Education is free in Ecuador.

But access to a quality education — or any education at all — is far from equal.

In rural areas, educational opportunities are extremely limited. It’s not unusual for children to walk miles each way to school, traveling down mountains and over rough terrain. Chronic challenges like poverty force young people to drop out of school and find work in order to help support their families. And girls face unique barriers. They are more likely to drop out due to marriage, pregnancy or gendered social norms, which prioritize boys’ education.

A third of girls in Ecuador don’t even start high school, let alone graduate. And girls in remote Indigenous communities, where traditional gender roles are often enforced, are even less likely to continue with their education.

A girl may have to drop out because of the distance, or because the journey to school isn’t safe. Her family may not be able to afford the additional expenses, like uniforms or school supplies. She may be driven away by abuse and discrimination from teachers or peers. Or she may be forced to abandon her education simply because she is a girl.

Today, you’ll meet three Indigenous young women in Ecuador who faced these exact challenges and found the courage to defy the status quo, with support from strong women in their lives, encouragement from child sponsorship and unwavering confidence in their own potential.  

Estefania, 26

Estefania doesn’t take her education for granted, because it was almost taken from her — not once, but twice.

The first time was when she was 12 and had just finished primary school. Her father decided there was no need for his daughter to go on to high school. Why? Because she was a girl, and her place was at home.

For many girls, that would have been the end of the story. They would have no choice but to obey their father’s orders. But, fortunately, Estefania had a strong mother who recognized the value of her daughter’s education. She stood up to her husband and insisted that Estefania stay in school.

With her mother’s support, Estefania graduated from high school. She was proud to reach this milestone, but thought that was the end of the road for her.

“I didn’t see the possibility of studying at university because I needed to dedicate myself to working in order to provide for my family,” Estefania explains.

Then, one day, Estefania was talking to a Plan community volunteer. A sponsored child for many years, Estefania was very familiar with Plan’s work. Even as an adult, she can still recall the happiness she felt every time she received a letter or a gift from her sponsor. So, when the volunteer told her about a university scholarship project run by Plan, Estefania jumped at the chance. She applied and was one of 35 young people to be awarded a scholarship.

“One of the biggest expenses I was able to pay for with my scholarship money was the transport fares to travel from my community to the city where the university was located,” Estefania says. “Distance is one of the barriers that prevent many people from studying.”

In addition to monthly financial support for five years, Estefania also received technical support and participated in training sessions to develop life skills in leadership, communication, self-esteem and resilience.

“I always had the support of the Plan International project team, which was so valuable to me,” Estefania says.

In 2020, at the age of 24, Estefania graduated with a degree in accounting and auditing. She now works as an administrative manager for a well-known laboratory camera company.

“I feel very proud to be able to prove to myself, my family and community that as a woman from a rural community, I was able to achieve one of my biggest dreams. I now contribute financially to my family, which means my younger siblings can also stay in school. My next goal is to study for a master’s degree in human resources.”

Evelyn, 19

Evelyn grew up in a traditional Quechua community, where she lived with her parents and four younger brothers.

Believed to be the largest Indigenous group in the world, the estimated Quechua population in South America is over 10 million, but the actual number may be much higher. Although they are considered part of the same large group, there are at least 15 Quechua sub-groups in Ecuador. The Quechua have a unique tradition of making textiles and handicrafts, and most rely on agriculture for their livelihood. In the Ecuadorian highlands, traditional clothing such as ponchos, shawls, woven belts, bowler hats and pleated skirts are still worn on a daily basis.

Both Spanish and Quechua are spoken in most Ecuadorian primary schools where there is a large Indigenous population. However, in high school, the majority of lessons are taught in Spanish. This can make it hard for Indigenous students to keep up with their classmates, and some may drop out of school as they start falling behind. The language barrier can also make them feel isolated and even ostracized by their peers.

“I come from a humble family, full of affection and love, courage and a lot of respect,” Evelyn says.

Evelyn had a happy childhood, and she was proud of the traditional clothing, language and customs that shaped her into the young woman she is today. It wasn’t until high school that she and her brothers first experienced discrimination based on their ethnicity. The bullying didn’t come from their peers, but rather from a new teacher at their school.

“A teacher started teaching at my school,” Evelyn recalls. “We received mistreatment, discrimination, bullying insults … I suffered a lot.”

Even though she came from a loving home, Evelyn was afraid to tell her mother what was happening at school. But, eventually, the teacher’s abuse was too much to endure and she had to say something. Fortunately, when Evelyn’s mother found out how her children had been mistreated, she didn’t hesitate to come to their defense. She made sure the situation with the teacher was handled immediately, and that her children didn’t have to sacrifice their education to escape the abuse.

As a sponsored child, Evelyn participated in Plan workshops in her community that helped to improve her self-esteem and reinforced the value of education. She understood that education was the key to unlocking the future she deserved, and with her mother’s support, she refused to let this bullying stand in her way.

“I am aware that to achieve my dreams, I have to prepare, work hard and study,” Evelyn says.

Evelyn’s involvement with Plan didn’t end when she graduated from our sponsorship program — she now works with us as a community volunteer.

“Plan International helped me to become an agent of change and I now help other children and young people to value their identity,” Evelyn says. “I want to continue influencing and promoting a change in people’s attitudes towards gender equality.”

Mirella, 16

Mirella lives in a remote village in the Andes with her mother and sisters. Her father left when the girls were young, and her mother raised her three daughters on her own.

Each morning, Mirella and her mom get up at 4 a.m. to feed their animals. They make traditional handicrafts to sell as an additional source of income.

Life in the highlands is beautiful, but isolated, making it difficult to get to school. Still, Mirella’s mother is supportive of her education, and a scholarship from Plan has helped them to buy school supplies, uniforms and shoes.

[Read more: Photo story: Portraits from the Andes]

“It was very motivating for me to receive this kind of assistance because I am aware that education is very important for my life and future,” Mirella says.

“Every day we get up at four o’clock in the morning to start making crafts and feed our animals,” Mirella says. “That way, things are ready by half past six, which is usually the time we go to school.”

As a sponsored child, Mirella also participates in Plan workshops in her community, where she has learned about her rights and developed leadership skills.

“This space has given me the tools to express myself without fear, to give my opinions and have them considered,” she says.

It’s also given her the confidence to dream big. “I am sure that I will finish high school, and my dream is to go on to study at university, to become a doctor and save other people’s lives,” Mirella says.

Every day, young women like Estefania, Evelyn and Mirella are beating the odds and fighting for the futures they deserve. Their perseverance in the face of overwhelming adversity is inspiring, and you can help them reach their goals. When you sponsor a girl, you can encourage her to unlock her full potential, and help communities recognize the value of education for all children.