A photo a day

Ok, so my promise to blog more didn't catch on.

But, for 43 days now, I have been committed to uploading a photo a day of my life in Ecuador.  It's a snapshot into my world down here, the people I encounter and the work I do.

Please feel free to follow me and comment. http://365project.org/dcamell/365/2012-01

If you're interested at looking at more photos - I've uploaded more photos to Picasa.

La Virgin del Cisne

In Southern Ecuador, the Virgin El Cisne is Queen... eh, Virgin.  All around Ecuador (and Latin America) different names represent the Virgin Mary, associated with a local sitting of the Virgin.  In my old site, Guaranda, La Virgin del Guayco is Virgin

Every year, there's a pilgrimage from El Cisne to Loja and then back to El Cisne.

Simon Bolivar first declared the pilgrimage in 1824 - pilgrims bring their wooden replica of the Virgin El Cisne (picture on left) from the village El Cisne (picture down below) to the provincial capital Loja.  Thousands of devotees from around Ecuador and surrounding countries make the pilgrimage every year.  Some walk days starting from their home towns to El Cisne where they meet up with the Virgin and pass through Catamayo to arrive in Loja.  The walk from Catamayo to Loja starts at 6am ... climbing hills from the sub-tropic city, the pilgrims arrive in sierra Loja around 4pm.

Last Sunday, the Virgin arrived in Loja.  The procession was two block from my apartment.  Most of the stores in Loja were closed all day, and traffic was rerouted from Ave. Gran Columbia.  She will stay here through the month, and then return to El Cisne in November.  During the month, she's at the Cathedral in Loja - there are daily masses, devotees to visit her, and sellers to provide all with candles, rosaries, necklaces and other memorabilia. 

An interesting article and photos about the pilgrimage and its diverse pilgrims. 

Guadalupe

Getting to Guadalupe from Loja:

7:30am bus from Terminal Terrestre in Loja to Zamora 

9:10am arrive in Zamora

10:00am bus from Zamora to Guadalupe

11:00am arrive in Guadalupe

Guadalupe is located in the Provence of Zamora-Chinchipe, and serves as an organized epicenter for the Parroquia, surrounded by dozens of small villages.  The word villages is used loosely, scattered houses on a hill-side are often grouped together and given a name.

Guadalupe is centered around the Mission "Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe" which includes a parish church and a clinic, that offer a variety of services and activities for the surrounding villages. To get to the Mission, you cross a beautiful jungle bridge (although, a little wobbly, there's a great view of the river and the Mission from the middle).

In Guadalupe, Soluciones Comunitarias has 6 asesoras - we'll be starting campañas at the end of the month, once La Virgin del Cisne leaves Loja (I will post a blog about La Virgin in the coming weeks).  Additionally, we will be starting an improved stoves project in the area :)

Guadalupe is a growing, organized center - there's a Cultural Center, 3 colegios (one during the days, one night, and one distance program), 3 escuelas, restaurants in the center, and buses pass more than 5x a day.  However, it's still an untouched community, where our lunch cost $1 a plate and it is not uncommon for a family to have 10 children.

In Guadalupe, many of the women pass their time making hand made goods - wood crafts (and painting them), necklaces, bracelets, earrings, as well as embroidering traditional dress.  Mercedes and Carmen are sisters from Guadalupe.  Apart from being asesoras for SC, they also make and sell handi-crafts.  Last summer, summer interns (Social Entrepreneur Corps) visited Guadalupe and seeing potential in their work, have returned to the United States and now want to receive samples of their product to begin looking for a market in their University towns.  Good Stuff Good Works, will be sponsoring products from Nicaragua, Guatemala, South Africa, and Ecuador (the four countries where SEC programs were held this past summer.

 

  

The weather in Guadalupe was perfect for the day - the sun was out, and there was a fresh breeze moving down the main street.  The sun is STRONG though, and bugs are not uncommon.  Common foods include yucca and plantain (verde), as well as frog.  Since coming to Ecuador two years ago, I have converted into a carnivore.  Don't get me wrong - I still love my veggies and don't cook meat in my house.  But, there's no way I'll turn down trying frog!  We sat and chatted with the artisans and their families (daughters, grand-daughters, neighbors), while listening to their stories.  They were all strong women who proved to be searching for a better life for their families - better health, better education, and more opportunities.

