Our Mission
At Kovê International, we work to empower communities to rise out of poverty through education and economic development. We are passionate about creating self-sufficiency and building sustainable economic growth, especially in rural communities of Ecuador and Paraguay. We do this by connecting skilled individuals and organizations with underserved communities to transcend barriers, broaden perspectives, and develop tangible skills that will increase opportunities and upward mobility.
We believe knowledge-sharing benefits both the student and the teacher. We work in partnership with local organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, specialists, and like-minded nonprofits to connect marginalized and rural communities in Latin America with available resources.
We are not here to offer handouts, but to serve and collaborate in order to find lasting solutions. We believe in linking individuals to opportunities, doing no harm, and honoring cultural perspectives.
Meet The Team
Laurie Robins
President, Executive Director
Abe Cubano
Director, Ecuador Program Director
Scott Robins
Director, Medical Team
Heather Barney
Team Leader: Adopt-A-Missionary
Daphne Blanchard
Vice President, Associate Director
Troy Blanchard
Ecuador Program Director
Mitchell Moffitt
Medical Team Leader
Nathan Tracy
Team Leader: Adopt-A-Missionary
Our Story
Kovê is a Guaraní indian word which means "to live". We fell in love with the culture and kindness of the Guaraní who taught us that living a joyful life does not come from wealth or fame but from love of family and friends. At Kovê, we strive to connect others with the resources they need to live a life of abundance.
Our love of the people of Ecuador and Paraguay began decades ago when several of our founding members and team leaders served church missions in these countries. A service trip was planned in 2011 as a 20-year reunion of 20 missionaries who had a deep desire to return to their mission and serve the people together once again.
Every 3 years we have returned with a desire to be more in tune with the needs of the people and to help in sustainable ways. We now hope to return each year to Latin America for service projects both small and large. We work side-by-side with community leaders, local NGO's, government agencies and church partners to ensure that the service our group provides meets the genuine needs of our friends in the most sustainable way. Each year our local network grows, which helps us reach the most vulnerable populations and truly understand the best way to help them reach their goals.
Partnerships
