Ecuador Service Program Blog

An amazing experience...

2011-08-05T13:24:00.002-05:00

Thought to End: “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us”.

-Albert Schweitzer

Journal by: Susan Weida

The mood at breakfast seemed subdued, I think we are all aware of how fast this amazing experience is coming to an end, trying to put it into the larger perspective of our everyday lives that will soon start up again.

We had a surprise of a new driver today, Fabian’s brother, who was very friendly and eager to work on his English with Kristina while driving. She quickly slipped into her teacher role.

On arrival in Calderon we went to our usual assignments and had busy mornings all. At 11 we gathered at Center #1 for the farewell ceremony. The tias had prepared all the classes except the babies to perform dances, songs, and a wonderful animal parade. I was especially proud of Tia Ruby’s class who did a rousing Spanish “Wheels on the Bus” that I taught them. The tias then performed lovely costumed dances from Otavalo and the coast and the event ended with everyone dancing. I was impressed with how engaged and well behaved the children were and thought about how important it is for children to see adults having fun in positive ways.

We were each presented a handmade present and mazapan children in costumes of various regions. Our “Mano en Mano” poster seemed to be truly appreciated. Kristina thoughtfully presented the tias and volunteers pictures of our interactions during the week.

Jessica and Steve stayed at Center #1 to thankfully assist with lunch, which as we were running late was per Kristina “like lunch on steroids”. Babies were dropping off to sleep in their high chairs. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch and returned to our respective centers for the afternoon.

Although the normal activities needed to continue the focus of the afternoon was on fond goodbyes. Kristina showed her pictures on the computer and was begged to download them on a flash drive for the center to keep.

We will certainly talk more at dinner (writing journal early due to Steve’s early departure) but I think we all have gained so much more knowledge, friendship, and feelings of love during this trip—much more them we have given. I know the faces of the children and kindness of the staff will be with me throughout my lifetime. I feel profound thanks to Global Volunteers for their thoughtful process to promote service, peace, and personal growth.

New friendships...

2011-08-04T13:20:00.002-05:00

Message of the Day: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill

Journal by: Kristina Herman Hill

As I write this journal entry it is late Thursday night and I’m nowhere near sleep as I think about closing our program tomorrow. I’ll back up and recap our full day.

The day began with the fruit, rolls, and juice we’ve become so accustomed to. It was a sunny, clear morning as we departed for Calderon. Susan was dropped off a Center #1 while the rest of us headed to Center #2. Steve is earning quite the reputation as a master painter and finds himself with more projects as news of his painting prowess spreads through the Center. Jessica joined her new Facebook friend Tia Yessenia to help in her classroom. She also pitched in to lend a hand when needed in the kitchen and with feeding the toddlers.

Susan made a new friend in the toddler room at Center #1, where they have received several new children this week. One particular boy was very sad and missing his Mom, but Susan did a great job of comforting and soothing him.

After a lunch of soup, chicken, and rice at Mi Quinta we returned to our project. Susan and I went to teach English at Center #1. She had continued to work with a group of staff children, while I work with Tias Gaby, Ruby, Blanca, Marisol. Both groups are ready to learn and fun. Both groups enjoyed singing rousing versions of “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes”.

After heading back to the hotel, we all got changed and headed to the Jardin Mall for dinner. After running a few errands and making a last trip to Super Maxi, we headed to Crepes and Waffles for dinner. We were all delighted wit the variety of crepes, coffees, and especially desserts offered there. It was a real treat.

We returned to the hotel to make final preparations and contemplate our last day on the project tomorrow. It doesn’t seem real that we’ll be saying goodbye tomorrow as it feels like we’ve just arrived. It will surely be a bittersweet day, but I look forward to celebrating the children cared for, shelves painted, English taught, and friendships made tomorrow.

2011-08-03T13:18:00.002-05:00

Thought for the day: "If you are thinking in terms of a year plant a seed, if in terms of 10 years plant a tree, if in terms of 100 years teach the people." - Confucious

Journal by: Steve Bennett

Today began with the typical breakfast, albeit slightly delayed. Everyone seems to be conscious at this juncture of the program that time is fast slipping away and the only a few days remain. As it has been in recent days, Susan and Kristina go to Center #1 while Jessica and I go to Center #2.

Kristina stops by to check on my work and leaves to get some more yellow paint to complete the work on the yellow shelves. They had proved very troublesome. Susan continues her work with the children at Center #1, while Jessica has opted to spend some time in the kitchen today prior to chasing the children around.

The day is sunny and warm. I have an older table that is turned into me to paint after I finish the final coat of green in the morning. I am pleased with the green.

At lunch we all meet at the café and have some tough steak with lentils and rice. For dessert is tasty flan.

Jessica stops at the Tia market on the return trip for some snacks and treats. Jessica will work with the kids while I work on the blue table and then back to the final coat for the yellow shelves. Today my eyes are tearing constantly from the paint fumes. Good thing I am not painting inside.

Towards the end of the day it is apparent that I will need more paint thinner tomorrow. Kristina must think I am mixing cocktails with the stuff. The tias bring me two more tables for repainting. I am overwhelmed with painting.

A leak happens in the blue can which leads to a loss of paint. The wind blows over the plastic brush bucket with the blue brush in it. Mess again!

After arriving back at the hotel Jessica and Kristina depart. Jessica to the mall and Kristina for a walk in the park. Susan and I take a cab to the Indian market. I buy 2 bedspreads, 2 sweaters, and a pair of earrings. I carelessly lose my wallet.

The day ends with chicken for supper and us all sharing our day.

Baby day...

2011-08-02T13:16:00.002-05:00

Journal by: Jessica Nysenbaum

While Susan and Kristina went back to Center #1, Steve and I went to Center #2. Center #2 was even more chaotic than usual as Gracia, the tia for the 2 year olds was out for the 2^nd day in a row. Yesterday a new tia took care of the 2 year olds but today she was nowhere to be found. I’m worried she may have been scared off and never will be seen again.

While the other tia’s took off with their kids, the 2 year olds were left wandering so I herded them into their room. I was alone with them for about half an hour and just when I was at my wits end Andrea arrived and took the kids to a room for other tia's to watch. I'm sure it made for an interesting day, watching 4 year olds and 2 year olds together. I spent my morning in the baby room. A new baby, Leonardo, only 9 months old had his first day and was crying constantly. I played with the babies, changed diapers, and tried to distract the inconsolable Leonardo. Tia Patti was busy meeting with a woman from another children’s organization. The woman told me that she does home visits with the children once a month. She teaches them proper nutrition, explains when it is that children need to see a doctor, and checks on their development. She was teaching Patti how to do tests in her class to gauge the babies’ development.

After a fairly unpopular lunch of tripe, Steve made some more masapan purchases. Susan explained to Cecelia that her son Andrew would like to get in touch with her son who also lives in Tena. On our way back to Center #2 snack shops were eyed, but we did hold out. Steve returned to painting while I helped with Josseina’s kids while she filled out assessment forms. We also fit in a little English lesson and I taught her Rock a Bye Baby.

Meeting up with Susan and Kristina on the bus, we heard that Susan ended up teaching English to an assorted mix of tia’s children while Kristina worked with the tias. All together we headed to Old Town to visit a historic house museum. It struck me that Maria Auguste, the house’s owner, was like a one woman FUNDAC. She fed 150 kids a day in her house. The group was most impressed with her ornate bathroom. This was especially impressive as in her time everyone else used outhouses. After the museum we had a drink at an incredibly charming restaurant Kristina discovered. It had gorgeous views of Old Town and wider Quito leaving most of us pondering when we could return.

A weekend of relaxation...

2011-08-01T13:13:00.000-05:00

Message of the Day: "I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again."

William Penn

Journal by: Kristina Herman Hill

I’ll start this journal entry with Sunday evening, when we reunited for dinner to share about our weekend adventures. Steve went bird watching in Mindo, Susan visited her son who is in the Peace Corps in Tena, Jessica and I went to Otavalo on Saturday, but I hung back to explore the city while she went to Mindo on Sunday. It was great to see everyone again and to swap stories.

Today it was back to the routine of breakfast at 7:00 am, then leaving for work at 8:00. We were greeted with smiles and cries of “Hola” by the tias and ninos. Susan spent the morning helping Tia Olga and Carolina in the kitchen at Center #1, while Steve returned to his painting project and Jessica to help Tia Sandra at Center #2. After a brief stop at Center #1, I went on a search for more paint thinner. After visiting a couple places my mission was accomplished. I certainly didn’t mind the extra walk as it was a beautiful morning and the beautiful white dome of the Cotopaxi volcano was more visible in the distance today.

