Kindness is her gift
What does generosity look like when you’ve lost everything?
Here in Quito, Ecuador, Cindy lives with her two children, Johan, 15, and Mónica, 10.
The home is basic. The walls are made of cement blocks, the roof slats of tin. Electricity and plumbing are distant luxuries. Still, a feeling of gentle warmth pours over you the moment you step through the door.
“How does light enter a person? Through the open door of love.”
Circumstances tested Cindy and her family, who came to Ecuador on foot from Venezuela. At home in Venezuela, they could no longer afford food because of hyperinflation, and the children couldn’t attend school. So, they embarked on a difficult, months-long, 2,820-km journey to Quito, the capital of Ecuador.
“The children asked why they were walking, and I told them that the [transit] ticket was too expensive,” Cindy recalls, as she tells stories of sleeping outside restaurants, stolen belongings and health scares. “There was no money. My son was the one who got the strength and encouraged us to walk more.”
After travelling across three countries, Cindy and her children finally arrived in Quito. They ended up living on the street.
Finding a home can be one of the toughest challenges for people forced to flee. After some time in Quito without housing, Cindy connected with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). She learned about her legal housing rights and how to register her family in Ecuador. We also provided her with rental assistance so her family could move off the street into a home.
“I am very grateful,” Cindy says of NRC’s support.
Opening the door to kindness
Once she had a home, Cindy was ready to give back and help others. As soon as her family moved into their temporary home in Ecuador, she opened the door to others in need. In moved another Venezuelan family of three: a mother, a father with a disability, and their nine-year-old boy. The family had been living on the street by a bustling bus terminal in Quito.
Cindy set the family up comfortably in the home's only bedroom, now shared by six people: three adults and three children. She helped the family with meals until they could manage on their own.
The reason for her kindness was simple, she says: “I would not like to be in this circumstance and have nobody helping me.”
Not only did Cindy understand what it was like for the family to be homeless, but also the pain and difficulties facing the father with a disability.
Four years ago, Cindy was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She must take daily medication or she suffers from tremors and convulsions. Having a healthy, stable environment and access to medicine is crucial for her well-being.
The beloved family dog brings joy to every day. Cindy also cares for her neighbour’s dog, who comes over often to be with the family.
The beloved family dog brings joy to every day. Cindy also cares for her neighbour’s dog, who comes over often to be with the family.
Kindness tends to have a ripple effect. Cindy says her mother has been a lifelong inspiration to her because of her generosity. In fact, it was the USD 10 from her mother that allowed the family to begin their long journey to Ecuador. Now, Cindy wants to pass on this ethos to her children, she says, so they grow to be generous, thoughtful people.
A home for Christmas
Today, Cindy has hope for the future. She earns roughly USD 5 per day selling goods, and the income provides significantly more food and necessities than she could afford in Venezuela. The children are enrolled in school. Johan dreams of becoming a doctor, and Mónica dreams of becoming a lawyer.
It's been four years since the family have been able to afford celebrating Christmas. Cindy and her children voyaged across several countries in pursuit of a regular meal. This year, they are determined to recreate the type of Christmas they used to have.
The children enjoy playing outside together.
The children enjoy playing outside together.
“We used to share, exchange gifts between families, have Christmas dinner, put a baby Jesus [figure] on the table. On 25 December, the children went out to celebrate with their toys, full of joy,” Cindy remembers with a smile.
As the children play outside, framed by the backdrop of the Pichincha volcano, Cindy’s dog gently licks her face. She reflects on what it’s meant for her to receive help while she’s in a vulnerable situation.
“I am surrounded by good people.”
“Some neighbours give us food for the children,” she says. “They treat us well, there are no problems or discrimination.”
“I am grateful that people offered us the help we needed,” Cindy says.
Update: Cindy and her family have now moved to another house due to her ongoing health concerns. Her children are now studying in a local school. The family she welcomed into her home have found their own home.
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