Olympic Swimmer Esteban Enderica Is Teaching 60 Cuenca Kids to Swim for Free — And It's Changing Families

From the Olympics to Cuenca's Neighborhoods

You might know Esteban Enderica as Cuenca's Olympic swimmer — the guy who represented Ecuador on the world's biggest athletic stage. But what he's doing now might be even more impressive than his competitive career.

Since September 2025, Enderica and his siblings have been running a completely free swimming program for children from low-income families in Cuenca. And the results are going way beyond faster lap times.

How the Program Works

Club Hermanos Enderica Salgado serves 60 children ages 8-12 recruited from public schools across the city. These aren't kids whose parents can afford $80/month swim club memberships — the program specifically targets families who couldn't otherwise access competitive swimming instruction.

The kids train at the Enderica family's swimming complex, learning all four competitive swimming styles with professional coaching.

It's Not Just Swimming

What sets this apart from a typical swim class is the wraparound support. Every child in the program receives:

• Sports medicine evaluations — including electrocardiograms to screen for heart conditions
• Nutritionist guidance — many of these kids weren't eating well enough to support athletic training
• Psychological counseling — addressing confidence, self-esteem, and behavioral challenges

This is a full developmental program disguised as swim lessons.

The Results Are Remarkable

Enderica reports that the children have improved dramatically — not just in the pool, but in their lives:

• School grades have gone up significantly across the group
• Behavioral improvements noticed by teachers and parents
• Family reunification — Enderica shared that some parents who had separated have gotten back together after seeing their children thrive and pursue athletic dreams
• Community ripple effects — classmates and extended family members are being positively influenced

As Enderica puts it, the program proves that "confidence is believing that sport transforms lives."

Backed by Real Partners

This isn't a one-man show running on goodwill. The program has institutional backing from:

• Banco Pichincha — Ecuador's largest private bank
• Fundación Crisfe — the bank's social responsibility foundation

That funding covers the coaches, medical staff, nutritionists, and psychologists that make the program possible.

Expansion Plans

The current program serves 60 kids, but Enderica's goal is to scale to 180 children with continued support. That would triple the impact and potentially identify future competitive swimmers from communities that have never had access to the sport.

Why This Matters for the Expat Community

Stories like this are part of what makes Cuenca special. It's a city small enough that an Olympic athlete can personally coach neighborhood kids, and connected enough to attract institutional funding to make it sustainable.

If you're looking for ways to get involved with the community — or if you have kids who'd benefit from swimming instruction — keep an eye on the Enderica program. As it expands, there may be opportunities for volunteers, sponsors, or simply showing up to cheer at local swim meets.

This is the kind of grassroots program that builds a city's character from the ground up.

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Source: Primicias