I spent part of the morning helping out in Tia Jacqueline’s classroom. They seemed to be doing a lot of intakes of new families in both centers, and Jacqueline had two new little ones in her room. My guess is that neither child had been away from their mothers much before, so naturally both were almost inconsolable. One little boy kept repeating, “Mi mama se fue” or “My Mom left me”. Pobrecito!

Jessica was not feeling well so decided to go back to the hotel before lunch. she is feeling better after a trip to the pharmacist in Calderon. The afternoon was spent doing lively English teaching, me with a group of tias and Susan with a group of older children. As we returned to the hotel, the skies darkened and a very loud thunderstorm rolled in. It made for some nice napping weather for all of us.

After naptime we gathered for a dinner of spaghetti Bolognese and more conversation. We discussed plans for the rest of the week and it dawned on me how quickly the rest of our time at Calderon is going to go. My goal for the next few days is to be fully present in the moment and soak in as much of this experience as I can.

End of week one!

2011-07-29T13:11:00.001-05:00

Thought for the Day: If the roots are not removed during weeding, the weeds will grow again when the winds of spring blow . -Chinese proverb

Today is a special day for several reasons:

It marks the end of the program for Dean and Sherri. For the rest of us it marks the halfway point of the program. It is also to be a day of celebration at Site #2. It is also the day of our mazapan demonstration.

Breakfast is the usual fare but is lacking fruit other than bananas. The group seems healthy and in good spirits on this Friday. We arrive at Site #1 and Sherri, Susan, and Kristina go off to attend to the children while Jessica, Dean and I head to Site #2. While Jessica and Dean work with the children, I resume work on the painting shelves project.

At 11 am everyone assembles in the great room at Site #2. The children are all seated in their chairs on one side of the room while the volunteers and some of the FUNDAC ladies sat on the opposite side. The 4-5 year olds first performed a song and accompanying dance followed by the 3-4 year olds. Lastly the younger children. All were very cute although many of the children did not quite get it. Sherri and Dean were presented cards and mazapan figures along with appreciations by the FUNDAC woment. Then the dancing and real fun began with first some individual traditional dances followed by a flamboyant lady who danced with Dean and I. It was exuberant, great fun. At the end of it I was exhausted but had so much fun. A woman appears with a mask and then all the volunteers join the two dancers in a square dance like dance as we circle and swing round. Everyone is having such a great time. It ends with the volunteers doing a rousing version of Old MacDonald to the amusement of the kids.

We then got to the mazapan shop for a demonstration of mazapan making by the owner. She makes the intricate creations almost like magic. Seems like everyone makes some purchases as this is a local craft, the lady is associated with FUNDAC and they make inexpensive gifts to take home. Kristina, Susan, and Sherri return to Site #1 while Dean, Jessica, and I return to our work at Site #2. The day ends quickly. Dean and Sherri are now sadly gone and our group shrinks in size from 6 to 4. At supper it seems sad that we only have 4 place settings. For dinner we are served delicious fish with French fries, salad, and rice. For dessert the unusual tree tomato which is served in a syrup. Looking these up on the Internet they seem unrelated to anything and are served in a variety of ways.

Another great day...

2011-07-28T13:08:00.001-05:00

Thought for the Day: "Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

- Michael Jordon

Day 5 Thursday July 28 Dean Sheftel

Our day started off as usual coming to breakfast around 7 am. We had our usual breakfast of various rolls, coffee, tea, fruits and yogurt drinks. At breakfast we heard the usual journal entry and very long quote I just read again by Thomas Jefferson.

As usual we got ready to leave for the sites around 8-815. As usual, first we dropped my Mom and Susan off at Site # 1. Fabian then brought me, Steve, and Jessica to Site #2. As usual, we were greeted by a smiling friendly woman accompanied by a few crying little children who wanted their Mommies. We went in and the kids were just finishing their breakfast. Sandra told me that for the first part of the day her friend Josenia needed help in her room. At first Josenia had me sweep the outside room but then she had me do some drawings for the kids to color, which reminded me that they can’t make copies here.

After that I went back to Sandra’s room where we noticed people starting the sanding and painting on the shelves outside. The kids were fascinated by this. Sandra and I both found itfunny when we looked outside and saw Kristina dancing with one of the women there. After lunch a few people went shopping and as usual my Mom was disgusted by the raw meat in one of the stores. When we got back to the site Jessica and I taught English (Jessica teaching Josenia and me teaching Sandra). Steve went out to do more outside work as well. After that I was dropped along with my Mom at the basketball courts at Carolina Park where I got involved in a game.

When we got back we immediately left again to see amazing sights and go shopping a little. We went to a restaurant called Pim’s. It was an amazingly elegant place with an amazing view. We all enjoyed the food during our romantic candlelit dinner. Our pictures didn’t come out very well of the sites there so Susan told us that we should try to always cherish the pictures in our minds which I decided to do as well. I hope I can remember it as it is already escaping my brain. It was a great, exciting day.

2011-07-27T13:05:00.001-05:00

"No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal right of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him." - Thomas Jefferson

Journal by: Sherri Sheftel

We began our day as usual relieved that Kristina felt much better after her illness the previous evening. Dean, Steve, and Jessica returned to Site #2 to continue painting and taking care of the children. Jessica experienced a particularly wild day with the children, at least one child took off her diaper and decided to decorate the room with its contents. We are still in awe of how the tias must skillfully manage the classroom when we’re not there. Sherri continued helping Tia Norma with the babies, as that class seems to be in constant need of assistance. Sherri is still in shock that the children remain safe from potentially serious hazards. The 11 month old continues to present an additional challenge to the tranquility of the setting. Susan seems to have a good handle on her kids and has rapidly discerned many of their individual personalities and idiosyncracies. In addition she prepared a very helpful English lesson to engage the tias. Sherri worked with Ruby who is having great difficulty but is most determined. Kristina even added Stalin to her group of learners. Jessica purchased some souvenirs from the masapan store already. The rest of us are looking forward to doing so.

After work Steve and Dean went to the park, where Dean joined in a basketball game. He seemed to be easily accepted by the other kids. Sherri and Jessica walked to the Supermaxi to enjoy coffee and see the shops.

After another tasty dinner most of us attended the Folklorico ballet with a dapper Martin. Apparently, these amazing performers travel the world and have won awards. Their dances depicted their beliefs, values, feelings, and the story of their typical ways and life cycle. The costumes and dance were very elaborate.

We all returned feeling exhausted from our day. This time everybody planned to go to bed promptly.

As I’m confused that the guide books claim Ecuador is rated as one of the least peaceful countries in the world, I’ll end with this quote:

A full day, but a great day!

2011-07-26T12:57:00.002-05:00

Journal by: Jessica Nysenbaum

I’ve been a bit of a derelict team member as it’s now Wednesday morning. I wrote in my own journal yesterday evening and then fell asleep before doing this one. Susan and I fell asleep at 9:30 for the second night in a row. Our full days wear us out!

Susan and Sherri went back to Center 1 and Dean, Steve, and I went to Center 2. Steve and Dean got started on a labor project. They were priming a new outdoor bathroom and shower room. I went back to the same room as the day before. Ruben came and shook my hand and it was quite charming. We spent the morning coloring, drawing, and reading stories. It was a lot sietate te! as the kids were expected to stay in their chairs. It’s hard for a three year old to sit still of course and there was no free play time as there aren’t any toys in the art room. I also quickly learned who the group trouble makers were and there’s always one in a class! We had some morning excitement as a a mouse appeared. Anita discovered it and loudly screamed and all the boys wanted to go and see. It got chased into the kitchen where Steve watched the kitchen ladies chase it around until he was killed. At snack and lunch I was that the children weren’t allowed to leave the table until they ate all their food. I can’t imagine getting an entire group of American children to all eat the same thing.

After our lunch we stopped at the masapan store of one of the FUNDAC ladies. She sweetly gave each of us a masapan pin. We also arranged to go back Friday for a demonstration of how she makes the masapan figures. The afternoon English lesson didn’t happen as the tias needed to go supply shopping. Instead I joined Steve and Dean outside. Steve very patiently played foreman training us novices. Dean and I got in a fun conversation wondering if Americans have different accents when speaking Spanish. For example is there a NY Spanish accent and a Boston one? I quite enjoyed working on the painting. You can immediately see the results of your work. Before we knew it the bus was there and it was time to go to Mitad del Mundo.

The museum has a rather odd assortment of displays on indigenous people, including a pretty cool shrunken head. We also saw a shrunken sloth head. Most interesting of course were the displays on the effects of the equator. We saw an egg stand on it’s end, water effects, and took some fun group photos. Unfortunately, Kristina got sick. Luckily she feels better this morning and is ready for another day.

