the Love and Hope Foundation embarked on the journey of creating a private Christian school. At that time, each child would not only learn to read and write but also live by gospel values.
Voices that told our story
“The media also shared what God was doing in our community.”
“This is how the newspapers recorded the first steps of Amor y Esperanza.”
“These articles reflect how our mission began to touch hearts beyond Carmen Bajo.”
Moments Through the Years
A visual journey of love, growth, and transformation at Fundación Amor y Esperanza.
