Frequently asked questions
What does ‘Sonrisa’ mean?
Sonrisa (son-ree-sa) means ’smile’ in Spanish. We hope that the funds we send to Quito will bring a smile to the faces of some of South America’s most deprived children.
Where does the money raised by Sonrisa go?
Sonrisa currently sends all money raised to the Centre for the Working Girl (Centro de la Niña Trabajadora) in Quito, Ecuador. The centre is known as CENIT - its Spanish acronym - and helps working children of both sexes.
What does ‘working children’ mean - are they street children?
Why does Sonrisa choose to send money all the way to Ecuador?
See Why Ecuador?
How are Sonrisa and CENIT connected?
Sonrisa was set up by a group of people who had worked as volunteers at CENIT. Sonrisa is a charity registered in the UK, while CENIT is a non-governmental organisation based in Ecuador. Sonrisa is the point of contact for all UK-based ex-CENIT volunteers and is an official CENIT ‘home country network’.
I am an ex-CENIT volunteer, how can I get involved?
Join the Sonrisa community! Soon you will be able to make a profile, upload your photos of Ecuador and keep in touch with other ex-CENIT volunteers. Keep an eye on the diary page to find out when reunion or fundraising events are taking place. Contact us if you would like to be involved in future Sonrisa events, or if you would like to organise an event yourself. We would love to hear from you!
I have not worked at CENIT. Can I still get involved?
Of course! We welcome anybody who supports our aims and would like to help out. Just get in touch.
I am interested in becoming a CENIT volunteer, what should I do?
Visit the volunteer pages to find out more about what volunteering at CENIT entails. We also recommend you contact us if you have questions about volunteering or wish to speak to past volunteers. The CENIT website has comprehensive information for volunteers and explains the simple application procedure.