Let the service begin!

2011-07-25T12:56:00.000-05:00

Thought for the Day: Although I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as if they were great and noble. The world is moved along not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes but also by the tiny pushes of each honest worker.

Journal by: Susan Weida

Our group met for breakfast before the exciting start of our service program. I felt some anxiety, it was hard to judge whether others felt the same. We celebrated the arrival of Sherri and Dean’s baggage—the tip off was Dean arriving at breakfast in a new T shirt. Unfortunately, their night didn’t end after the airport, they were victims of an oddly blinking light in their room.

The ride to Calderon is beautiful and most of us got the true perspective of Quito as a city nestled in the mountains for the first time. We arrived at Center #1 and entered through a colorful and lively vegetable market-opened a door and there were the children. The ‘holas’ and waves began almost immediately and didn’t stop. Its wonderful how open children are to forming relationships. The one exception was the infant room where some fear of strangers was evident. Lilly, the director of Center #1, toured and introduced us to the tias. I was struck by the cleanliness of everything and by the organization in the classrooms and public areas. The planning to make this program work was evident.

We then walked through more of the market, town, to the outskirts where Center #2 continues to be a work in progress. Pilar (FUNDAC member) took the place of the director, absent today, and spoke about how the partnership with Global Volunteers has allowed them to continue to expand from 1 floor to 2 floors, and next to a third floor for the center. Steve and Dean are to be working on shelving this week, but the materials were not ready. They both showed a positive team quality-flexibility- by agreeing to work in the kitchen/cleaning (Steve) and with children (Dean).

The rest of the day seemed to fly by. Sherri and I worked with infants/toddlers and the 3-4 year olds in the construction room respectively and spent the rest of the morning taking cues from our tias and then assisting. I was struck again with how well the tias have structured activities for the children to make bathroom, lunch, toothbrushing all run smoothly. A nutritious lunch was served and all the children were urged to eat everything. Independence is expected of the three year olds. Then off to line up on the beds, eight children to a single bed, six beds to the room and full sunlight shining in the window. With supervision from the tias all the children were sleeping in 15 minutes.

Lunch break for us-some good sharing-and back to our jobs-for Sherri, me Jessica, and Dean working with the tias on English skills. Dean was especially successful doing conversation practice with some of the teen assistants. Tias had training so those of us at Center #1 helped keep order while parents arrived. It was evident that without the structure from the tias that these children can hit, push, and act silly like their peers everywhere.

Good sharing at dinner about the day’s work-especially enjoyed hearing about Steve making pineapple smoothies from scratch-his smile conveyed his enjoyment working in the kitchen. Though tired we are all ready for another day tomorrow.

Team #143 Arrive in Ecuador!

2011-07-24T12:53:00.001-05:00

Journal by: Steve Bennett

Up at 7:15 after a night interrupted by car alarms three times. I am slow to get more sleep and have strange dreams for another night. Altitude adjustment or so they say.

Breakfast is typico with fruit, scrambled eggs, braided rolls, blackberry juice and other goodies. The orientation begins in the commons area on the second floor as our small but enthusiastic team all share a bit of information. I am struck by how everyone seems to be involved either with participation in administering or being a participant in the educational or social services system. When I think about it this should be obvious to me why the FUNDAC at Calderon would have appeal. The introductions are followed by an explanation of our daily schedule and project preferences. Dean and I are the only ones oriented to the construction and this is no surprise. Looks like I will be hanging out at site #2 where most of the maintenance, cleaning, and construction opportunities seem to exist. Flexibility is the order of the day.

Skills of all present are evaluated to see what skill sets people have and how they can be applied. Next is an interesting exercise, everyone makes cards of their goals for the program. Many goals seem to have commonality. Next a break for lunch of potato/ avocado soup with chicken, fried potatoes, and rice. It is tasty carbo-loaded lunch topped with a blackberry whip that some liked and some didn’t. Anxiety continues over Sherri and Dean’s missing luggage with no clear resolution to be seen. Prior to lunch the two ladies from Calderon had made an appearance. You could see in their eyes that their concern was most genuine. I was impressed by the fact that they had made a special appearance just to welcome us.

After lunch everyone complained of wanting to take a nap and seem tired. We persist and go through an extended Spanish session to practice and learn common terms that may be needed. I struggle and feel that I am far and away the most challenged. I am muy bien happy when this is over. Martin, a tour operator next appears to explain spare time options. He elaborates to a great deal on some points but then seems to leave out important points. He does offer a fairly wide arrangement of different options to do. I am concerned with my energy level for some of these things after working a full day in the sun. We shall see. I follow Kristina, Jessica, and Sherry down to the mall and split up and go over to the park. It is around 5:30 pm and the park is packed with families enjoying their Sunday interspersed with young beaus enjoying each other. The park seems alive and from another time and era. I felt that this strong bond and joy of doing simple things like playing soccer, riding paddleboats, horses, or just strolling as a family was lost in America. The park rather than just occupying space was fulfilling a valuable social need. I was also charmed to find monkey puzzle trees of good height. I return to the mall and withdraw some money from the ATM with success. I am pleased.

Back at the hotel Sherri and Dean have still no word on their luggage. Dinner is roast chicken with a vegetable soup starter and a filo dough creation for dessert. Everyone is stuffed. Sherri persists in trying to line up activities for every day but I am worried until I see how this goes and flows. Tomorrow the adventure begins.

Hard to believe it is over!

2011-06-24T12:40:00.001-05:00

“Caring about others, running the risk of feeling, and leaving an impact on people, brings happiness.”

-Harold Kushner

Journal: Kaitlyn Henry

Our last day of service was fantastic! The tias dressed in traditional clothing and the kids wore costumes and performed several dances! The farewell celebration ended with upbeat music and the entire group, including the volunteers, dancing. A few weeks ago I was unsure if I would take this trip but I made a spontaneous last minute decision to join team 141 and I am so glad that I did. This has been a very humbling experience and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet new friends, explore a new city, and help where it is needed.

Team #141--so many laughs!

2011-06-23T12:37:00.002-05:00

Quote: Michelle Holker

”What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

-Albert Pike

Journal: Kaitlyn Henry

The morning of June 23rd started off like any other. We had our breakfast at the hotel and took the bus to Calderon. As we made our way through the market the group separated in its usual way, Allen and Beth headed to Center #2 while Irene, Elena, Michelle and I stayed at Center #1. It was a typical morning in Center #1, with Irene in the kitchen and Elena helping in the classroom, Michelle and I headed to help in the baby room with tia Norma. With the biggest trouble maker absent for the day, the baby room was very tranquil, that was until I heard one of the kids yell "tia hace chi chi." Not thinking anything of it, I continued to play with the kids until I noticed the one guilty of "hace chi chi" was indeed on my lap and had left me with a wet pant leg. After I cleaned myself up I continued the daily activities in the classroom; singing, dancing, feeding and caring for the kids. A few hours later the tired group enjoyed a nice lunch but we kept one thing in mind, Panderia Alex. After lunch the group didn't want to break our habit so naturally we stopped at Panderia Alex to get dessert and Michelle and I did some more last minute shopping which was not necessary but we somehow found a way to justify it. After the long lunch break we headed back to do more work, Irene and I helped with Spanish tutoring which is a huge challenge when you lose your voice.

The afternoon was filled with laughter as Irene and I helped pronounce words and the tias gave us funny looks as if to say "that's what I said." After a successful day we headed back to the hotel to rest before our last dinner. A combination of laughing so hard I cried and almost choking on my dinner because I could not stop giggling made our last dinner at the hotel the highlight of my day.

As the group reflected on our day of service we discovered that the painted piece of art I bought for my dad resembled an urn and we could not stop laughing at the idea of presenting his gift, an Ecuadorian urn. As we continued to laugh at the “urn” I bought, which came with dust so it was sure to fit the part, Michelle warned us to be careful not to choke on our dinner but she did mention if you are ever in a situation where you must perform CPR you just need to think of the song “staying alive.”

This spiraled the group into more laughter and as I pondered “what do you do during the most upbeat part of the song that says ‘staying alive staying alive’” Michelle was quick to read my mind and said “you don’t actually do it to that beat.” Thankfully Michelle cleared up the staying alive CPR technique and they all decided that if they were in need of CPR they would not want me to be around because I would most likely start dancing and lose sight of the fact that someone actually needs resuscitation.

The giggles and outbursts of laughter continued and eventually the smiling group left our last dinner, in hopes that we didn’t cause too big of a distraction for the other guests. After dinner Beth, Allen, Michelle and I walked to the mall to go to the bookstore and to the Supermaxi to get some Ecuadorian goodies to bring home. Upon arrival to the hotel, the group parted ways so that we could get a head start on packing and some rest before our last day of service.

