The Junta de Beneficencia signed new strategic agreements to continue with the territorial expansion of its Educational Network. The agreements were signed on Friday, January 30 by Juan Xavier Cordovez, Director of the Board, Bishop Cristobal Kudlawiec, Bishop of the Diocese of Daule, Christine Michelet, President of the James Dean Byrd Foundation and Father Carlos Mendoza Vicuña, Coordinator of the Diocesan Educational Network of San Jacinto.

Through these alliances with the Diocese of Daule, the JBG Educational Network will reach the cantons of Colimes, Daule and El Empalme by 2026; together with the Diocese of San Jacinto, it will expand its presence in Yaguachi, Durán, Naranjal, El Triunfo and the Tenguel parish; and, in cooperation with the James Dean Byrd Foundation, it will consolidate its educational work in the San Vicente-Canoa canton in the province of Manabí.

“During his speech, Cordovez recalled that the Junta de Beneficencia was born from alliances, with the purpose of helping those who need it most. He pointed out that reaching agreements with three institutions on the same day represents a dream come true, since they allow the Board to grow, broaden its scope and strengthen the work that each institution has forged with effort. He also emphasized that there is no other institution like the Board in the field of health, with its four leading hospitals in their respective areas, and that this same model of excellence is sought to be replicated in the field of education. ‘We are convinced that to transform the country we must educate and train good citizens,’ he said.”

Carlos Mendoza, representative of the Diocese of San Jacinto, pointed out that this alliance gives rise to a network in which the threads unite and weave together lives, families, communities and, finally, an entire nation. He expressed that, as the Diocese of San Jacinto, they are convinced that this agreement constitutes a thanksgiving to God, having allies who share their educational ideal: to forge lives. We thank the Junta de Beneficencia for the opportunity to continue with our mission,’ he said.

Currently, the Educational Network of the Junta de Beneficencia has 8 educational institutions, during 2026 it will expand its presence to 13 more cantons , reaching 18 institutions in the country, more than 440 teachers in the network and directly benefiting more than 9,900 children and young people.

The ten new institutions joining the Educational Network are:

• Carlo Acutis (Daule)
• Santa Rosa de Lima (Colimes)
• Our Lady of Guadalupe (El Empalme)
• Monsignor Juan Larrea (Durán)
• Monsignor Francisco de Garaicoa (Yaguachi)
• Santa Marianita (Durán)
• The Immaculate Conception (El Triunfo)
• Carlos Mantilla (Tenguel)
• San Esteban (Naranjal)
• Los Algarrobos (Canoa)

This growth is based on an integral educational model, based on high learning achievements at low cost, human formation from Christian humanism and professional training with German certification. La Junta de Beneficencia is committed to the transformation of lives and the development of the country through education.