Érika Solís, 18, mother of Alison Micaela, 10 months
“My daughter was born on April 18, 2016, just 2 days after the earthquake struck. On the day of the earthquake, I was already admitted to the hospital in Guayaquil.
"I think the baby came earlier than expected because I was in shock. Our house in Manabi collapsed. It was completely destroyed and we still live in a tent with my in-laws and the baby. There are only 2 beds in the tent and we have little privacy. The worst thing is that we still don’t know when we will have a house and be able to leave the tent.
My daughter was born just two days after the earthquake struck ... We live in a tent with my in-laws and the baby.
“My mother-in-law encouraged me to come to the child-friendly space because she knows the work of Plan International. I want my baby to be cared for and fed, and here they are teaching me how to do it. When Alison arrived I was only 17, so I was a very young mum and didn’t know anything about how to take care of her or how to feed her. This has helped me a lot to make her grow up healthy, despite the situation we are going through."
Erika, 10 years old
“In the child-friendly space, we are taught things we do not learn at home. When the earthquake hit, I was at home alone, this is why it was very hard for me to be in a closed placed for a long time.
"I am losing fear because I used to imagine that the house would fall on me. For me, to be here is a lot of fun. They taught me, my mum and my cousins what we have to do in case there is another earthquake or a tsunami. In my house, we have already prepared our emergency backpack and it makes me feel calmer”.
José Alejandro, 14, sponsored boy
“That day I was on the soccer field and the ground started moving a lot. We could see how the light poles bent like chewing gum. I ran to my house and when I arrived my parents were crying and scared.
"In my house, only a wall fell, but we had to go to a shelter until being sure the house was safe to return to or not. At first, I did not know what the child-friendly spaces were, but I started to come and I really liked it. I find it entertaining and fun.
"Now it is me who reassures my parents when there are aftershocks because I already know what I have to do. Our space is very beautiful and there are a lot of things to do! If you come here, you could have fun learning!”
