Ecuador Team

Emily Agua

Program Assistant

I am Emily Agua. I am studying architecture at Universidad Laica Vicente Rocafuerte. I consider myself to be a very passionate person in all that I do. I am very determined, disciplined, collaborative, tolerant, and responsible. Those are the characteristics that define me, both personally and academically. I really like sharing time with children and youth and motivating them to generate meaningful learning for themselves. I always love learning new things, so I am always constantly learning and surpassing my perspectives.

Genesis Agua

Program Assistant

I firmly believe that education has the power to transform lives and open doors to a better future. This belief has guided my personal and professional journeys, motivating me to accompany children and teens in their growth and development. I have a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in educational leadership. My experience as an elementary school teacher allowed me to discover the importance of creating learning spaces where every student feels valued, heard and capable of reaching their fullest potential.

I am empathetic, responsible, and patient. I am inspired to work at Starfish for the organization's commitment to providing opportunities for students in vulnerable neighborhoods. Being part of an organization that believes in the power of education to generate positive change is something that brings me a lot of satisfaction.

Outside of work, I am a volunteer catechism teacher at a church in my neighborhood. I enjoy spending time with my family, dancing, and exercising. These activities allow me to fill my cup and maintain a balance between my personal and professional lives. I hope to continue to grow personally and professionally and contribute to the growth of people and communities through education and service.

Stephanie Allen

Program Director

Stephanie has served as our Ecuador program director since 2018. She is a graduate of Stonehill College with degrees in Spanish, and social justice and policy studies. She also completed post-graduate studies at Boston University, receiving certificates in community, medical and legal Spanish-English interpreting.

Stephanie first arrived in Ecuador as a volunteer with Rostro de Cristo in 2013. During her volunteer year, she served at both preschool and after-school programs for Ecuadorian youth from vulnerable communities. Her experiences in Ecuador showed her the importance of education as a means to overcome systemic barriers, as well as the importance of developing meaningful relationships.

As the Ecuador program director, Stephanie leads our Ecuador team in providing quality educational support and mentorship to our scholars. She enjoys sharing her love of reading through our library program and being able to connect students with books they will enjoy. She is proud of the work of the Starfish team and of all of the students she has been able to see succeed over the years.

Pamela Choez

Program Coordinator

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

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

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.