When I was 19, I took a plane for the first time in my life to come to Canada to study Economics at the University of Toronto. I earned a place in a scholarship program to study abroad, sponsored by the Ecuadorian Government. I was leaving behind my family, my country, and all I knew, but I had the dream to become an Economics Professor.
I grew up in a world of contradictions, in a beautiful country deeply marked by violence, poverty, and inequality. A country that is full of ambitious and hard-working people that remain poor their whole lives. A country where the best chocolate in the world is produced, (that is right, not Switzerland), but also the place where five-year-old children earn a living selling cheap candies in the streets. A country where despite its numerous natural resources, a fifth of the population still lives in poverty and ten percent in extreme poverty.
As a result of the lack of opportunities and ramping corruption, many Ecuadorians have fallen into resignation and apathy. The idea that a better outcome for the poor is not possible is deeply engrained in the imaginary of Ecuadorian society. I grew up convinced that big institutional reforms or expensive government programs were the only way to fight poverty. Yet, catholic missionaries’ solidarity and their life testimonies have made me believe that small changes can significantly improve the lives of the less fortunate. This idea has been demonstrated by the work of this year’s Nobel Laureates in Economics, (Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer) and their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.
Motivated by these different events in my life and with the firm goal to improve my research skills and expand my knowledge on the roots of poverty, I decided to take the Project Manager position at the Elimu Impact Unit Evaluation. This initiative was established in Kenya in 2006 by Professor Matthieu Chemin with the purpose to evaluate development projects to identify the most effective ways to reduce poverty. Elimu uses randomized experiments to achieve this goal. Currently, Elimu is involved in the impact evaluation of three different programs: community-based micro-hydro electrification, online tutoring, and monitoring the efficiency of the Kenyan Judiciary.
Over the summer, I was in charge of monitoring remotely the successful continuation of these three projects. Communication was challenging, but a good internet connection and online platforms such as Zoom have made things a lot easier. Because of heavy rain, the infrastructure of the electricity access program was compromised multiple times, leaving several participants’ houses without power. Joachim's help, one of Elimu’s employees in Kenya, was vital to promptly finding an electrician that could repair any damage to the cables or the energy generator. Sadly, his dad passed away last month. His resilience and positive attitude have been a constant inspiration to me.
Furthermore, due to COVID-19, schools were closed, putting a stop to the online tutoring program. However, a recent decision of the Ministry of Education to implement a community-based program where children can learn in open spaces has given us hope to continue monitoring the effectiveness of this initiative. As the person responsible for overseeing Elimu finances, I recently managed the purchase of new tablets with the help of Hannah and Juanyu.
On the other hand, I researched the progress of the construction of new courts in Kenya. In 2012, the World Bank launched a USD 120 million project to increase the efficiency of the Kenyan Judiciary, primarily through the construction of new courts and a program of employee training. Currently, I am writing my MA thesis precisely on the economic impact of the construction of these new court buildings in Kenya under Professor Chemin’s supervision.
Due to the pandemic, the isolation, and the momentaneous confinement, I have fallen into desperation several times. I have been extremely worried about the situation of my family in Ecuador. Getting professional help and talking to Professor Chemin and Simon, the previous Project Manager, has been vital not to lose my mind. I believe it is important to constantly remember that as À¦°óSMÉçÇø students, we are not alone. The university, for instance, has offered counseling services during the pandemic.
As frustrating and challenging as this whole experience has been, it has also been enriching, and it has reminded me how fortunate I am and why I left Ecuador six years ago. However, participating in this internship would have never been possible without the generous support from you, Mr. Garvin Brown, through the Susan Casey Brown Fund for À¦°óSMÉçÇø, À¦°óSMÉçÇø International Experience Awards. My parents have been both my moral and financial support throughout these years, yet they lost their jobs at the beginning of the pandemic. At that moment, I seriously considered going back to my country and dropping not only from the internship but from my MA program. Now, I am soon to leave for Kenya to keep working with Professor Chemin in this quest to get a Ph.D. in Economics and understand the roots of poverty.
