Typical Ecuadorian basic dish with rice. Recipe: Menestra de lentejas Ingredients (serves 10): 500 g lentils ½ bell bell pepper 3 cloves of garlic 1 onion 1 plantain 1 spoon butter 1 pinch of cumin ½ handful of coriander (cilandro) leaves Salt (to taste) Preparation: The lentils are soaked in water overnight. The next day,…

This year we have been very busy working for more justice and protection for victims of violence. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have assisted more than 30 victims of violence. These include cases of sexual harassment, rape, domestic violence, abuse and violence against children and  preventing femicide. Between mid-October and mid-November 2021 alone,…

On Friday our annual Christmas Café took place. Between music and cookies, friends of SALEM, our families and people from the village came together. For the children there were workshops in magic and handicrafts, and the performance of the hand puppet theater was not to be missed. In the music program the SALEM children’s choir…

Addiction, rehab centers and the picture of addicted people in society. We’re spending our Friday evending discussing difficult topics. Director and actress Mónica Mancero presented her film “Azules Turquesas”. Playing the drug addict Isabella, she shows us the daily life in some rehab centers. There, the addicts do not get therapy, but have to face…

Lady Estela first came in contact with SALEM in Mindo at the age of 9 years old. She is currently studying Business Administration and works at our center as an Administrative Assistant. When we talk to Lady about her life at SALEM, her expression shows  many emotions. “I remember I had a rain jacket and…