Empowering Young Heroes: How FIMRC’s Community Health Program in Ecuador Transforms Children’s Lives

ANCONCITO, ECUADOR — In the coastal community of Anconcito, a group of children gathers each week with one shared goal: to dream big, learn, and grow. Through FIMRC Ecuador’s Wonder Girls and Superman Boys Club, children aged 8 to 12 are discovering their potential while learning essential lessons about health, values, and self-care.

Led by psychologist Freddy Baque, this initiative was created to strengthen knowledge in health prevention, basic first aid, disease control, and personal safety, while also guiding children through the development of their “Life Project”, a vision for their future that nurtures confidence and purpose.

What Do the Wonder Girls and Superman Boys Learn?

Each workshop combines public health education and personal growth, turning learning into an engaging and joyful experience. Together, FIMRC volunteers and local staff lead interactive sessions where creativity and play meet purpose.

During these sessions, children and volunteers explore activities that promote:

• Hygiene and disease prevention, including mosquito-borne illnesses, taught through playful demonstrations and role-playing games
  
• Healthy eating and nutrition habits, reinforced through visual and participatory lessons
  
• Basic first aid and safety awareness, where volunteers help children practice simple but life-saving skills
  
• Respect, teamwork, and emotional expression, encouraged through group activities that build empathy and cooperation
  
• “Life Project” workshops, guiding children to imagine who they want to become and what kind of future they can create
  

These experiences not only strengthen health awareness but also connect volunteers and children in meaningful exchanges, where teaching, listening, and sharing spark confidence and lasting curiosity. They provide a foundation for healthier lifestyles and a sense of purpose that extends beyond the classroom.

How FIMRC Ecuador Helps Children Imagine Their Future

During the club’s first “Life Project” workshop, supported by FIMRC volunteers, a young girl from the Wonder Girls Club proudly drew herself as a firefighter, bravely putting out a blaze to protect her community.

Her drawing captured more than a dream; it revealed the power of imagination and self-belief that these activities are designed to awaken. Guided by the local team and volunteers, the children are encouraged to reflect on their strengths, express their ideas freely, and understand that their dreams matter.

“We believe that when a girl is allowed to dream, she also gains the power to transform her reality,” says the FIMRC Ecuador team.

Every workshop becomes a bridge, connecting cultures, sharing knowledge, and reminding everyone involved that preventive health and education begin with empathy and opportunity.

How FIMRC Ecuador’s Community Health Education Strengthens Families

For many parents, the club has become a bridge between education and home life. One mother from Anconcito shared:

“What motivated me most was the desire for my son to learn good things and get along better with others. These spaces help so much, they teach about health, respect, and values in a joyful way.”

She added that her family now practices what her son learns:

“We take better care of our health, eat healthier, and even sleep better. It’s beautiful to see how our children can teach us too.”

These reflections show how FIMRC’s community programs create ripple effects, empowering not only children but also families to adopt healthier, more connected lifestyles.

FIMRC Ecuador’s Mission to Improve Community Health and Education

Through the Wonder Girls and Superman Boys Club, FIMRC Ecuador continues its mission to promote sustainable, community-based health education.

By creating spaces that combine learning, creativity, and empathy, the program helps children grow into confident, informed individuals capable of shaping healthier futures for themselves and their communities. And through the support of volunteers who bring knowledge, energy, and compassion to every session, these lessons become experiences that inspire transformation long after they leave Anconcito.

Volunteer in Ecuador: Join FIMRC’s Global Health and Education Programs

If you’re passionate about global health, child development, or community education, join FIMRC’s Global Health Volunteer Program (GHVP).
Volunteers can work directly with programs like the Wonder Girls and Superman Boys Club in Ecuador — or at other FIMRC sites in Peru, Costa Rica, and Uganda.

Whether you’re a student, healthcare professional, or someone who believes in empowering young minds, volunteering with FIMRC offers the opportunity to make a meaningful global health impact.

Start planning your volunteer journey at: https://www.fimrc.org/global-health-volunteer-program