A reason to celebrate!

2011-06-22T12:36:00.001-05:00

Quote: Kaitlyn Henry

“Life is precious and time is a key element. Let's make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." -Unknown

Journal: Irene Thomas

Wednesday June 22 started out like any other day. Then it all changed in honor of Allen’s birthday! A cake with eight birthday candles and the happy birthday song. The journal was read and the starfish story was related. Following breakfast we boarded the big yellow bus to Center #1. Michelle, Elena and Kaitlyn and I stayed while Beth and Allen headed to Center #2 where another birthday party was held—Allen received beautiful card saying he was a “good man.” How right they are; another candle and song.

Back at Center #1, there was remodeling being done and a new window was being installed. The kitchen called my name-with cucumbers to be peeled, onions to be sliced and dishes to be washed at breakneck speed because the next meal was coming. With those chores completed I helped the “mop lady” sweep until she said “Irene, sit down!”

The day was capped off with a trip to the equator with some fun experiments, pictures and a wonderful dinner at El Rincon de la Ronda with excellent Ecuadorian food and another cake, song and hat for Allen.

I was touched to see the trust and joy on the children’s faces during their outdoor activity. My hope is that this trust will not be betrayed as their hopes is the future. Faith is believing in what you cannot see and hope is in that belief.

Saving starfish...

2011-06-21T12:34:00.001-05:00

Tuesday June 21,, 2011

Quote: Irene Thomas

"Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out,

"Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied,

"Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said- "I made a difference for that one." –Anonymous

Journal: Elena Ferancy

Tuesday June 21 started out like the usual. All six of the teammate’s met downstairs for breakfast at 7:30 and were off to the daycare by 8:00. The 30 minute ride seemed like 10 because everyone was so used to it and all fell asleep. After waking up to find we are at daycare Center #1 already, we stumbled our way into the daycare to see the kids.

Beth and Allen made their way to Center #2 while Kaitlyn helped Tia Gaby for the first time. She had never realized kids could have so much energy. Elena worked with the babies and Tia Norma for the first time also. She learned that not all kids are potty trained, even if they are out of diapers. Irene spent her day in the kitchen peeling potatoes and washing dishes. She later got a break while teaching English to a very enthusiastic Tia Gaby. Beth spent her day with the babies she knows and loves at Center #2. Allen realized his true artistic ability and probably does not want to see and ‘8’ or piñata for the rest of his life. Last, but not least was team leader Michelle. Between her other tasks, she spent the morning at Center #2 with the crazy but loveable two-year olds. After lunch she stayed at Center #1 and helped with the babies.

When the bus picked everyone up at 4:00, the team headed back to the hotel. Beth, Allen, Kaitlyn, Michelle and Elena started getting ready to go to the Church of the Society of Jesus of Quito, La Compania for a 6:00 mass and Irene made some phone calls. Due to traffic the team arrived at 6:10 to be told that the mass was almost finished and that the next one was only for a school. After finding another church, the Catedral, everyone was able to sit, pray and admire the beauty of the church for a couple of minutes. When dinner came at 7:15, the whole team enjoyed delicious food, while at the same time talking about hair washing, and breaking out of jail. (Just two of many different topics!) In the end, Tuesday was a great day filled with laughter, fun, and the occasional scary story. Just to say, I think everyone checked underneath their bed that night.

Another good day....

2011-06-20T12:32:00.001-05:00

Quote: Elena Ferancy

“I don’t work here because it is easy, or fun or comfortable. I work here because it is good. Maybe the outside of it doesn’t change. And sure, there are a thousand heartbreaks. But the inside is changing in a some of them. They have hope.” –From the book The Swan House

Journal: Allen Church

Monday morning and the day started with brilliant sunshine. This is a follow-up to the Sunday afternoon rain showers that provided a run-off in the Quito streets. Most of our reduced team size of 6 visited two of the major cathedrals in the old town region during the afternoon showers. Some of the rainfall continued until a little after dinner and left leakage spots in the hotel serving area.

The Monday morning drive to Calderon was under nearly cloudless skies through Quito. The mountain tops were fully visible and the air pollution was gone.

Calderon was not as fortunate. The evidence of precipitation was barely visible.

The team deployed with Irene and Elaina; Michelle and Kaitlin in the first unit. Allen and Beth returned to the second unit. The children were just as vigorous and vocal as they had been when last seen on Friday. The children had a generous half-hour outside play period. Our lunch in the downtown restaurant was quieter than when the other two families, including the youths, were with us.

We six returned to our assignments for the afternoon. Beth reported that one of the babies had a vomit event. Allen found four of the six students from his class in the classroom and took them under his care for the afternoon. Bus pick-up at unit 2 at 4 p.m. and we returned to Sol de Quito.

Our dinner was a repeat of the taco meal that was so successful last week. Another good day!

Enjoying Ecuador!

2011-06-19T12:31:00.000-05:00

Quote: Allen Church

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

-Nelson Mandela

Journal: Beth Harrison

Saturday kept the busy week rolling with an early morning and a long bus ride to the large Indian market in Otavalo. We stopped by many places along the way to take in the gorgeous scenery and take some pictures. Once in the market we separated for four hours of shopping and buying more than we should—all justifiable of course. That night we decided to order some pizza and ended up with tons of pizza boxes and some interesting choices. After dinner some of the team starting packing up while the kids enjoyed Youtubing hilarious videos about stalking cats, guilty dogs, and outrageous wedding proposals. We then had to say goodnight to the Brown family as they were headed home in the morning and also to the Huffs as they left for the Galapagos.

Sunday came as a lazy day as our team dwindled down to six members. While Irene and Elena went to the internet café, Michelle and Kaitlyn went out for a walk, which gave Michelle a wonderful sunburn as she discovered later that night. At noon, Irene, Elena, Allen and I went to the Indian market because we simply had not gotten enough yesterday. After a lovely, fancy meal in the food court in the mall  we all walked through the heavy rain to look inside the church in the Old Town made out of 7 tons of gold. Once we were cold and soaked, we returned back to the hotel and snuggled up to watch a movie together. After dinner and a nice conversation about scary occurrences and giving blood we were all ready to sleep in preparation for the week ahead.

Time flies when you're having fun!

2011-06-15T12:28:00.003-05:00

Quote: Michelle Holker

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

-Mahatma Ghandi

Journal: Nani Grenell

Today seemed to be a wonderful blur of activity and accomplishment. A new foundation for Center #2 washroom and no more graffiti on the courtyard walls at Center #2. It was cool and overcast-perfect for painting outdoors.

As usual all of the ninos were happy and well cared for . My biggest impression today were the tias. They are so unbelievably committed to those kids. We are there for an hour here and an hour there, laughing and teasing the ninos, but they are there day in and day out for all seasons. How do they do it? Compared to what we are used to, their pay is minute but yet they are joyful and do their jobs well. They have set an example for me to carry home.

As for our team? We have become workers in unison and friends-we dine and play together. We complain about our aches and pains and how we don’t like concrete block construction. And please, what were those noises on the bus today?

I am overwhelmed by this volunteer experience. It is a very simple and uncomplicated task, but there’s so much to think about and take home.

A few things I am thankful for today:

-The tias

-Meeting all the ninos

-Pan de Yuca-now that I have tasted them

-Not helping with the concrete blocks!

-Making the kids smile with a snapshot

-Cecilia’s masapan

And last but not least, Abby & Doug for bringing me along for this entire adventure.

Ecuador team #141- ready to serve!

2011-06-13T12:24:00.000-05:00

Quote: Anna Huff

“Love cannot remain by itself—it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that act is service.”

-Mother Teresa

Journal written by: Lisa

Our first day as team #141 began with team members sitting at separate tables attempting small talk with new acquaintances, with jokes about difficulties remembering names. After, we met with team leader Michelle for Global Volunteers’ team building session. We were surprised at how quickly we could actually learn each other’s names: Michelle, Evan, Nani, Emma, Allen, Kaitlyn, Abby, Irene, Beth, Michelle, Toby, Elena, Doug, Leo, Lisa, Christie, Amanda, Terry, Anna. We also met the lovely leaders of FUNDAC and learned a little about the projects we’ll be working on.

Next, we each came up with our goals for the next one to two weeks, which included learning about a new culture, working or our Spanish, helping others and having fun! The younger members of group got together for an energetic game of ‘Egyptian Rat Screw’ and by lunchtime we had merged our several groups into a true team, sitting together at one big table. After lunch we explored a bit of Quito and got some shopping in at a market in a large park. The day ended with a tired group looking forward to our first day at FUNDAC.

