Mission + History — Center for Working Families

The Center for Working Families (C4WF) is the registered 501(c)(3) US-based nonprofit that is dedicated to supporting The Center - A Family of Families in Quito, Ecuador.

The C4WF is responsible for raising awareness and funds for the Center’s mission, recruits year long volunteers, as well as coordinates service learning experiences with high schools, colleges, and parishes across the US.

[FEIN: 46-4464547]

THE CENTER - A FAMILY OF FAMILIES

A jesuit and bvm apostolic Social work DEDICATED TO THE
accompaniment, service and empowerment of the most vulnerable families IN QUITO, ECUADOR.

The Center is an apostolic work of the Society of Jesus that, through comprehensive and integral family programming, promotes the empowerment of the most vulnerable families throughout Quito by developing life plans and strengthening their abilities and skills.
Empowered families develop their potential to break the boundaries of exclusion and poverty and take action to change by promoting a just society based upon solidarity.
The Center’s goal is that its member families will be united in their shared commitment, have access to education, health and quality basic services, and be financially independent. Through its integral family programming and services, the Center supports the skills development of children, adolescents and their families, creating opportunities that help break the cycle of generational poverty.
With the tools and resources provided by the Center and its ever-growing partnerships - both locally and internationally - the Center’s community will become agents of change and active participants in the construction of a just society, promoting equity and respect of fundamental rights.
Our foundational values remain the guiding light for the creation and continuation of our services and programming:
- Loyalty
- Personal Formation
- Family
- Religion
- Education
- Savings
- Work
- Recreation
- Health
- Housing

1964

The Centro del Muchacho Trabajador (CMT) was founded by Jesuit priest, Fr. John Halligan, SJ in the attic of Jesuit church, La Compañía.
Around 200 young shoeshine boys joined as members. The Center was a safe space for kids to be kids and receive 3 meals a day.
1965

The Center offered dorm-style sleeping accommodations for those who needed it as well as basic medical and dental care.
1967

Padre Juan put out an all-call for additional support. Madre Miguel Conway, BVM answered that call and traveled from Iowa down to Quito’s city center.
1968

Seeing a need for education, Madre Miguel worked to create a curriculum and it was approved by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education.
The boys studied for 1/2 days and worked for the other half.
1973

The CMT raised enough funds to build its own center in the downtown neighborhood of La Marín.
The Center’s Technical Education Program was implemented, including metal mechanics and carpentry.
1974

Padre, Madre and the Center team realized that in order to break the cycle of poverty, they needed to work with the entire family.
200 families joined as Center members.
1975

The CMT opened up its programming to young girls and began the Center’s “Girls’ Program.” In this program, girls of all ages learned artisanal skills to be able to help support their families.
1981

The CMT expanded and built another campus in Cotocollao, a neighborhood in the north of Quito.
1982

The Center’s Technical Education program expanded to include sewing, bakery, auto mechanics and cosmetology.
1985

The Center’s own “Year Long Volunteer (YLV)” program began.
However, since its inception, the Center had the support of countless volunteers, including Madre Cindy and many other BVM sisters.
1997

The Center won the award for “Best Artisan Center in Ecuador” by the Artisan Defense Board.
1998

The Center’s storefront businesses - below the Community House - opened up.
Today, there are 2 restaurants, a beauty salon owned by Nancy Ramón - a former Center member, an auto showroom, and an auto parts warehouse.
2002

La Gota de Leche, or Drop of Milk program began to help young mothers prepare before, during and after their pregnancy.
The Center’s medical team provided education and resources to ensure the mother and baby’s health during the first year.
2005

An impact study was published and demonstrated that 75% of Center graduates overcome poverty forever.
2010

On behalf of the Center’s work with the most vulnerable, Padre Juan received the Opus Prize, one of the most recognized humanitarian awards.
2014

The CMT - Una Familia de Familias celebrated 50 years of service and accompaniment of the working poor in Quito.
2015

The Center sought out alternatives for their programming and services, as the Ecuadorian government strictly enforced child labor laws.
Center volunteers collaborated with the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES) to facilitate extracurricular activities to ensure that Center students would be in a safe place while their parent(s) worked.
2017

Due to financial constraints, the Center consolidated to the campus in Cotocollao.
2018

There was an official leadership transition under the guidance of the Ecuadorian Jesuits.
2018-2019

For the first time in its history, the Center offers an accredited High School Degree program.
There are two course for students to choose from: general studies & technical education with a focus in metal mechanics.
2020 - 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic came to Ecuador and on March 13th, the Center had its last in-person class.
The Center team worked tirelessly to ensure the well-being of its “Family of Families.” Food kits, virtual health-checks, psychological support, spiritual accompaniment, and distance learning were provided.
June 2021

We celebrated the Center’s first graduating high school class made up of 16 students.
December 2021

To accurately represent the mission, the Center changed its name to The Center - A Family of Families.
2022

In February, after more than 695 days, the Center returned to in-person classes!
Current Center programming is still limited due to the continued challenges brought on by COVID-19 and the vulnerability of its community.