Ecuador Team
Meet the faces who run our tutoring programs, assist with Starfish programming, and more!
The Team
Program Manager
Stephanie Allen
Stephanie Allen
Stephanie Allen, Program Manager, graduated from Stonehill College with degrees in Spanish, and social justice and policy studies.
Her passion for volunteerism led her to Ecuador, where she first arrived as a volunteer with Rostro de Cristo in 2013.
During her volunteer year, Stephanie served at both preschool and after-school programs for at-risk Ecuadorian youth. Her experiences in Ecuador showed her the importance of education as a means to overcome situations of poverty, as well as the importance of developing meaningful relationships and of mentorship--values that continue to inform her personal and professional life.
After returning to the U.S., Stephanie began her non-profit career working as a volunteer manager for over two years at a nationally recognized non-profit. During this time, she also pursued post-graduate education and received certificates in community, medical, and legal Spanish-English interpretation from Boston University. Stephanie returned to Ecuador in 2018, living and working in the city of Cuenca to facilitate cultural exchange experiences for U.S. and Ecuadorian high school students.
Stephanie is thrilled to be back in Guayaquil and join our team as the program manager! In this role, she looks forward to working alongside our Ecuadorian staff to provide quality educational support and mentorship to our scholars.
Education Manager
Fred Schick
Fred Schick
Fred Schick, Education Manager, graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an MSc in ecological economics and from Boston University with a BA in economics. His hope of finding solutions to global inequality and poverty through economic policy turned into a disillusionment that pushed him towards education as a more powerful tool to achieve positive change in the world.
Fred began his teaching career as an English as a Second Language teacher in Spain and Mexico, where he learned Spanish and later worked as the curriculum and training coordinator for an international non-governmental organization focusing on green business development.
As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador, Fred continued to apply non-formal and experiential learning methodologies with indigenous communities. He took on further leadership roles in Ecuador as the volunteer coordinator and, later, as the country director for local and international non-governmental organizations.
After teaching multiple subjects at a private high school in Quito for three years, Fred joined the Starfish Foundation in August 2018, where he has been working as the education manager. He is thrilled to be part of an amazing team of passionate educators who work selflessly to help our students reach their goals and follow their dreams. Fred was born and raised in France, has American and French citizenships, and lives with his Colombian wife and two children.
Employees
Pamela Choez
Pamela Choez
Program Assistant
I am cheerful, friendly, and responsible. I am studying math and physics pedagogy. I like to teach and share with young people, because with them, I learn more every day. Before Starfish, I played sports for three years, and I was a volunteer instructor for classes on entrepreneurship, and on social and financial education for adolescents between 14 and 16 years of age. I like to write short articles about education in general. My goal is to change the way of seeing mathematics as complicated, and for young people to understand it better. In the future, I would like to study for a master's degree in psycho-pedagogy to understand better the minds of children and thus provide better support while teaching math.
Jordy Loor
Jordy Loor
Program Assistant
I am a happy person. I love to listen to music and watch television shows. In complex situations, I get nervous, but I try not to show it. I am always ready to help people who need my help. My favorite colors are black, purple, and white. I am also very interested in technology.
Jessica Parraga
Jessica Parraga
Program Coordinator
I am an education coordinator and oversee language arts planning. I also support planning for our English and social studies lessons. I am a responsible, collaborative, and creative person. I love helping students and going beyond just being their tutor, to being their friend also. I like to be learning constantly and launching new ventures.
Luiggi Pluas
Luiggi Pluas
Development Coordinator
Luiggi is a student of telematics engineering at Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral. In his role, he is responsible for planning, assisting, and applying strategies for fundraising campaigns.
A former student of Starfish, Luiggi spent a significant portion of his academic life at the Foundation, attending it for six years before graduating from high school. He credits the Foundation's exceptional educational programs and supportive environment for his academic achievements during his middle and high school years.
Luiggi is proud to contribute his extensive knowledge and experience to the Foundation, which played a significant role in shaping his academic career and personal growth. He feels happy to be able to give back to the Foundation that helped him in so many ways.
Julio Ponce
Julio Ponce
Program Assistant
I have been part of the Foundation for nine years and have been through many phases: as a scholar, as a volunteer, and, now, as an educator focusing on our science lessons. I am a responsible and collaborative person. I am currently studying photography, and in the future, I hope to study videography or social media.
Sara Quishpe
Sara Quishpe
Program Assistant
I am studying tourism and hospitality at the Vicente Rocafuerte Institute. I currently work as a program assistant at Starfish. I am passionate about contributing to the growth and development of young people through education and training. I enjoy transmitting my knowledge and experiences to help others achieve their goals and dreams, just as I had the opportunity to be a student of this prestigious foundation, which allowed me to dream beyond what I believed.
I love studying new trends and technologies and then applying them in my classes and in my daily work. In my free time, I enjoy traveling and exploring new destinations, learning about different cultures and traditions. I believe that education and training are key to personal and professional growth, and I am committed to continuing to learn and grow so that I can share my knowledge with the next generation of young people.
William Segura
William Segura
Program Coordinator
I have a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Guayaquil. I really like history and social sciences. One of my priorities is to try to help people in need, whether that be socially or educationally. I look to learn from everything that happens, especially within my work at the Foundation.
Jasmin Tumbaco
Jasmin Tumbaco
Site Administrator
I have a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Guayaquil. I have been with Starfish since its early days in Flor de Bastión in 2012. I have learned many things during the years I have worked here. I like that I am able to work in my field and that we have a harmonious and friendly staff team. I am a friendly, responsible, and persevering person. I like to think of others and find ways to help them.
Jazmín Zavala
Jazmín Zavala
Accountant
I am experienced in taxation and labor requirements in Ecuador. I am always willing to contribute ideas and to take initiative to solve problems! For several years, I was a volunteer of the solidarity service Pan Para Mi Hermano (Bread for My Brother), which serves people who live in the streets of Guayaquil.
Volunteers
Work-Study Volunteers
Emily Agua
Josselin Loor
Additional Volunteers
Teresa Bestwick
Yamila Mirabal
Lester Pereddo
Ecuador Board of Directors
Silvia Chauca
Wellington Moncayo
Yuliana Noboa
Jasmin Tumbaco
Jenn Zocco