Getting to Loja from Guadalupe:

3:50pm start waiting for bus (one passes around 4, another at 4:30)

4:15pm neither bus has arrived, but a camioneta passes and gives us a ride to the junction 20min away

4:30pm bus passes junction, and picks us up to Zamora

5:15pm arrive in Zamora

6:15pm bus to Loja

7:45pm arrive in Loja

Loja

I left Guaranda a little less than a week ago, I still feel like I'm heading back in a few days - back to my secret garden house, 7 Santos, work in the campo, tortillas de yucca, stadium running, old friends and a special someone. 

But, I'm not.  I'm here in Loja -- and so far, honestly -- I'm loving the new changes and the new opportunities.  A few things I've experienced in my short week down South...

- They have trails (dirt) where you can go running with trees around the Parque Jipiro, where no dogs chase after you (I did see stray dogs, they just didn't run after me barking and snapping).

- There's hiking on official trails.  This morning I went hiking with some other Peace Corps Volunteers across from the Botanical Gardens, at the Universario, there was a Visitor's Center, a trail-head, we even had to pay an entry fee and got a trail map.

- The land is F L A T - Loja is at the base of the Andes Mountains it sits at 2100 m (6890 ft) above sea level, submerged in the Cuxibamba Valley it stretched down the valley along two main rivers - Rio Zamora and Rio Malacatos.

I'm currently living with a host family (a divorced woman and her 20 year old son).  I have a SMALL room in their apartment, but will be moving out (into my own apartment) in October.  There are three other Peace Corps Volunteers who live in the city of Loja (and 5 more TEFL volunteers who will be moving here at the end of the month!), they are all amazing people - and love to have dinner parties :)  let the cooking begin!

I was in Cuenca last Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, where I did some training for my new job.  Currently, two Italian women work for Soluciones Comunitarias in Ecuador.  They both work out of the Cuenca office, and I'll be in Loja developing the work here and helping to "set up the office".  Soluciones Comunitarias is a US based organization, currently operating in Guatemala, Ecuador and S. Africa.  I won't lie, I'm ecstatic to work for a US company again, before you shoot me down for that comment, let me try to explain.  I was at the office last week, and was preparing to fill out a receipt for some travel costs.  Without thinking, I asked, "what color pen should I fill out these receipts with? Blue or Black?".  My boss looked at me, and goes, "I don't care, pink, green, red, what ever color you want."  In Ecuador, the color of pen that you use on official documents is critical - if the ink is black, you have to use a blue pen.. so people know it's the original copy.  In schools, the school kids are fanatics with the type of writing instrument and color they use - pencil? pen? blue? black? red?

I immediately started laughing, I HAD been working in an Ecuadorian office for 2 years.

Maybe I did extend my stay in Ecuador because it's easier than the thought of reintegrating into the US culture.  But this job is providing me with good professional experience - it's a blending of my undergraduate business degree, my love for social entrepreneurship, and my new passion for nutrition.  And, offering me a step towards integration, before heading back to the states.

After spending three days at the office in Cuenca, I learned more about the work I'll be doing.. I'll be helping to train and develop (mainly) women entrepreneurs in the rural areas of Loja to start their own businesses and sell health products (water purification systems, solar lamps, organic seeds, and reading glasses).  Plus, we're starting projects to see the need and potential for watering systems and smart stoves in the area.  Currently there are 5 group of entrepreneurs who have received training and have started to sell the products (through bimonthly campañas).  I'll be working with them to strengthen their knowledge and to help create more opportunities for them and their clients.

I'm hopeful, excited and ready for the challenges of this next year, and will be sure to share the stories of the people I meet.

Hasta Pronto Guaranda!

The last few weeks have been a blurrr (more photos) - finishing with projects, spending time with loved ones, planning for my move, attending despedidas (going away parties), and packing up my house. I've changed communities/ jobs/ host families ...but Guaranda is and always will be a part of my heart.

It really hasn't sunk in yet that I've left Guaranda, staying in Ecuador and having plans to go back to visit every 2ish months (half marathon in October, Christmas in December, and CARNAVAL in February).  I filled the last few weeks with seven despedidas - between schools, the Fundacion, CEMOPLAF, friends and family - I realized the despedidas are really for everyone else. 

My despedidas ranged from elementary school kids dancing Danza Kuduro..

