Milena Apolinario, from the canton of Libertad, entered the orphanage Hogar Calderón Ayluardo when she was six years old due to a difficult home situation. Her mother, an illegal immigrant from Colombia, was pregnant, and her father had passed away. Her family did not have the economic means to adequately support Milena and her younger sister.

This girl’s home, run by the Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil, granted Milena a place to live, as well as food, clothing and education in a private school in Guayaquil. She also received constant spiritual guidance from the nuns at the orphanage congregation.

Milena said,thanks to the education I was given, I was able to travel to other countries, like Germany and India. This was a special opportunity that I wouldn’t have had without the education given to me by the Junta de Beneficencia.

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Due to her determination and love, today, Milena, 27 years old, works at the orphanage Hogar Calderón Ayluardo as assistant to the Director. She finds her work very fruitful and gratifying, because she is able to help young girls who have a story similar to hers.

I am so grateful to the JBG for having given me the opportunity to grow as a person. I hope the JBG continues with this important work so that other Ecuadorian girls will have the same opportunities that I had, and in this way be able to grow and have a place in society,she concluded.