Sostenibilidad de las organizaciones de la sociedad civil ecuatoriana a través del desarrollo de capital social. Estudio de caso: Fundación Melvin Jones

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to explore the development of social capital in the Melvin Jones Integral Education Center, through its processes of evolution, network construction and alliances with the purpose of approaching an assessment of social capital produced according to its interactions, capacities and contribution to its sustainability. The focus of the project is qualitative. The research was carried out with the Melvin Jones Integral Education Center located in the province of Santa Elena - Ecuador. The research techniques that were used to collect the information were: documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews, and a survey applied to the external and internal public of the foundation to later triangulate the results. Three interviews were carried out with key members of the foundation. The sample was for convenience, being a total of 10 people from the external public (parents) and 9 from the internal public (teachers of the foundation). The results obtained prove that the CEI Melvin Jones, in his 22 years of service, has demonstrated a medium high level of social capital, which has been built by the developed networks and the trust generated in its beneficiaries, collaborators and strategic allies. Also, it is important to mention that the relationships that it maintains with government entities and municipalities have contributed significantly to its sustainability. In conclusion, the challenge for Ecuadorian CSOs is to reinvent themselves against social capital, leaving aside the idea that financial capital is the only thing that allows an organization to be sustainable over time. We must begin to value social capital in an integral manner, evaluating those elements that allow strengthening and developing new formal and informal networks that influence the generation of trust towards the organization.