(LEFT: students of Santa Ana, during their Despedida Program)  In the last few months, we've been getting things ready for the new volunteers - finishing up the Literature Program for the year, organizing the Youth Entrepreneurship Group, finalizing requirements for student scholarships, setting up the Ludoteca (Youth Center) and Library at the Foundation.






Sheep (kiillings and) BBQs...

At the beginning of the month, my host mom (Teresa) asked me what food I wanted for my Despedida ... "lasagna? guacamole?", she asked, listing my favorite dishes to make.  She joked about the idea of killing a sheep - "sheep lasagna?!" A week or so after that, she approached me again, timidly proposing the idea of having a sheep killing - they wanted to do it, but weren't sure if I would eat it.  I told Teresa, it was her last chance to castigarme (punish me), so she might as well do it by making me eat yaguarlocro (sheep intestine soup) and bbq'd sheep meat.

 Saturday night the neighbors came over and Thomas was killed.

I better explain something; Thomas is the new PCV who will replace me at the Foundation.  Teresa named the sheep Thomas - she said the sheep is named Thomas because he's sacrificing his life so I can go to Loja and be successful.  For the past two years I've been working and sacrificing my life to live in Guaranda and preparing the people here and the work for Thomas to come.  He needs to sacrifice (his life?) to make sure I have success in Loja.  Ecuadorian Culture or Quick Cover-up?  I'm still debating...

 And good old fashioned dancing and friends...

As I mentioned in a previous blog, Peace Corps Ecuador accepted my proposal for a Professional Development Extension for 10 months.  This past Tuesday I moved to Loja, the Provincial Capital of the Southern most Provence.  It's a larger city - close to 240,000 people.  It is located at the bottom of the glacial Cuxibamba Valley, and lies between the humid Amazon Basin and the Peruvian sechura - making it the perfect geographic location for paramo, cloud-forest, and jungle.  Podocarpus National Park (a massive cloud-fores reserve) is located just minutes outside the city.  To make things even better, Loja is the Music Capital of Ecuador and is knows as the City of the Parks.  It's going to be a great next year!

Tuesday morning at 3am, my host uncle, aunt, and grandma drove me the 9 hours to my new home.  (And, thank goodness, if I had gone by myself on public transportation, it would have been 2 buses, 1 scary Guayaquil terminal, 12+hours, and cutting my number of bags in half!)

I absolutely adore my new host family - a divorced woman and her son.  They are both very smart, charming, caring,  and well connected within the Loja area.  After spending less than 24hs in my new community, I took a 5hr bus ride up north to Cuenca.  My new counter-organization, Soluciones Comunitarias, has their office there, and everyone who work for the organization (2 Italian women) lives there.  We reviewed methods, products, accounting, logistics, history, and goals for 3 days!  The work appears innovative, hands-on, dynamic and is focused in social entrepreneurship, nutrition and woman empowerment.  I'll be working with entrepreneurs in the rural area - focusing on training and development.  Additionally, I'll be helping to set up the Regional Office in Loja - building the professional and social network for Soluciones Comunitarias and social entrepreneurs.

Oh, I'm accepting applications for visitors this coming year :)  Please apply ASAP!

Media Maratón

Last weekend in Guayaquil, 4 Peace Corps Volunteer friends and I participated in the Guayaquil Half Marathon. I say "participated" because training has been S L O W. Two of the girls ran with parasites (and who knows what other stomach friends). The race started at 6am, which might seem early, but the Guayaquil sun gets up at 6:30. By the middle of the race, I was dehydrated and sweating like crazy. Training in the sierra is good for the lungs, but doesn't help at all with the humidity! Spirits were high, as we all ended with PRs, receiving our medals at the Finish Line.

María teresa Guerrero (Flaca), a famous TV anchor and news reporter in Ecuador was at the race too! She competed in the 10k, finishing with an impressive 47min. She was recently hit by a car while running, but it appears her recovery is going very well.

We made Peace Corps Running Shirts!! 