A Week in Review

2011-04-15T22:45:00.001-05:00

Friday, April 15, 2011 Journal Entry

Thought for the day: “Life is like a bowl of cherries – with all the pits!”

Barb did a week in review to see if we reached our goals. I believe the answer was yes from all. Charlie was recognized for his excellent work with a marzipan llama.

Last day – Bob and Charlie went to Center #2 while Mary and Barb stayed at Center #1. Charlie worked with the kids getting ready for our last day festival. Bob worked with the 2 year-olds learning words and drawing circles.

Barb created another work of art with the numbers 1 to 5. Mary sang with the kids and had a great day. At 10:30 a.m., they headed to Center #2 for our goodbye party with a stop at the store for some treats for the kids.

The party started with some nice words from Lily and a speech by our leader Barb. The little kids danced to music or should I say the teachers danced and the little ones moved some. The next group of older kids did a very nice dance for us. We really enjoyed it. The teachers performed an Ecuadorian folk dance next. At the end, they dragged all of us onto the floor (including Charlie) to dance with them.

Mary and Charlie asked the kids to sing Happy Birthday to Gary – Mary’s husband and Charlie’s dad. The kids sang in both Spanish and English. Charlie recorded it and emailed it to Gary.

Each of the volunteers received a figurine and a beautiful thank you card all decorated and framed. They also received an even larger thank- you card for the team decorated with flowers and handprints. Hugs and kisses and then back to Center #1 for final goodbyes there.

Last lunch and meal together – hamburgers, fries and ice cream. Charlie was a happy camper.

Final goodbyes for the teammates... It’s been a great week!

Signed: Volunteer Bob

Life is like a mirror...

2011-04-14T21:38:00.000-05:00

Thursday, April 14, 2011 Journal Entry

Thought for the Day: “Life is like a mirror. Smile at it and it smiles back at you.” – Charlie

We are the only ones at the hotel now so we had breakfast served to us. Our morning “jugo” had us all stumped and we were surprised to discover it was tomato juice.

Bob and Charlie went to Center 2 this morning in hopes of more work projects. In their efficiency, they put themselves out of work. They got to play with the children instead. Bob, aka, Richard Simmons, got his exercise dancing with the little ones. Charlie put his germ fetish aside and helped feed the babies.

Barb and I worked in Center #1 in our usual places. I was able to do a few extra activities with the children, like lacing yarn through holes in paper and reading, in an effort to keep them busy. The children behave quite well when they are engaged.

Barb got to exercise her inner artist today by making a poster of the vowels. She was the pawn in an art competition between the teachers! At least she didn’t have to draw any more dead chickens.

Lunch was soup (4 for 4, Chomp), rice, potatoes and meat. I think we’ve got the gist of the Ecuadorian food now. All that’s left is the guinea pig.

Barb and I joined the boys to see their handiwork. We may be some of the select few to ever view this sight. Barb and I were duly impressed. Charlie and Bob stayed at Center 2 and played with the kids and filed papers. Barb and I finished the day at Center 1. I taught the remaining children how to make paper airplanes and Barb engaged the ninos in a photo session.

The sky didn’t cooperate, yet again, so we weren’t able to go up the gondola to Pichincha. I guess we’ll have to come back to Quito on a clear day. Instead, we went back to the hotel for a rest before our celebratory dinner.

Martin picked us up at 6 p.m. He took us to a hoppin’ part of town called Mariscal and a restaurant called Mama Clorinda. I happily had a salad while Charlie got so involved in his dinner of ribs that he needed a bib. We were entertained by musicians while we ate and celebrated a week of work well done.

Written by: Volunteer Mary

A Full Day of New Sights, Tastes, Smells & Smiles!

2011-04-12T20:03:00.001-05:00

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Journal Entry

Thought for the day: “All who wander are not lost.”

We started the day with a quick breakfast meeting and a taxi ride to Center 1 where Charlie and I stayed to work. Barb and Bob headed to Center 2 to prepare and purchase supplies for the tile project. Barb returned to Center 1 to work and Bob accomplished a great deal of trimming and weeding in the garden at Center 2.

I requested that we take the children out to the deck to play with balls. The tia in my group let us and the kids loved it! The boys particularly benefited from some running around. Sadly a few girls didn’t want to try playing and opted on sitting under a table. When the star on my soccer team kicked the ball over the fence, never to be seen again, we returned to our room.

The children are broken into groups by age. They start as young as five months and go until 5 years. Some of the tia’s own children come to work with them so I have a 6-year-old daughter in our group of fours and five.

They are learning about the cycle of life. Since there aren’t photocopiers available, we have been tracing pictures of the life cycle of plants & chickens for the children to work with. Today, they glued quinoa on the egg portion of the picture of a hatching chick.

The children follow lunch with a siesta. Since there is only so much space, they are lined up across the bed in a row. Siesta is our lunch time. We will eat at La Quinta every day and Charlie is laying odds that every meal will start with soup. So far, he’s two for two.

After lunch, we had a little time so we purchased a sweatshirt for Charlie and a new ball to replace the one that went missing in the morning soccer match. For a change of pace, we went to Center 2 and worked in the garden. The sun even made an appearance today so our walk over and back and the gardening was quite pleasant. Charlie had a bit of trouble because he tried coffee for the first, and possibly the last, time.

Walking to Center 2 is about a 10 to 15 minute walk through town. Center 2 feels more rural as it has outdoor space and abuts cornfields. Entering Center 1, however, one feels rather stealthy. It is hidden behind a barred gate in the outdoor food market, between two vegetable stalls. One must watch their step and head to safely arrive.

We finished our workday in Lily’s office with a game of ball with her 2-year-old daughter and met her 14-year-old son. .

Martin gathered us in his gray van in hopes of clear skies to ride the gondola up Pichincha. We were optimistic but the closer we got the darker the sky, until it finally opened up. As a consolation, we stopped at our favorite mall for lattes. With mixed feelings from the group, Martin decided to take us to the Old Town in Quito. Traffic was painfully slow, but we were able to see the beautiful streets lit at night.

As we visited a baroque church, the opulence of the interior, grand architecture, and the clear soprano left little impression for Charlie next to the excitement of detecting a potential pick-pocketer eyeing Bob. The streets were empty and the restaurants packed since Quito’s futbol team was playing on TV. We heard rhythmic banging as we awaited our dinner. I thought it might be Barb locked in the bano, but upon further discovery, there was a folk dance performance outside. We were able to watch a few dances with traditional dress, moves and music. We should have had another diploma for Bob as he tried (and enjoyed) goat!

On the way home, we had a quick stop at the main square for a photo shoot and view of the palace. We were able to see the basilica on our return, as well.

It was a full day – full of new sights, tastes, smells and smiles. I believe we are all enriched as a result and will sleep soundly. In face, everyone else already is so now it’s my turn. Good night!

Written by: Volunteer Mary

Day One in Quito

2011-04-10T22:01:00.001-05:00

Journal Entry for Sunday, April 10

Team 140 to Ecuador gathered for breakfast at 9-ish in the charming dining room of Hotel Sol de Quito. Fresh fruit, croissants, eggs, blackberry juice – delicious.

Orientation commenced with hellos and a “getting to know you” session. We are a team that’s small in number – 4 – but big in energy, dedication and talent.

* Bob the engineer (my hubby) whose worst-ever job was picking strawberries and whose best job is his current consulting work.

* Charlie, age 13, a sports enthusiast who is discovering a new interest in math and who enjoys phy ed and his involvement in a community service club in his hometown (Woodside) near San Francisco.

* Mary (Charlie’s mom) is a dedicated teacher and homemaker who shared her journey from college to family with four kids with stops along the way in Australia and Switzerland. We later enjoyed hearing about her “horseback” journeys in South Africa and India. Wow! She’s also done the GV Peru program with one of her daughters. It’s a family tradition to take each child on a volunteer experience when he/she turns 13!

* I shared my background with newspaper work, GV, our terrific kid and more!

This was followed by reviews of Global Volunteers' policy – health and safety issues and a pleasant visit with Elvita, Pilar and Marujita, representatives of FUNDAC, our host organization, who described the work projects, the community of Calderon and more.

Then we commenced to team goals and team-building exercises. Our goals include: learning about the culture, land and people; serving the people and making a difference; and improving our Spanish.

We decided on the following Characteristics of a Good Team:

1. Not giving up and always trying hard in what we do.
2. Not complaining - having a positive attitude.
3. Respecting teammates’ needs and wants.
4. Communication.
5. Tolerance and respecting the local culture.
6. Diligence.
7. Working together well with the team and the local people.
8. Sense of humor.
9. Perserverance.
10. Having fun and enjoying ourselves.
11. Engagement – “being present” in the moment.
12. Flexibility.
13. Sharing a common vision and goals.

