The project
Fundación Protección y Descanso runs a day centre in Riobamba for adults with intellectual disabilities.
What the centre offers
- Physiotherapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Reading and writing
- Paper recycling
- Handicrafts for sale
The day centre
The centre opened in 2008. Since August 2018 the foundation has worked from a new building in Riobamba.
About 30 women and men come Monday to Friday. Most are brought in by their parents in the morning. They are looked after by therapists, teachers and interns from the local university.
A day at the centre
The day starts with group chores like sweeping or setting the table. Then everyone works through their own therapy plan. At midday they all eat lunch together.
Fridays are for sport, outings, theatre and birthday parties.
Work and school
Some participants are learning to do laundry at the centre. The plan is to turn this into a laundry service that also takes outside orders. Miguel, known to everyone as Miguelito, already has a paid job in a shop.
Once a week there are joint lessons with a primary school in the neighbourhood.
What we want to build
In the long run we want to build homes and workshops in Riobamba: five supported houses with ten rooms each, an office building and five workshops. At first, 40 people would live and work there.
[Placeholder: current status, for example land, costs and next step.]
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