This is the BACK:

and ... the FRONT:

Programa de Literatura

In Carbon Chimipamba, the students have been hard at work. Starting in October, we organized our Programa de Literatura at La Escuela Galo Vásconez Ocampo, 11 students participated. Their goals were focused on reading as many books as possible, demonstrating their understanding of the books, and rewarding both the individual students and the whole school for their achievements. Here's how we broke down their goals:

After 8 books: The school will receive more books
After 18 books: Invite our parents for a "Parent's Reading Day"
After 28 books: Paint murals on the school walls

The BIG mural... the quote on the book says ""Aprender es descubrir que algo es posible." - Fritz Perls (to learn is to discover that something is possible)

Murals for the little kids...

Another Mural "The Ugly Duck"                                           Mural of kids playing a local game around a tree

After hard work and weekly reading circles, the school completed all their goals ... and received CERTIFICATES.

Not only did they complete their formal goals … we began to see several changes around the school as well … every morning the students pick up trash outside their school building and then wash their hands before opening their books to learn. During their recess time, the kids enjoy reading in pairs. After several art projects and the murals went up in the school, two students have expressed interest in learning to draw. The students minds are ideas are starting to open.

A HUGE Thank You to everyone who helped donate books!! Especially Mr. Bobby’s Class!

New Photos

New PICS!!

Quickie...

I know, I know, it's been forever!

Every time I thought about writing, there were always a million things to write about, a billion things to say, and I never seem to have enough time/ energy to sit down and write them all. So, I've decided to use this blog space to write short tid bits on my life here in Ecuador - interesting people that I meet during my day, new communities that I visit, a new food I try. "The Daily Happenings"

First off, I have less than two months left in Guaranda!! TODAY is my 2 year anniversary in ECUADOR!! The time has flown by - the days sometimes long, but the weeks slip though my fingers all too quickly.

I have accepted a 10-month extension with Peace Corps Ecuador. I will move sites, to Loja; and switch counter-organizations, to work with Soluciones Comunitarias!! It's an awesome opportunity for me - and I'm excited to surround myself with business-like minds working on entrepreneurial endeavors to change the health of their communities.

That's all for now, a short a sweet quick up-date to jump-start my re-blogging for the final happenings in Guaranda and the preliminary adventures down South.

Book Drive for Ecuador

¡¡Saludos de Ecuador!! / Greetings from Ecuador!!

Since August 2009, I have been working with the Fundación Promoción Humana Diocesana de Guaranda (FPHDG) in rural community primary schools. We have organized group work on a variety of topics - self-esteem, life skills, art projects, small business development, nutrition, health, composting, recycling, child development, etc. Our work in these schools includes: starting school gardens, providing school scholarships, and organizing reading groups.

A common trend in all of these schools is lack of resources. In the rural communities in the Provence of Bolívar, schools struggle to provide equal education for their children. The Ministry of Education of Ecuador has put a high priority on reading and writing. However, where families are living off $2 a day, this priority has often become unimportant. Most children have NO access to books, and have not had the opportunity to explore literature and/ or the arts.

During my visits to the schools, two directors of small (less than 30 students) schools approached me about the need and desire to have books in their schools. It is an opportunity to give back to the children of Ecuador and their futures.

Currently, we are organizing reading circles at each school; utilizing a limited supply of children’s books (available at a Cultural Center 1-2 hours from these rural schools). The school libraries will provide resources in each school, not only bringing literature and stories into their classrooms, but to bring new ways of thinking and methods of teaching into the classroom. The books will be used in two primary methods:

(1) After-School Reading Program: a program designed to allow children to explore literature and express their reactions.
(2) Curriculum Enhancement: the teachers will be educated in how to utilize literature to enhance both subjects of science or math as well as develop characteristics of questioning and leadership.

These libraries aim to spark a spirit of discovery and foster participation to grant every student a universe of possibilities. With your help, we can provide a future filled with greater possibilities and self-expression to the students of Ecuador, specifically in two schools.

Santa Ana: A 24 student, 2 teacher school in the subtropics of Ecuador. A 45-minute drive up a windy dirt road from the city of Caluma lies the small community of Santa Ana. Here, the students eagerly participate in activities of every kind, eager to learn more and thirsty for knowledge.


EL Carbón: Twenty-eight students and two professors in a school tucked away in the high Andes (at the base of Chimborazo). A bi-lingual community (Spanish-Kichwa) who’s main income is agriculture – quinoa and potatoes. During my first conversation with the school director, he said the children (and community) of El Carbón need the opportunity to read.

