My best wishes to each of you in your studies and in the life opportunities you receive in this new millennium

The average age of a person in Ecuador is 17 years. The average age of a person in Canada is 37 years old. This tells us that as a whole Ecuador's population is much younger than Canada's, a country which is considered to have an ageing population.

Whether young or old the populations of the countries in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres have a great deal in common. A global economy makes us interdependent, requiring that more than ever there is an urgent need for us to know each other better. There are many perils that threaten earth and by working together it is possible to overcome these dangers making sure that this planet will be a home of opportunities for all the world's peoples.

It is our hope that this website in Ecuador, which is financed by the Canadian Government (ACDI/CIDA) will serve in a small way the goals of sustainable development where people thinking globally will be acting locally. The e-mail query site on the welcome page and the regular updates informing about the project's progress are meant to provide interactivity between yourselves and the project beneficiaries. We invite your inquiries and suggestions.

Should a group of students with their teacher wish to organize a class visit to Ecuador to experience for yourselves the warmth and culture of the Andean people we will be pleased to receive you and to coordinate your visit.

Thomas J. Walsh