Education for children in Ecuador

As we draw to the end off another great year in Otavalo, Ecuador, we can reflect on massive advances achieved in 2011.

Initiatives to fund secondary education such as 'Plan Moo' (cows producing milk, cheese and other products) and 'Plan Cuy' (Breeding and selling Guinea Pigs, a popular delicacy in Ecuador) have proven a huge success which put the emphasis on community participation whilst empowering local people.

New timetables and a new community centre have also been introduced which have brought huge benefits to the program.

To raise funds for the project a team of hardy project staff and volunteers scaled three impressive peaks bring in amazing funds to support the children and communities we work with. Next year another impressive challenge is already planned which will see the challengers taking in the impressive Cotopaxi volcano. The name sends shivers down the spine of many!

Thank you so much to everyone who has shown support for this project in 2011, we look forward to more progression in 2012 and will keep you all updated.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

While the concept of attending school during one´s vacation period may seem somewhat repugnant to many students around the world, the opposite proved to be true in Ecuador. For six weeks in July and August, all the kids at Laracunga, Muenela and Hyayarapungo enjoyed themselves at summer school.

With the general theme of “Ecuador mi pais”, summer school emphasised a reinforcement of the student’s knowledge in math, language, and social science, as well as the inclusion of activities in music, art, and PE. For the high school children it was a fun packed two days of active English lessons!

Further, these weeks proved to be productive for the Phoenix project in terms of community development, with the construction of 4 cuy houses. Cuy (the Kitchwa word for guinea pigs) are considered a culinary delicacy in Ecuador, with the sale of each fetching upwards of US$5. With each house potentially holding 60-100 cuy, these facilities provide the families with an independent means of economic sustainability that goes straight to supporting their high school education.

Finally, the students partook in a special school day designed entirely around the legend of the phoenix. As a fun end to this day, an art competition was held with each student designing their own phoenix to be used as the new Phoenix Ecuador logo. Congratulations to Beatriz from Larcacunga for her winning design!