Training of community promoters in health education and promotion.

The project responded to the preventive health vulnerability of communities with a population in human mobility (migrants and refugees) in Ecuador, where high risks of adolescent pregnancy, drug dependence and lack of knowledge of pre/postnatal care were identified. Its objective was to train community health promoters to promote preventive practices in Quito, Santo Domingo, Guayaquil, Manabí and Cuenca, improving access to vital information and strengthening local support networks.

A 50-hour training process (endorsed by MSP and CONADIS) was carried out with 218 community leaders (exceeding the goal of 135), including 5 workshops per territory focused on life plans, sexual rights, violence prevention, nutrition and psychological first aid. In addition, in-service actions were implemented that included 7 community fairs and podcasts where promoters replicated knowledge (e.g. podcast in Manabí with 8 health topics) and 872 people were sensitized through visits and educational material.

The project generated local agents of change: trained leaders replicate preventive practices in their communities (e.g., fairs in Abdón Calderón/Manabí). The articulation with AVSI, UNHCR and local organizations (e.g. Fundación Delfi in Guayaquil) ensures continuity, while the educational materials provided and the methodology based on community knowledge allow for replication. As a perspective, it is recommended to climb to higher educational levels (intermediate/advanced) to consolidate skills.