INFORMATION OF THE PROJECTS OF FOUNDATION PROYECTO
ECOLOGICO CHIRIBOGA
"Virginia Mueses"<ecoproye@mail.andinanet.net>
Dears Ladies and Gentleman
I am Virginia Mueses, It is my pleasure to introduce to you the new projects of the Foundation Proyecto
Ecologico Chiriboga. This is the information for individual volunteers and those who would prefer group
placements..
The Foundation Proyecto Ecol?ico Chiriboga, legally constituted with the Ministerial
agreement Number 47, invites students of your Education Center or University, to participate as a volunteer in our projects
located in Ecuador, South America.
Our Project?s objectives focus primarily on reforestation, social development work and work with
children of scholastic age.
We have three kinds of programs , which can interest young people. They may participate to help with
many communities, with children, and with the nature.
Three sectors of our country are being assisted by our program with the contribution of the volunteers.
INFORMATION
My little country is one of those which offers many opportunities, not only in the realm of tourism,
because Ecuador is located as you know, in the middle of the world hence, it? s name. It has four
different regions; the coast , the mountain range, the Amazonia and the Galapagos Islands. We have two
cities nominated as cultural heritage sites; Quito and Cuenca. It has wonderful volcanoes like
Cotopaxi, which is the highest active volcano in the world, Pichincha, Cayambe, Tungurahua, etc.. Glacial
mountains like Chimborazo, the highest in Ecuador, and rivers like Napo, Pastaza , Aguarico, Guayas etc.
Most of them are tributaries of the Amazonas river. The Galapagos Islands were declared a World
Biosphere Reserve, because of its unique animals and vegetation.
There are many natural resources for adventure tourism, as well as much to offer those who wish to just
relax and enjoy this country .
Despite the many assets that this country possesses, Ecuador has many economical problems.
I would like to present to you the different projects the foundations runs.
Near to the Pacific Ocean.- A big town in the coast, near to the Pacific Ocean, there is a small school
of handicapped children. They need volunteers to assist the children in their own school, in this place,
where it is between 25 to 32 ?c in temperature. The volunteers have to live in the Ecuadorian families?
homes . This region needs to be restored in its nature, because there are big lands without trees due to
over exploitation of the land. But in this place there is electricity, drinkable water ( but not very drinkable)
and means of communication. The volunteers who would like to assist these wonderful children would aid
them in becoming better equipped to face society?s demands.
In the Amazonia.- We have some communities where volunteers are needed in helping with various
community tasks such as cleaning the vegetable garden, assisting in the making of handicrafts made of
seeds from the Amazonian trees etc. It is better not to expect the usual comforts we may be normally
accustomed to, where access to water or electricity or means of communication is sometimes
unavailable. It is important to know that the volunteers live in the same houses as the native
families, which is usually comprised of only one room. Things are currently underway to build a residence for the
volunteers. If you need to take a bath you will have to do it in the rivers. They do not have toilets, but we
are also asking to build one for the volunteers. It is not always an easy task to change their minds.
In these communities, the Spanish language is necessary because their native language is the
Kichwa, and the Spanish language can help the communication.
In the northwest of Quito .- There is another small village in the northwest of Quito, where you can
find four country schools. Here the individual volunteers can teach basic English to the kids. If you enjoy
the children you can come to these schools, and you will live with the teachers or in families? homes
during the week, but on weekends you are free to choose where to go.
We have more country schools in small towns located in the surroundings valleys near Quito, and other
places around Ecuador .
Also there is an Ecological Park belonging to the Government, with 1109 hectares. It is located at 2.600
meters above sea level, about 14 ?c. in temperature, and is 1 hour northeast of Quito. They need
volunteers such as biologist , agricultural scientists with knowledge of high dry forest. The idea is to
make an inventory of the fauna and flora existing in the park , to tag the trees and the plants, and also to
help in the diary tasks. They have 40 hectares of recreational areas, 10 hectares of agricultural areas, 2
and half hectares of fish pools areas and 1.000 hectares of high dry forest.
