Cheryl Reed started Project One Corner after witnessing the poverty into which some people were born and not knowing how to help. She realized that sometimes it isn’t from lack of hard work that people can’t escape the poverty, but the lack of opportunities. So her solution has been to change the circumstances of one person or family at a time, in one small corner of the world. Cheryl gives ten percent of her earnings to help various people in her community.
The first recipient of Project One Corner was Cheryl’s farm hand’s son, Freddy (left). She sponsored his college education so that he had the chance for a different life. He graduated in 2016 with a Degree as a National Tour Guide in Ecuador.
Carlos (right) was the recipient of a donation from Project One Corner. Carlos works as a day worker cleaning pastures, putting up fences or other manual labor, but is often limited in the work he can take. He now has a new motorcycle which allows him to accept more jobs. Alex (center) was studying at the University and needed a laptop computer. Her step-father purchased a lap-top from the black market, but unfortunately after arriving back home, they realized there was no actual computer inside. Project One Corner bought her a brand new laptop. See below for a complete list of causes Project One Corner has funded.
Jim, Pete and JD, bloggers who co-hosted retreats in Ecuador, gave this family a new home! Rather than accepting a speaking fee, they donated it to Project One Corner. Elena and Simon’s home was damaged in an earthquake, rendering it unlivable. They had no place to live with their seven children so they temporarily moved into this old chicken coop (photo on the left.) Little by little, they were repairing the damage on their home; but it was going to take a long time with the small salaries they earned. With the money donated by the bloggers, we were able to complete the house installing windows, electricity, doors, ceilings, tile floors, and a new kitchen. They now have a real home!
Here is a current project you can help with!
My neighbor, Don Jose, lives down a steep path at the end of the road. He walks to town with his donkey to stock up on food supplies. He has no electricity and gets his water from the neighbor’s spring which doesn’t always flow in the summer. Don Jose makes a living processing sugar cane into a sugar block called panela and makes about $70 a month. The panela is processed under a 30 by 20 foot roof that also doubles as his home. At one time he had plastic walls on his “bedroom” but that has since fallen down. After years of us asking, he has finally agreed to let Project One Corner build him a bedroom, supply it with a proper bed and fix the roof on his factory. We would also like to buy him the supplies so he can have a constant water supply from town.
Approximate Cost: $3,000 with labor
Here are more projects we are proud to have completed!
We completed a house for this family who lived in a barn for 10 years. When working as a farmhand, normally housing comes with the job. The only housing provided for this family was an old barn with no running water and no indoor plumbing. They had started construction on a house but they didn’t have the funds to finish it. We added on a kitchen, put in electric and a bathroom and they were able to move home.
There was a family of 12 living in a two room house. We put a two room addition on the house so they would have more space for beds.
Project One Corner is proud to have donated over $35,000 in goods
and services to help people in vulnerable situations.
Sponsored the college education of a young man so he would have better opportunities for work.
Sponsored two local girls for their educational needs: Supplying books, uniforms,
shoes, and paying for school transportation.
Purchased a computer for a college student so she could better complete her studies.
Provided a Platform Walker and Tub Bench for a woman to be independent at home after an illness.
Purchased a baby stroller for a young mother in Santa Elena, Ecuador.
Provided a foot brace for a patient in need in Texas.
Donated money towards hospital bills for a patient in need.
Purchased Soccer Uniforms for a Team in Nanegalito, Ecuador.
Provided Money for clothes for a young man starting a new job.
Donated chairs to a small Indigenous community for their Town Meetings.
Paid the Application fee paid for a person applying to a PHD Program.
Provided a Water tank for a school in Los Bancos, Ecuador.
Paid medical bills for a woman with nerve damage in her foot.
Contributed to the purchase of a motorcycle for two people to give them transportation to work.
Contributed money to support a man and his family while he recovered from a broken ankle.
Contributed money to Crecer–an organization that provides OT services to children and adults in Ecuador.
Purchased English didactic materials to a local school.
Donated Three month’s salary to a father of 12 who was injured and couldn’t work. (Thank you Paula Pant!)
Donated 3 months salary to a man who had been in a car accident and couldn’t work.
Completed a house for a family who was living in a stable.
Sterilized four dogs for families who could not afford it which helps to decrease the overpopulation of street dogs.
Provide daily food for two dogs and a cat in the neighborhood.
Purchased an Industrial Stove Top for a person to sell food to the town’s people on the weekends.