What can YOU do to help??!! Go to http://www.amazon.com/wishlist/SYY6N0AWX171/ref=cm_sw_em_r_wl_8qoVmb1WZ3FP4 ... we’ve set up a Wish List named “Books for Ecuador”. You can help us provide books to the students by purchasing a book on-line. The books will be sent to my parent’s house (in Louisville, CO – the address is saved on Amazon.com) where we will transport them to Ecuador and to the rural communities.

The books (including a variety of reading levels) will go directly to the two schools, kept in a community-made reading area (created through a minga – a community gathering to complete a task). Every week, an organized reading time will let the students read. Additionally, monthly community meetings will educate the community on the literature program and allow them get involved with the program.

If you have any trouble with the Amazon website, please let me know! deanna.camell@gmail.com

¡GRACIAS POR TODO TU APOYO! / THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!

Midservice and unrest in Ecuador ... no pasa nada

Last weekend Omnibus 102 had their official Midservice Conference. All 32 (oh no, I've lost count of how many 102ers are left...) ... 32ish ... volunteers met up in Quito for a 3-day conference. First....

Prior to the conference, my %$@* awesome (sorry, inside joke) friend mentioned jumping a 70 foot waterfall to celebrate our mid-point and relieve some stress before going to sit in meetings for three days. It was the best idea ever -- we spent the day 'camioneta surfing', and zip-lining 13 separate lines over the canopies of the sub-tropic Mindo. Then, before sundown, fit in waterfall jumping, swimming and water slides (the kind that end 15 feet above the river and spit you out at terrifying velocities). The waterfall jump was no joke either, the 40 year old man after us took a good 15 minutes (and lots of name calling from his friends) to JUMP. Of course, the day was finished with some Pilsner and a 2 hour ride back to Quito - where we had no seats and squeezed into small corners and ledges on the packed bus.

Midservice marked our mid-point, although technically we've already been in site 13.5 months, and we have our COS (Close of Service) Conference next April ... which means only 6 more months of "work". We had an "Open House", where we got to see everyone's work/ projects/ and a little more about their site and how they've spent the last 13.5 months in site. I was so impressed by everyone's work, and how much people have been able to relate to their communities and make an impact on the people around them. Several people are talking about a third year ... we'll see where they stand in another 6 months. Some of the coolest projects I saw - an HIV and AIDS theater (written, directed) by a PCV, volunteers who are "Wide Awake" and have found a spiritual calmness over the past year, Volunteers putting on community-wide concerts, teaching swimming lessons, starting small businesses ... I could go on for awhile...

Right after we finished Midservice, when I was getting ready to go to the bus terminal, we were told "NOT leave the city and to return to the office". There was some civic unrest in Ecuador ... it was pretty crazy actually. The national police were on strike, they kidnapped the president and were holding him hostage in a hospital. We (my omnibus and some other PCVs) stayed at the PC Office for a few hours, and then we were put in a hostel for the night. People were saying that we were going to have to stay there for a week!!! The hospital where the president was being held was just over a kilometer from our hostel!! We could hear gun shots outside, and then watch the live shoot-out on TV (the had the entire thing live on a local government channel). Even with all this chaos though, Dominos was still delivering - they even had a "Police Riot Special" on their pizza all night long. The military saved the President before midnight and everything returned to "normal" after that. There were a lot of loitering that went on in the bigger cities... but Guaranda is too tranquillo - everyone said the police are too lazy to organize a riot. We all returned to our sites the next day, and except for the fact that we can't travel right now, everything is back to normal.

Now, I'm back in site (we're under 'no-travel' law). Being back is good, but it's been stressful... I have less than a year left ... what do I continue? What can I drop? What is going to succeed? What's worth my time? What do I still want to do before I leave Ecuador (climb Cotopaxi, hike Quilatoa Loop, visit Tena and Esmereldas, climb)???

Sorry, no pics form these adventures (I really need to get better at this, I know my blogs aren't THAT interesting....) Hope you're well - love and miss!

