Carolina’s Journey

Carolia Iguago is the Community Facilitator and Leader at Sumak. She joined the Sumak team 3 years ago. The following blog post is in her own words.

My name is Carolina, and I am 26 years old. I grew up with my family in an Indigenous community in Cayambe, in the northern Andes of Ecuador.

My mom and dad worked very hard so we could study. Their purpose was to help us achieve our goals despite the limitations and challenges we might face. They gave their three children trust and unconditional support, and through their example, they taught us about God’s love and how to persevere in reaching our dreams. In this way, we learned that through honesty, faith, and hard work, many dreams can be achieved.

At the age of 11, God allowed me to recognize my spiritual, physical, and emotional strength. For four years, I practiced Olympic wrestling, a sport that gave me discipline, willpower, and passion. After achieving second place in a national tournament, I retired from the sport.

At 13, I began volunteering in social projects, working with children, older adults, and people with disabilities. Because of my contributions and commitment, I received a scholarship to attend a school focused on protecting women’s rights in rural areas of Ecuador. This was where I began my journey as a companion for survivors of violence. I witnessed many experiences and learned about things I did not want to be repeated in my family or community.

When I was 17, I finished high school. I felt a lot of fear and uncertainty about my future, and I was not sure what I wanted for myself, but God was at work. Soon, through the connections I had built in the social field, an opportunity arose for me to participate in an exchange program in another country.

After an extensive selection process, at 18 I joined the North–South exchange program Weltwärts, where I volunteered at a community school in Jena, Germany, working with migrant children. Far from my country and challenged by another language, I strengthened my vocation for service.

Through this experience, I became certain of what I wanted for my life. When I returned, I was hired as a promoter in a children’s project at FACE. Shortly after, I began my university studies with a half scholarship to become a teacher in Intercultural Bilingual Education (an educational system for Indigenous populations). I worked and studied at the same time, and in 2025 I got my bachelor's degree.

I worked with children and families for two years, then joined the team at Sumak Comprehensive Center, where I have been working for the past three years. In my experience, the work is very demanding because of the stories we hear and witness. I have often experienced similar situations to those they are going through, which gives me the strength, empathy, and commitment to continue supporting them.

I am certain that God walks with me and works so that everything unfolds as it should. He has always been present; therefore, I know He is a loving, kind, and protective Father. Through Sumak, many of our beneficiaries are able to experience God´s mercy through the services we provide. I believe that wherever we are, there will always be ways to show His love and share the hope of His promises. I have no fear because I carry this truth with me: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”