At the end of the year 2000, Marcel van der Geest left for Ecuador where his wife Judith later joined him. In Quito, Ecuador capital, Marcel took Spanish lessons for a month before starting volunteer work.

His first assignment was in day care centre for affluent children. In only a few hours admits all of the wealth he realized that he could be of more use somewhere else.

With the help of fellow-students Marcel found another day care centre. This centre was located in the slums and offered shelter to deprived children. In this setting, Marcel felt that he was making himself useful. Together with other volunteers he helped the children with their homework and organised activities that helped them to grow.

The moment Marcel and Judith were together in this place, in the midst of these joyful children, their view of the future clarified. A project of their own was awaiting, the only thing missing was an initial boost to get them started. It arrived less than three years later. Through a friend of Judith they were put into contact with a foundation that has been active in Guatemala for several years, Elly's Kids Foundation. From the first contact onwards everything fell into place quickly and the project has become a true Foundation.