A brilliant day a world away in Ecuador

Clare Martin has been a sponsor with Plan for over 20 years and, in that time, has sponsored two children in Ecuador - 17-year-old Ana and previously, Ana's older brother Angel. In April of this year, Clare and her husband William travelled from their home in Cheserez, Switzerland to visit Ana and her community for the very first time. This is their story.

"We had a brilliant day that could not have gone better! We were picked up from our hotel at 8:30am by three Plan employees - Marco, Giovanni and Nena - who had come up from Riobamba for the day. They were so informative and friendly, and Nena translated for us throughout the day when my elementary Spanish let me down.

"We drove for a couple of hours over bumpy roads and incredible countryside. The Chimbaorazo volcano loomed over us and we stopped several times for photos along the way. Eventually, after many miles of pot-holed roads, we arrived in Ana's village and stopped to pick up the community's Plan co-ordinator, Amerika.

"Together we went to Ana's house on the outskirts of the village. The meeting between Ana and me was very emotional on both sides. It must have been quite overwhelming for her to meet me, my husband and four Plan workers - only one of whom she knew - all at once! Regardless, she was confident, chatty and delightful throughout the day.

"We had taken gifts for Ana and her family. These included t-shirts and hair grips, a table cloth and napkins, and baseball caps. There was much excitement when opening all of these as you can imagine! Ana showed us round their basic but clean house, and it was amazing to see stickers from our town and photos of my family up on the wall!

"Then we all piled into the jeep to visit the Plan projects in the village. The main ones are in and around the large primary school and include running water with lots of taps in a row for small children, a block of latrines, and a wall built around the playground to stop children from toppling onto the road.

"We were so impressed by how much has been achieved with Plan's assistance there over the years.

"We had a lovely walk around the village admiring the river and waterfalls, and then lunch on the terrace of a small café, while looking down the beautiful valley of banana plantations.

"We then all went back to Ana's house where we met her father. Sadly, I did not get to meet Ana's mum, as she was away visiting her own mother who was unwell, nor Ana's brother, Angel, whom I previously sponsored for 10 years to the age of 18. He is now working at an airport and has a small baby.

"Ana is about to embark on a teacher-training course and my great wish for her is that she too makes something of her life and will rise above the abject poverty she has grown up in.

"Our farewell was even more emotional than our arrival and we all had our hankies out. It was an amazing day in so many ways and I would encourage anyone who sponsors a child to go visit them. It is certainly a very enriching experience and I have wonderful memories to last a life-time.

"I congratulate everyone at Plan, in the offices and in the field, for the amazing work they are doing, and I have so enjoyed playing a small part in it."