By Rocio Illescas | Director
CETAP-Lucy April 2023
Established in 2008, CETAP-Lucy (Centro de Estimulacion Temprana y Atencion Psicopedagogica-- Center for Early Stimulation and Educational Psychology) is the brainchild of two sisters, Rocio and Janeth Illescas, who live in Chilcapamba, a rural barrio outside of Cuenca, Ecuador. Named after the sisters’ late mother, the program primarily helped children of absent fathers and women working in the indigenous markets. It operates in two parts, with a morning preschool to help children prepare to enter kindergarten and an afternoon program to help students with academic support. Many of the children served by CETAP-Lucy suffer from family violence at home, attention-deficit syndrome, autism, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychological care and well speech therapy is provided to the children and their families. Janeth, who has a master’s degree in educational development and is certified to test children for learning disabilities, works to assure that eligible children are placed in the correct special educational programs.
When the pandemic hit and Ecuador schools were closed, CETAP-Lucy changed its focus to help children who do not have access to the internet or computers to take their online classes. Computers and printers were obtained, and technical supervision is provided. All of the children who attended CETAP-Lucy were promoted to the next grade, despite the difficulty. During this time, CETAP-Lucy partnered with an organization in California called “Children of the Night,” giving free one-on-one English classes to ten children.
When schools were opened again, many children were behind academically and still needed access to the internet and computers, so the program changed to meet new challenges. In the morning preschool, children now receive twenty minutes of English language education every day, using a special brain-development program called Mentalista. 7 children currently receive speech therapy. In the afternoon, the focus has changed to provide personalized academic tutoring for the needs of each student.
Approximately 90 percent of the students who attend CETAP-Lucy have some type of learning disability. Psychological care is currently provided to 26 children. The number of children taking advantage of the Children of the Night program has increased to 16. A program to help students to prepare for pre-university tests serves about eight students at a time.
Cetap Lucy also provides weekly food to families and elderly in extreme poverty.
By Rocio Illescas | Director
By Rocio Illescas | Director
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