Rocío Lamiña, a 39-year-old Ecuadorian mother, is a reflection of strength, resilience and unconditional love. A single mother of three children – ages 15, 10 and 5 – she has dedicated her life to fighting for her family’s well-being, despite the adversities she has faced since childhood.
Raised by her great-grandmother Rocío had to start working at a very young age. At the age of 12, she was already harvesting sugar cane to make panela, and at 15y she decided to leave home and start selling candy on the streets to survive. Those were hard years, marked by need, but also by a deep faith. Rocío says that, even in the worst moments, God never abandoned her. She recalls with emotion how, when she sold candy, she used to stop on Sundays near a Christian church to listen to the sermon before returning to work. That brief spiritual refuge nourished her hope.
Today, Rocio continues to struggle, motivated by the love she feels for her children. They are her driving force, her reason for being. She has always wanted them to have a better life, encouraging them to study and dream big. But without a stable job, the burden was heavy.
It was then that she came to Pan de Vida. There she found much more than material help: she found a safe place, comfort, and a community that reached out to her without judgment. Pan de Vida has provided her with food, medical care, school supplies for her children, and even English classes. More than resources, Rocio has received dignity, opportunity and hope.
On Mother’s Day, we celebrate women like Rocio: courageous, tireless, full of faith. Her story reminds us why we continue to work every day at Fundación Pan de Vida: to transform lives, one family at a time.