Looking back at the past year, and foward to Part II

On August 19th, I officially celebrated my 1 year anniversary in Guaranda, Ecuador. It's been an amazing experience, filled with laughter, new friends, challenges, new memories and of course, lots of food and dancing! (PHOTO: My Ecuadorian Host Family and my Grandparents; PHOTO:Guaranda with Chimborazo in the background "X" marks where I live)

Over the past year, I've learned more about myself than I ever imagined, I've been able to experience every holiday in a foreign country and have held my longest job-to-date. I've learned to speak Spanish; make spaghetti sauce, brownies, pancakes, banana bread, pizza and tortillas from scratch; to bargain for my fruits and veggies; to make a jar of PB last a month; to plant potatoes; to make recycled paper; to clean my dishes by hand; to not be afraid to try something new; to laugh at myself (and everyone around me); to be committed; to not be afraid to let go. (PHOTO: my bday, getting my face smashed into a cake; PHOTO: Christmas celebration at a school in the campo; PHOTO: dinner party with my friends)

I'm living on my own in Ecuador. I have a fantastic host family here, Ecuadorian friends, PCV friends, lots (sometimes too much) work, a studio apartment and people who trust in me. The mail-boy knows me by name and finds me on his scooter whenever I get mail (WHICH MAKES ME SOOOO HAPPY!) I have a credit account with my local grocer, and the fruit lady on the corner gives me my favorite YAPPAS (no more cuello for me). My host mother has opened a restaurant - where she often serves brownies, zucchini lasagna, carrot cake (some of my favorites that we cook at her house). (PHOTO: trip to the sub-tropic with Monica and Raul, playing in the pool)

A lot of my time goes into work. My primary work is with Fundacion Promocion Humana Diocesana de Guaranda - their mission is to assist organized groups in sustainable development and to help facilitate access to resources; their two main focuses are on Micro-Credit (community banks), organic agriculture and commercialization of products. (PHOTO: Kids in Santo Domingo planting a garden)

Since I'm a Peace Corps Youth and Families volunteer, and wanted to improve my language before diving into business development (which, as many of you know, is my passion) ... I started my service working in local schools (20minutes - 1 hour trip into the campo). I did lots of group building, self-esteem games and agriculture (yes, I learned to start composts and small gardens). It was a great opportunity to understand how my Foundation works, what the schools are like and who I could/ couldn't work with. Working in local schools led to working in schools all over the Provence and soon I was running around like crazy really not helping anyone (spending one day a month in a school, hitting 5-6 different schools a week). I was having a hard time building lasting relationships, let alone remember anyone's name. My Foundation was pretty stuck on the idea that I should help out all the schools, and I was pretty sure I didn't want to spend the next year and a half doing that ... so I decided to switch gears a little... (PHOTO: co-workers and I)

So, I changed gears and started looking for secondary projects - CEMOPLAF, Soluciones Comunitarios, Gustavo Lemos Elementary School, setting-up a toy room in Santo Domingo, Teaching English classes for World Teach ... if you've ever had a hard time keeping track of my "work", this is why. (PHOTO: cooking classes at Santo Domingo; PHOTO: students of Gustavo Lemos)

So, NOW WHAT you ask?? Well, over the past 12 months, there have been some things that have stuck, and some that haven't. Some that were great short-term projects that taught me about the culture, a certain group of people or how to manage/ develop an event. However, there have also been some projects that are just taking form, ready to launch-off, that I think just might stick for the next year. With each of these project, I've found a local I can work with - a single person that is willing, able, and wanting to participate in change. And this, with a little bit of encouragement, has created the momentum for my second year. (PHOTO: Don Hernan - agriculture promoter at Fundacion Promocion Humana)

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP - recycled paper. A group of 10-15 youth who are interested in making money (youth from low-income families that need the money to stay in school), while learning business skills, leadership and about the environment. Basically, this group will make recycled paper into cards, bags, boxes and decorate them with local pressed flowers etc. We'll utilize a beginner, intermediary, advanced ranking to encourage participation, savings and paper-making quality - their incentive, a larger percentage of each product sold awarded to the individual as they improve their personal ranking. Additionally, each youth will have the opportunity to take over leadership roles in the business – for example, marketing, production or sales. I have found a great counterpart to work with me on this project – we even took a 12 hour bus ride down South to visit a PCV and see how her woman’s group makes and sales their recycled paper (their product is AMAZING). Now, all we have to do is form the group. Laugh ... but I'm serious. Forming this group of youth has been one of the most challenging things I've tried to do in Ecuador - timing, participation, respect, interest, incentives, they all have to line-up perfectly. (PHOTO: visit to San Pedro to see recycled paper process with Teresa)

SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS Last year, my Foundation had a budget for scholarships; however, because of lack of organization, the money didn't go to children in need, it went to purchase candy bags for each child at each school for Christmas. This year (to start) 18 elementary aged students will receive scholarship for the year. We are currently evaluating each student, their needs and resources and coming up with a solution for how we can best help them (purchase of medicine, mattresses, clothes, food).

