Creating Welcoming Pathways for Migrant Families in Ecuador 

Ecuador is home to one of Latin America’s most vibrant examples of inclusion, welcoming tens of thousands of refugees and migrants each year. An estimated 70,000 refugees and migrants live in the capital, Quito. Local organizations and municipalities, confronted by growing needs, have shown remarkable flexibility, but funding and capacity gaps persist. 

At the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, our Refugees initiative helps foster inclusive communities through local partnerships and investments that prioritize families’ well-being and livelihoods. We fund early childhood development through trusted local actors, like city governments, and invest in parents and caregivers’ economic development and well-being to ensure they have the means to support their families. 

Early Childhood and Livelihoods Partnership 

In partnership with the Decentralised Autonomous Government of the Metropolitan District of Quito, we support Quito Wawas—free, inclusive child care centers serving refugee and host families in high-need areas. These centers provide early childhood education, parenting workshops, and health services for children ages 0–5, promoting healthy development, community cohesion and cross-cultural understanding. 

See the impact of the Quito Wawas on local families in Carapungo: 

Unlocking Opportunity for Women: Investing in Las Reinas Pepiadas 

We support Las Reinas Pepiadas, a women-led organization advancing the social and economic inclusion of refugee and migrant women in Ecuador. Participants gain business and digital skills, receive psychosocial support, and access child care on-site, allowing mothers to learn while their children are safe and nurtured.  

Beyond the services, Las Reinas Pepiadas provides a space for collective healing and community building. Calling themselves “las reinas” (“the queens”) helps restore confidence and dignity to women rebuilding their lives. 

Meet the Las Reinas team—and hear directly from the queens themselves as they share how the program transformed their lives.