ESPAÑOLFRIENDS OF FUNDECRUZ is a non-profit organisation created in 2002 by Ulises de la Cruz, an Ecuadorian footballer of high standing in English football and who has participated in the World Cups of Korea-Japan in 2002 and Germany in 2006.
One of the objectives of this foundation is to promote the development of the people of Ulises’ hometown, Piquiucho and other poor areas in Ecuador. This village has been permanently neglected and forgotten by the Ecuadorian government.
| Piquiucho is a small village located in the Chota Valley north of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. This valley has a population of approximately 2000 people, 1200 of which live in Piquiucho. The population in this area is mostly Afro-Ecuadorian. The black people in Ecuador constitute five percent of the population in the country, mostly living below the poverty line and with discrimination levels alarmingly high. |  |
The Afro-Ecuadorians have little political power, a lack of structured organisations, only have access to low-paid jobs, a lack a good level of education, are negatively stigmatised and are openly discriminated against by their skin colour.
 | FRIENDS OF FUNDECRUZ intends to combat this situation through strategic investments in areas such as education, culture, health, sports, job creation, strengthening the community and the restoration of the rights of Afro-Ecuadorians on a permanent and sustainable basis. Chota Valley took centre stage in Ecuador and the world for being the birthplace of eleven players from the national football team that performed above all expectations in two World Cups. |
From this, the whole country saw the inhabitants of Valle del Chota as potential football figures and some initial investment was made in this area. Ulises wants to go beyond the limited vision of the inhabitants who consider blacks as only being capable of playing football. Ulises wants his fellow Afro-Ecuadorians to have better opportunities to improve their lives and futures. For this reason, Ulises has placed special emphasis on education and employment with the aim to develop and use the huge human capabilities of the black population of Ecuador.
Ulises has spent his own money to address the most pressing needs of those living in Piquiucho. At the same time, he has induced the involvement of authorities, organisations, institutions and individuals around the world to collaborate with the development of his own people in particular and the Afro-Ecuadorians in general.
FRIENDS OF FUNDECRUZ is a registered foundation in Ecuador and England.
Ulises has spent his own money to address the most pressing needs of those living in Piquiucho. At the same time, he has induced the involvement of authorities, organisations, institutions and individuals around the world to collaborate with the development of his own people in particular and the Afro-Ecuadorians in general.
FRIENDS OF FUNDECRUZ is a registered foundation in Ecuador and England.