AEROBICS At work, I've started teaching aerobics classes! I know, I've never done it before in my life - but that's the point, when else will I have 6 women who are excited to go to my aerobics classes each day? haha, probably never :) We're doing kick-boxing, aerobics moves, weight lifting and some yoga. New moves, suggestions, and music are ALWAYS appreciated!

CEMOPLAF At the local “planned parenthood”, I’m helping start a youth group, a sort of peer-education methodology for the students to teach their friends at school. Last month, my counterpart, Maricela, and I attended a HIV/AIDS conference ¿Cuantos Sabes? in Guayaqui, where we learned a fantastic, new methodology for incorporating HIV/AIDS knowledge with youth groups (youth promoters, very similar to the peer-education model CEMOPLAF currently uses). We have plans to replicate the program with our youth group starting in November. (PHOTO: "This is how you put on a condom" demonstrations)

SOLUCIONES COMUNITARIOS Four women in my local community have decided to become acesoras for SC, an organization that sells health products to people in the campo through the micro-consignment model. (See my previous post in August for some photos and a video! PHOTO: Teresa helping a woman find glasses to let her read)

JUAN PABLO Last summer, when Social Entrepreneur Corps (a group of 14 University students here for a summer internership) and SC came to Guaranda to help the women acesoras, they also spent a day with the Foundation Juan Pablo. The women at this foundation make and sell turron and have been asking for help with their business. For the past 20 years they have been making turron and selling it under the name Deli Turron - a brand started by Fundacion Promocion Humana which sells turron from 5 woman’s group under the same packaging to help create market and brand for the entrepreneurs. After all these years and experience, the women of Juan Pablo want to expand their business and have their own brand. The visit and day long consultations from SC helped organize the women and get them focused on their business goals. Additionally, last month, we were awarded a grant from the Social Entrepreneur Corps and have started meetings to design a development plan. Right now, we're looking at new packaging (with a new logo, and brand for their turron), promotion, and product diversification (different sizes and the turron filled with different nuts). YUMM! (PHOTO: Women of Juan Pablo making turron at a food fair in Guaranda)

LIBRARIES and READING PROGRAMS Through the Peace Corps, there is a program called WWS (World Wide Schools). Basically it pairs up a PCV with a teacher in the U.S. From here, the project and outcomes are up to the teacher and PCV. I was paired up with a very responsive teacher and during our first letters back and forth to each other, Mr. Kennedy (my 2nd grade class, in Colorado!) told me he's very interested in altruism and creating a real-life project for his class. I brought up the idea of starting some libraries at two of the schools in the campo in Ecuador and implementing reading programs at them. Both of the schools in the campo are under 30 children, have great motivated and involved directors who often talk with me about the importance however huge lack of reading at their schools (and Ecuador in general). So, Mr. Kennedy and his 2^nd grade class have agreed to help me collect books and monetary donations to create a library at each campo school. While at home, I visited and met Mr. Kennedy's 2nd grade class. The kids were filled with endless questions and stories :) Want to help out?? More information to come… (PHOTO: Kids reading in Herapamba)

Apart from work, I’ve also been able to travel a little in the country (haven’t made it out of country yet) – the beach (Salinas, Palmar, M….), the jungle (MACAS!!!), the sierra (Ibarra, San Pablo, Cuenca, Loja, San Pedro). Along the way, I’ve met some very colorful individuals, friends for life and people who either love or are scared of me simply because I’m American. I was blessed with a visit from my Grandparents where I got to share my site, my friends and my family with loved ones from home. We were able to explore Ecuador together and I’m happy to see I’ll age well!! And, I even traveled home for a short, wonderful catch-up with my friends, family and the sweet CO air! (PHOTO: Whale watching off Palmar with PCVs; PHOTO: downhill biking Chimborazo with friends)

So, as I start the countdown (not that I’m actually counting days, but that I have less left then I’ve been here already), I look back and smile at my time in Ecuador. To Part II of my adventure! Salud!! (PHOTO: Riobamba at sunset)