Martin Miranda visited us after lunch (chicken, rice, salad, soup- good!). He described possible free-time activities for our short week and he also assisted with a basic language session.

We wound up orientation around 3:30 p.m. or so and Martin kindly agreed to take us to Parque Carolina and the Reptile House. There we saw awesome snakes, turtles, frogs and iguanas. Charlie stuck his neck out and wore a “cobra scarf.” Brave guy!

Then we went to the park’s Botanic Garden. Lovely! I was so impressed with the lush foliage, the meandering stream with paddleboats and the gardens and more in this wonderful park!

Later we walked to Jardin Mall, a very sophisticated mall filled to the brim with families. Then back in the hotel, our dinner was delicious – flank steak, chicken cilantro soup and rice and veggies – all finished off with custard for dessert. Good company, good conversation, good night!

Signed – Team Leader Barb

Donors Made My Service Possible

2011-03-19T13:15:00.005-05:00

Last year, through the Global Volunteers website, I raised enough money for my trips to both Peru and Ecuador. The only thing I ended up paying for was my flight on both trips. How'd I do it?

I put a letter in my church bulletin and received an overwhelming amount of supplies that I was able to split between both trips for donations. I ended up bringing at least one extra suitcase on both trips filled with supplies for the children. When I signed up for the trips, I wrote a letter explaining what I was doing and why, asking for any sort of donation. I sent the letter to all my family close and extended as well as family friends, neighbors, teachers, distant relatives etc. I received an overwhelming response and received donations up until the week before I was to leave to Peru on my first trip.

I took the semester off from school last fall, and when I found Global Volunteers, it was a perfect fit. I found out about the program through a girl at my school who had done a trip to Brazil with her mother a few years ago. The fact that Global Volunteers provided me with the means to create a fundraising page was very helpful. It was perfect for me to fundraise through. Global Volunteers is the only volunteer program I found that allowed you to fully fundraise all of your costs and helped you in doing so. All other programs were much more expensive and more of a volunteer 'vacation' rather than a strictly volunteer trip.

This has been a wonderful, fulfilling memory for me. I encourage you to do it.
-Meagan Minott

Former Volunteer Posts AMAZING YouTube Videos!!

2011-03-14T10:45:00.000-05:00

We at Global Volunteers are privileged to work with so many wonderful volunteers, partners, and supporters each and every day.

Last week, one particular volunteer, Graham, truly knocked our socks off when he shared a 9-part video series he had created about Global Volunteers and posted on YouTube!! These videos feature the travels and experiences of numerous Global Volunteers (particularly one tight-knit group from New Jersey) and we welcome you to take a look at these exceptional videos by using the link below.

Thank you, Graham!! And for the rest of you... ENJOY!!

Global Volunteer Retrospective Video (Ecuador): http://www.youtube.com/user/endlessmug#p/u/43/sufIOhS5a30

UPDATE: Volunteer Opportunity Available April 9-16!

2011-02-25T11:57:00.003-05:00

Calling all Global Volunteers!!!

The children of Calderon need you and with the help of a few dedicated volunteers, we have been able to save our April service program dates from APRIL 9 - 16. If you are able to volunteer for one week this spring, please contact our Volunteer Coordinators as soon as possible at 800-487-1074 to discuss joining this team!!

If you're curious what you'll be working on in Calderon, Ecuador (a suburb of Quito) please read on:

The spectacular ancient Andean culture, with its haunting music, expressive dance and vibrant dress, is matched only by the enchanting landscapes and hospitable people. In Ecuador, eleven distinct cultures weave harmoniously together to unite past and present.

As a Global Volunteer, you experience Ecuador through her people...at-risk children, their families and care-givers. Extreme poverty is the reality for the children you'll serve in the Quito area, but you can help improve opportunities in these young lives. Our service program enables you to provide direct, hands-on care for pre-schoolers through an amazing grassroots organization. No matter your background, your personal efforts improve these youngsters' well-being. What's more, through your service program fee, Global Volunteers is able to purchase materials directed to the children's imminent needs.

The daily needs of the economically impoverished children we serve in Calderon, Ecuador are simple, and you represent an important resource for education, recreation and basic social development. The childcare centers built and expanded through the assistance of Global Volunteers teams provides safe and stimulating environments for mothers to leave their children so they can provide a better future for their families.

Our Ecuadorian host partner needs your help in these areas:
Childcare - infants and pre-schoolers.
Construction - a new child care facility.
Physical labor - landscaping, painting and masonry.
English language skills - informal one-on-one teaching

Please call or e-mail us TODAY if you are interested in joining us this April. Your time and skills are needed in Calderon, so why wait?!?

Calling All Prospective Ecuador Volunteers!!!

2011-02-04T12:32:00.002-05:00

"I have felt the stress that sat in my chest from my problems with my job and family loosen over the past week, and I have been reminded that I need to count my blessings. Edith (our team leader) told us this morning to recognize the times which we are happy, instead of always feeling that our happiness is in the future or incomplete. And to name those moments by simply saying 'I am happy.' Two weeks ago I would not have been able to say that, but right now, I think I can honestly say - 'I am happy.'” ~ Cara, Ecuador Team Journal August 2009

Come and treat yourself to those moments of happiness on our Global Volunteers service program in Ecuador beginning April 2, 2011 for one or two weeks. If you are looking for a spring getaway that will leave you feeling inspired, this may be for you.

Join our development partnership in the outskirts of Quito, helping a grassroots women's cooperative organization keep their Daycare center running, and make a difference to the children and families in this impoverished area. You will be amazed by the people and the beauty of Ecuador and will have an opportunity to make a real impact on their lives - and your own. Our partners welcome families with children 8 years of age and older. I have attached further information about the work project, accommodations and free time activities. You'll find even more information, video and blogs from previous team members on our Ecuador webpage at : http://www.globalvolunteers.org/ecuador/default.asp

We just need one more volunteer to make this program a "go", so come lend your heart and your hands to this inspiring community - you'll be an important resource regardless of your background and skill level. In the words of the Mothers' Cooperative of Calderon "We send our never-ending gratitude to the many generous volunteers and the Global Volunteers directors and coordinators who work every day to make sure the children's needs are met. It's like a miracle."

Be a part of the miracle in April, or if that time frame doesn't work, we have teams starting on June 11th, July 23rd, or October 15th. Be the difference in 2011!!

Journal Entry from Fall 2010 #3!!

2011-01-05T15:47:00.002-05:00

Thursday, October 21, 2010

This new day started out pretty much as usual with breakfast and some amazing reports from the massages the night before. Steve read his journal of Wednesday and Carl had announcements for the group.

We eventually arrived at our work destinations for the morning. At center #1, Joanne was honored with a farewell time by all of center #1 with dance and a card.

Lunch was enjoyed with fried chicken. On our walk back to work we stopped by Ceclia’s marzipan shop for some quick last minute shopping.

Carol reports doing “Five Little Monkeys” with finger puppets. By today, the children were able to do it with her. Also, she acted out the “Billy Goat Gruff” story. The children played outside for half an hour this morning on the terrace and admired the mural done by Bonnie and Jane.

When we returned from lunch the four tias were dancing (practicing for the program tomorrow). I went to the baby room but no one was there. I found the babies all in their high chairs watching the dancing.

Cora’s babies joined two older groups in the morning with dancing. In the afternoon they enjoyed watching some dogs with a dog house from the second floor.

Jane says the mural at center #2 and the baby changing table need to be finished.

Steve reports some touch up work was done on the table stands and the painted gates for the propane tanks were installed. It was a good day!

The changing table is an ongoing project for Steve, Jane, Bill and Sylvia. Bill’s highlight was working with his beautiful wife!

Carl was busy today with other business. We hurried home to get ready to go out for our farewell dinner at Café Mosaic. It was a beautiful evening looking out over the city with lights and good food.

Thought for the day: “All the fold in the world has no significance. That which is lasting are the thoughtful actions which we do for our fellow man.” – Adolpho Prieto

Submitted by Kathleen Olson

Journal Entry from Fall 2010 #2!!

2011-01-04T21:15:00.003-05:00

Thursday, October 14, 2010

We started the day with the usual breakfast of eggs, fresh tropical fruit, freshly baked rolls with butter and jam, and lots of café con leche. The morning meeting consisted of discussion of the possible free time tours and the daily report from Steve Peterson.

The team boarded the bus at 8:30am sharp to leave for Calderon. The discussion about being prompt at the Sunday training session must have worked because this team is on time!

After picking up a ladder needed to finish the mural at center #2, Bonnie and I got straight to work. Bonnie is teaching me a thing or two about fine art skills and I am reminding Bonnie about our audience that really doesn’t care about perfection – we make a great team.