Also we would like to offer a special place, in a Museum near the Middle of the World, where in
this place they need to reforest the creek next to the museum, because in the past it was one of the
places where the hummingbird lived. They would like to reforest with special plants and trees to make a
new paradise where the birds can come back.
Another activity in this place would be to help in the museum, giving some information in
English. But of course the volunteers would need some Spanish knowledge.
Everyone who wants to learn the language can come to the Spanish school, which helps to the foundation
in Quito, before going to projects, where we would be happy to teach our language to volunteers. During
the placement, the volunteers would live in the museum with the owner's family home.
Also, we offer our first and beloved project, The Chiriboga Project, located southwest of Quito in the
village with the same name. In this place we work at reforestation, ecological and scientific study etc.
This group placement requires a minimum of 6 people, and can receive up to 20.
In all these places you can find very friendly people who give you a warm atmosphere to live and to
work, but please let me insist; you can not expect much comfort. At the end of the placement period,
someone from the volunteer project will accompany you to Otavalo, an Indian Market one hundred
twenty kms north away from Quito. In the north of Quito, on Sunday they will go to the middle of the
world, and on a walking tour in downtown Quito, and visit the Panecillo hill.
Many other opportunities are appearing day by day in my little but beautiful country. It needs help from
other countries due to the terrible economic crisis. As the government does not have a good policy of
restore the nature, we would like to offer some help.
We used to have groups in march, July - august and august?september . During the rest of the year we
receive individual volunteers. But if you can form a group for any month of the year, we would welcome
you.
The individual volunteers have to know they may have to do some ecological work in the schools lands,
or in the communities. With the groups we will do forestation work in several places of Ecuador.
Please try to arrive on weekends. You can begin volunteering on the Monday in the schools.
We receive placements for a minimum one month to volunteer, however we do not have a maximum.
The details of the volunteers would be the following according to the selected project:
1.- To help in the reforestation of the creek
2.- To make some inventory of the plants.
3.- To help giving the information of the museum
4.- To participate in the normal activities of the family host.
5.- Just to want to help
6.- To teach English to the children of the country schools or
7.- To help in the school of the handicapped children.
Our normal currency is the American dollar
The price for all of this is USA $ 300 dollars for four weeks, volunteers are needed all year round..
They will get for this amount.-
1.- Four weeks of lodging.
2.- Breakfast, lunch and dinner during the school days.
3.-A visit to Otavalo an Indian market 120 kms north of Quito.
4.- A visit to the Middle of the world.
5.- A visit to the Panecillo hill, and
6.- A walking tour downtown.
7.- Eight Hours of free Spanish classes before the workcamp.
Weekends are free to choose where to go. On the last weekend they will go to Otavalo. If the volunteers
prefer to stay at home, he or she has food and lodging with the host family.
The volunteers who come into groups, would have the chance to learn about Ecuadorian history,
geography, and zoology thanks to the conversations they have at night in the project. This is the same for
individual volunteers.
As the volunteers need the Spanish language to communicate in the communities and if they do not have
any knowledge of the language, they can arrive one or two weeks before to go to the communities to
take some Spanish classes. The Project has contact with a small Spanish school, which help to the
Foundation, where you can pay three dollars per hour. Normally you need to take four hours per day.
Our teachers have several years of teaching experience, and also they have graduated in the Universidad
Central del Ecuador
After two weeks more or less, the students are able to communicate with the people, with a basic
Spanish, of course this depends on their interest.
We can give them lodging for just seven dollars; for this amount they can get lodging, breakfast and
dinner. If they accept to live in the house of the project during the time, they will spend to learn. They
may come to stay if they need to come some days before the placement period or after.
If you can bring some supplies to give to the people, they would appreciate some medicines, vegetables
seeds, tools, books (in Spanish) notebooks, pencils, erasers etc.
If you need any more information, just let me know it, it will be a pleasure to answer you .
Please think about it and let know if you would like to join our cause.
Sincerely
Virginia Mueses
"Virginia Mueses"<ecoproye@mail.andinanet.net>