Maria Vivanco landed on Irish soil with Ivan, her spouse, in the year 2000. At that time, there were only a handful of Ecuadorians in the country, a mere five. Both Maria and Ivan were engaged in caregiving at a local old age home and were often intrigued by the lack of awareness about their homeland among the locals they interacted with.
“Many presumed Ecuador to be a part of Asia. Queries about whether I was Japanese or Chinese were quite frequent,” Maria recalls. “I would always emphasise that Ecuador is a small nation nestled between Colombia and Peru.”
Fast-forwarding two decades, Maria and approximately 120 other fellow Ecuadorians, who have made Ireland their new residence, assembled last Saturday. Accompanied by their friends and family members, they observed a formal celebration of their native country’s Independence Day. This joyful occasion, based in South Dublin, was one of many events planned this year by the recently established Ecuadorian Community of Ireland.
During the 2022 census, the Ecuadorian population in Ireland was determined to be a petite community of 108 members. However, Maria has observed an increase in the Ecuadorian population migrating for work or education, especially in recent times due to the escalation of organised crime and drug-related brutality in Ecuador. In fact, the Ecuadorian President declared a state of emergency in April due to a spike in violent deaths resulting from “internal armed conflicts”.
Maria, appointed President of the Ecuadorian Community of Ireland, stated, “We have seen an increase in the number of people relocating here in the last five years, which is why we initiated this community”. She added, “The cause of migration isn’t merely the poor economy any more; Ecuador is experiencing higher rates of crime, including numerous kidnappings. This is engendering fear among the Ecuadorian populace.”
Many Ecuadorians migrating to Ireland already carry European passports due to their ancestry, while others are in wedlock with a European national. Yet, the lack of an Ecuadorian embassy in Ireland necessitates a trip to London to manage visa and official papers, Maria noted.
“It’s been a 20-year journey for me in Ireland, yet full integration remains a struggle. During our last gathering, we quizzed some of our children on whether they were content in Ireland. One innocent boy expressed his loneliness as his schoolmates wouldn’t interact with him due to his complexion and limited English proficiency,” explains Ms Vivanco.
“Our aspiration is for every Ecuadorian to feel belonging in Ireland, to foster strong familial bonds, and provide mutual support.”
In response to queries about how the Ecuadorian community in Ireland copes with the escalating anti-immigrant sentiment, Ms Vivanco emphasises that every Ecuadorian migrates to Ireland legally to earn a livelihood. “Our community is diverse, boasting doctors, bank employees, and care assistants. Our financial contribution in this economy is significant, and we don’t rely on unemployment benefits. However, there’s a deficiency in the understanding of our contribution.
“The local community lacks awareness about the economic vitality we inject as immigrants. Not only do we generate income here, but we also contribute to domestic consumption in leading our lives here.”