Bonnie and I felt happy to be outside painting and throughout the day we watched Kathleen scrub a rug with a broom and Janice and Joanne wash sheets with bar soap and cold water on a cement wash board.

We also watched through the window as Kathleen picked up crying baby after crying baby. Carol continued her time at the center teaching the children songs and handing out lots of hugs.

Over at center #2, table construction, or should I say reconstruction, continued. After completing several table tops, the two Steves and Bill found them to be unstable and had to make adjustments so they would be safe for the children.

Cora and Stacey were once again inside with the children, wiping noses, washing hands, and lining up for pee pee and po po trips.

Tonight, several of us are off to tour La Ronda in Old Town Quito.

Thought for the day:

“If we have the opportunity to be generous with our hearts, ourselves, we have no idea of the depth and breadth of love’s reach.” – Margaret Cho

Journal Entry from Fall 2010!!

2011-01-03T21:13:00.001-05:00

Day 2 – 10.11.10

Today was the first official day of the work project. We began as an eager bunch enjoying another lovely breakfast from Sol de Quito. Steve began even earlier with a run around Parque Carolina, clearly this was before he realized how much energy would be necessary to make it through the day!

After our morning meeting we made our way to Calderon where we were able to tour Centers 1 & 2. The tours were a small glimpse into what was to come, some children lively and excited, others crying and already tired or hungry. Finally after Lilia’s tours we were assigned to our first work projects.

In Center 2 – Bill and Cora went with the babies. Steve P. went with the 3 & 4 year olds and I went with the 4 & 5 year olds. Fox ended up with KP duty! At Center 1 Jane and Bonnie began work on murals while Jan, Carol, Kathleen and Joanne went to work with children.

Some observations:

* The children are incredibly well behaved with the tias, less so with us.

* The tias are incredibly busy with teeth brushing, hair combing, face washing, bathroom monitoring, tear and nose wiping, feeding…all the while doing art projects, teaching songs and reading stories, yikes!

* Cocina duty looks tough and may have to be avoided.

* Fox looked incredibly busy peeling and chopping yucca and washing an endless array of dishes. Thankfully he finished the day with all of his fingers.

* Cora was able to handle 11 babies at one time with no tia and there was NO BITING!

* Steve found he had many previously unknown talents…from scaring the boys to sleep to magically repairing batman’s cape – all while supervising 13 children on his own!

* Bill, on the other hand, found a new appreciation for Jane. He is also rapidly improving his Spanish including learning all the necessary bathroom terms. However, it is not quite up to par as he lost his first contest with Sylvia!

* I learned it is true what Lily said…the children are like any other children; they want attention and hugs, lots and lots of hugs. If we do nothing else here perhaps we will be able to offer love to the children and a rest for the tias.

Happy hour and stories of the day were enjoyed before and during dinner and after dinner…I am exhausted, time for bed! Tomorrow hopefully we will hear from Center 1!

Thought of the day: “I expect to pass through this life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again” William Penn

Submitted by Stacey Peterson

"Spring into Service" in Ecuador!!

2010-12-14T12:00:00.002-05:00

“Spring into Service” with Global Volunteers to receive a special limited discount offer for our March and April teams!

Four or more volunteers who apply by January 31 for any of these 28 teams in 16 countries will receive a discount of $200 off our standard service program fee, per volunteer, for one-, two- or three-week international programs or $100 off our standard service program fee, per volunteer, for USA programs. No other discounts apply.

Please encourage others to volunteer in our five fundamental project areas: education (especially promotion of girls education), labor and community infrastructure, health care, child care, and food and nutrition.

Call us at 800-487-1074 for details and we'll assist you every step of the way. Our worldwide host communities can’t wait to welcome you!!

Check out this link for more details & service program dates: http://globalvolunteer.org/special/springspecial.asp

Ecuador Service Program Dates, March & April Teams:
26-Mar-11 to 9-Apr-11

Vote for Global Volunteers in the Full Page Project Contest!!

2010-11-17T15:59:00.001-05:00

From November 15 - November 21 the Star Tribune newspaper is holding a contest entitled 'Full Page Project' amongst MN non-profits and the winner will receive a free full page ad in the Sunday paper!

Please vote for us this week ~ you can vote once per hour!

Here is the link where you can register and then vote for Global Volunteers (please copy and paste the link):
http://startribune.upickem.net/engine/Registration.aspx?contestid=22815

We would also encourage you to pass this link along to your family and friends, and post it on your personal Facebbok page or blog. Let us know if you have any questions, and remember voting has begun!

Thank you for your support.

Final Day in Ecuador...

2010-10-22T21:20:00.000-05:00

Team Thought for the Day: "I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live." ~ George Bernard Shaw

Personal Thought for the Day: I will remember this trip for my fellow team members, the gracious Ecuadorian people, the wonderful leadership of Carl Granger, and of course, those cute kids.

Submitted by Volunteer Jane Sauther

Wonderful Ecuador Photo Contest Contributions!

2010-10-21T08:52:00.004-05:00

This fall, Global Volunteers asked our amazing volunteers to share some of their favorite service program images with us. We have been thrilled and encouraged by the response, and have already used many of the photos on our website and in new printed materials!! Now, we would love to share with you, a few of our favorite submissions depicting our volunteer service program in Ecuador. ENJOY & thank you volunteers!!

The last day Friday, 30 July 2010

2010-07-30T09:00:00.003-05:00

As typist, I’ll add our last notes. Our final day at center 1 was spent much as usual. The morning duties were performed, and then the volunteer team left to walk to center 2 in time for the 11:00 farewell celebration. John, Peggy, Karen, and Kristina scrambled around finishing up last minute projects and pitching in at both centers. Meanwhile the center 2 crew helped with the preparations for the performance. This started very early in the morning and resulted in lots of dressed up and “ready” little performers having to wait for what seemed an interminable period of time to dance. We were thrilled and intrigued by the traditional dance costumes in which the children were dressed. Apparently each class had been instructed to dress in a particular style, so children game with genuine and makeshift versions of outfits, including embroidered white shirts, sashes, hats, kerchiefs, and even black makeup for painting faces. The black painted faces were a particular challenge for us helpers, as the outfits for that dance were all white for the boys…

When 11:00 rolled around, we were treated to dances by each class, thank you cards and dough ornament gifts and kind words and multiple hugs from our hosts from the center. We, in turn, presented the ladies of FUNDAC and our tias with a poem (see below), our heartfelt gratitude for this learning experience, and some treats for the little ones from a piñata.

At the end of the day, when it was time for some of us to go to Cecelia’s to see the demonstration of ornament making (and later for the others), many of us were tearful and moved at the moment of saying “chau”. For me, as I hugged my tia, I thought of how she is only a year or so older than my daughter, and I thought of the vast difference in their two lives. I wished I could make her life easier – or at least more fair. When the few children up from nap hugged me, I wished them luck with their new government’s free education initiative and their slowly growing economy.

I also had a few minutes of being overwhelmed by what a little drop this two weeks of work was in the big outdoor washing sink of work faced by our world’s poor. But I knew as we made our way down the dirt road from center 2 to center 1 for the last time, that we had, indeed, touched some lives. Our smiles, sweat, soup-dipping, pantomimes, bad mopping, songs, and words of encouragement in English or elementary Spanish, and even our money had brightened the lives of the children, their tias, and the women of the community trying to help them. Every little bit counts, right?

¡Si se puede!

En este mundo tan lindo y tan grande,
Yo soy unico
Yo soy especial
Hena de amor, y de inteligencia

Yo puedo realizar mis sueños
Siendo una mujer fuerte, y siempre haciendo mi trabajo
Con amor
Con orgullo
Y con gusto

Porque sé que

¡Si se puede!

Yes, I Can

In this beautiful and great world
I am unique
I am very special, and full of love.
I am intelligent.

I can reach my goals by being a strong woman (person) and by always doing my work.
With love, with pride, and with pleasure.
Yes, I can!

Thursday 29 July 2010

2010-07-29T08:57:00.001-05:00

Message of the day:

“A long life is not good enough but, a good life is long enough.” Unknown

I am not usually a believer in horoscopes, but when Kristina read mine on Sunday and let me know that I was going to have a “challenging week” then I proceeded to get sick and had several crazy days in a row, I almost became a believer. The town of Calderon yesterday put all my petty “challenges” into perspective. As this trip comes to an end and I go home to my house with clear, hot water, a bed I don’t’ have to share with several others (potty trained or not), and more food than is necessary, I have to be mindful of all those in the world who have more/bigger challenges than is fair. Even though I found myself counting to 10 many times in order not to show my frustration with a student or I wanted to “critique” what the tias were doing – I cannot even imagine their true daily challenges and I now realize that what they are doing at the two centers is amazing considering their living situations and resources. The fact that Yesinia and Rubi (and the other tias) are teacher, nurse, custodian and also happily and willingly spending more time studying and learning English is inspiring. Wherever my luggage is – it’s just “stuff” and in the big picture is nothing compared to the real challenges of others.

