My strong commitment to serving populations in need encourages me to devote my time and energy toward increasing the educational opportunities of children, and families who are experiencing economic and social disadvantages.

I pursued my graduate studies at the University of Cambridge UK, obtaining a Masters of ''Politics, Democracy and Education” and conducted the investigation "Education Reform in Ecuador during the 1990s: The Politics of Policy Change.” My thesis identified the main political and economic challenges that Ecuador encountered as it attempted to reform its educational system during the 1990s.

After my studies, I had the opportunity to work at the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education as a consultant hired by the Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance (VVOB). I was in charge of designing and implementing an evaluation model for the Ecuadorian pedagogical institutes that train future public schools teachers. Before that experience, I worked at the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) at the Education Office in Quito, where I co-designed and co-implemented educational programs aimed at building local capacities of small providers and entrepreneurs in rural areas. I have also worked for the UNESCO-FAO flagship "Education for Rural People" program in Rome, being in charge of researching and implementing advocacy actions aimed at improving rural livelihoods.

I am a strong believer that quality education is the responsibility of all of us. That is why the role of civil society (as other sectors such as the private sector, international cooperation and academia) is key not only to monitor policies implementation, but more importantly to build an inclusive national educational project. That is to say, that I have a strong commitment to promote dialogue among key actors of the Ecuadorean society to build a national project that has the right to education as its core value, that no child is left behind. Another personal commitment I have is to improve life opportunities of the most vulnerable Ecuadoreans, especially girls and their education, indigenous groups (intercultural education) and girls and boys with special needs.

Since I was a teenager I have volunteered in different educational projects in my home town which has one of the poorest learning performances in the country. For instance, I worked for a kindergarten and designed a scholarship program that enabled around 600 infants -the majority- from low income households to access high quality early education. Nowadays and this is time abroad, I am supporting Children in Freedom, an educational charity based in Kenya that aims at improving life´s opportunities for children from impoverished backgrounds. In another cause, I worked directly with women. In this particular endeavor, I have dedicated almost two decades to serve as a program coordinator at a women’s social movement called ‘Unión de MujeresCaraquenses’ (UMC) located in my home town Bahía de Caráquez. I designed and implemented training programs to increase the family income of poor households to improve life opportunities of underprivileged women and their families in my community.

In my leisure time I enjoy practicing kundalini yoga, dancing, learning new languages, travelling and seeing the world, talking to local people, listening to stories, and cultivating friendships. I believe in people in the world always lending a hand to each other and as my African friends say "we are here to support each other". It is important to find a cause and support it with all your heart and soul!