Entry and message submitted by Linda

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

2010-07-28T08:53:00.003-05:00

Message of the day:

“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”

Mother Theresa

It helps to be a heavy sleeper in this hotel, which never sleeps. As we gather around the breakfast table, you hear snippets of conversation about he late night repairs (was it banging on a pipe? Hammering?), the trash truck with its loud beeps and workers calling to and fro at 2 am, the rowdy guests who return at midnight, or the hotel staff children who run and laugh in the lobby and hallways until way past our bedtimes. These hotel walls are like rice paper, allowing the activities of the hotel to permeate your slumber. Of course, it doesn’t help that we all fall into our beds at 8:30/9pm and what appears to be the middle of the night disruption is only 9:45!

Our days at centers 1 and 2 were much like any other day with complete mayhem, laughter, and tears. When I asked Linda on the bus ride home what she had done for the day, she wearily commented, “I herded cats.” Several tias at center 1 worked alongside volunteers to complete the art project of classroom supplies pockets, learning enormous amounts of children divided among the already large classes to be supervised by the remaining tias and workers. Classroom sizes swelled to above 20 in those tiny rooms, making access to your neighbor even easier to pinch, push, hit, and take things. Sarah’s highlight was to take the class outside in the covered area to play with the ball. One child managed to kick the ball over the railing and into the street below. Sarah’s very accurate reporting of the story stated that a police officer found the ball and tossed it back over the railing, then she said “gracias” and he said “de nada.” Her four years of Spanish really paid off.

At Center 2, the crying was magnified by the addition of several new students who sobbed uncontrollably after their moms left. By lunchtime they had settled into their new routines, except for the new one in my toddler class. He cried steadily all day yesterday on his first day, so much so he couldn’t eat or drink at any meals. The same woeful sobbing continues today, adding to the wails of the other toddlers as they were brutalized by the two gangster baby boys. Yesterday, the new boy broke my heart with his cries. Today I was over it; he needed to get with the program. With 11 babies in that classroom, there is no time to hold him. Fortunately, Kristina came up for awhile and, as she said, pushed his mute button when she picked him up.

Kristina’s main goal in our classroom was to purchase a vacuum cleaner for the carpet John and Tia Patty worked hard at installing. With much deliberation and rearranging, the room was eventually divided into two separate areas – a conglomeration of cribs tightly fitted together on one side, and on open area with carpeting on the other side I’d call this a play area since that’s where all the toys are located, but the children are rarely allowed to touch the toys, so we’ll just call it the run around and fall and get a bloody nose area (we had 2 bloody noses yesterday). The carpet is filthy, no matter how many times Tia Patty sweeps and sweeps, which brings us back to Kristina arriving with a brand new vacuum cleaner in the afternoon. Since I haven’t seen a Target or Sears, I’m not sure where she located one in Calderon, but it arrived in our classroom and we spent until the end of the day chastising the children not to touch it, over and over and over again. Why the box couldn’t be moved to the hallway to eliminate the temptation was beyond me, but then again, I didn’t see any harm in letting them touch the box either. I’m anxious to see if the dust clouds will be gone.

The construction at center 2 is nearly complete. Peggy and Karen are finishing up loose ends in the courtyard while John installed shelving in the toddler classroom. The new soccer goals have arrived and are so small and cute. There continue to be plenty of community volunteers helping, which isn’t all that helpful when a child inside spots their mom in the backyard through a window. But what’s one more child crying? There were a lot of giggles and wiggles as Mary, Bobbie, and Breanna’s classes rehearsed their dance recitals for Friday’s goodbye celebration. At the end of the day the kids got their last snack – a concoction of brown and white beans with sliced onions, that they eagerly devoured. We tried to imagine presenting that to American children instead of Oreo cookies.

I guess as adults we are not much different from our children with our addiction to junk food. Instead of another healthy home cooked meal of soup and potatoes, we opted for pizza, and oh, have we all looked forward to it! And even better yet, it tasted like American pizza with lots of cheese, veggies, and meats. We devoured the pizzas greedily, only to have us so full and carb overloaded that some people napped through our nighttime entertainment. Marin reserved tickets for an Ecuadorian folk dance at a local theater. The musicians were fabulous; the costumes were elaborate and colorful. However, the theater was hot, the show was long, and some of the dances were a big slow, and there were no refreshments at intermission, all leading to perfect conditions to yawn or snooze a bit. The one dance number which stood out for me was the maypole dance. I enjoyed it because of the festive music and the intricate weaving and unweaving of the ribbons around the pole, but mostly it captured my attention with the dancing clowns, the largest of which danced in front of Breanna, who is terrified of clowns. Fortunately, she kept her composure and was able to participate in the finale when dancers drew up audience members from their seats and danced for everyone.

Hump day is over now, and I’m certain we will all be asleep within moments of our return. It’s 10pm and now we are the loud and late night guests returning home.

Entry and message submitted by Colleen

Martes, el 27 Julio 2010

2010-07-27T08:46:00.002-05:00

Message of the Day

“The deed is everything but the glory not.” Goethe

It’s the plaintive cry of “tia” I will never forget. Who could believe that three letters could be drawn out into three syllables…

The class sizes at Center 1 were quite large today because Tia Gaby’s class was spread among the other groups. Not even two people together can control 14-17 two to five year olds in one room. My ears are still ringing and I just may dream of today’s morning at Center 1 for a long time.

The tias used all their resources to keep things going but all lesson plans were scrapped. Not even dancing tias, including volunteer tias, could calm los niños.

Work continues apace on the jute bags although progress was stymied somewhat by the balking hot glue guns. The small bags were nearly done with the larger book bags to be tackled next.

Tia language training continues, and it is clear that they all look forward to that change in routine, no matter how tired they are.

From Center 2:

The walls around the ditch had to be built, so Rodrigo asked Peggy to get 4 wheelbarrows full of sand. From 4 this became 8, and then it became 10. Either Peggy’s Español is not improving or we were just not filling enough in each load!

As the cement was being made. Peggy went to shake her hips with Bobbie and the kids. I left to help John and Breanna repair a cot. As John sawed away, the humming sound of the saw was drowned by the loud wails from Colleen’s babies. Please, I hope Colleen gets her ears checked when she returns.

A wonder dinner of empanadas was followed by handsome Andres showing the volunteer tias of Calderon how to dance salsa. Some of our tias certainly showed some moves… and there moves have been recorded for posterity. Others of us simply enjoyed the show.

Entry and message submitted by Kathy and Karen

Monday 26 July, 2010

2010-07-26T08:45:00.001-05:00

Message of the day:

“What you do in the present creates the future, so use the present to create a wonderful tomorrow.” Anonymous

The day begins early with breakfast and journal reading. Spirits are high as we enter the bus that takes us to center 1 and 2. Our little niños await our arrival; eager for the attention we give them. In order to give my tia a break, I blow bubbles for the children to watch and catch which keeps them focused as well as stops any crying. Once the tia returns, papers are passed around for the children to place felt shapes around a circle around which the tia has placed paste. Some of the children do a beautiful job, while others have no understanding of the task. Classes are switched after 15 minutes and then it’s off to wash hands again. This routine is repeated often and it’s time for lunch.

What’s missing from this commentary is the fighting, hitting, crying, moving chairs about, and escaping from the room. Have I left anything out? Perhaps.

The afternoon consisted of teaching English, and making pockets from jute for supplies.

As I process this day’s work, and record my experience, I find new ways of looking at the world and my place in it.

Entry and message submitted by Ann

Friday, 23 July, 2010

2010-07-23T08:31:00.002-05:00

Thought of the Day:

“The highest reward for a person’s work is not what they get for it, but what they become because of it.” ~John Ruskin

It’s hard to believe that it is the end of our first week already. It’s been five days since 21 eager volunteers headed off to Calderon not sure of what to expect.

Now we know the daily routine with the children, the construction project is almost finished, we are speaking Spanish more confidently and the tias are even beginning to speak a few words of English.

Because two families in our group will be leaving on Saturday, there was a celebration in Daycare Center #1 to thank those volunteers. The Calderon children performed songs and traditional dances and presented each volunteer with a thank you card and marzipan figurine.

Darcy, along with all of the Global Volunteer children – Sarah, Breanna, Isaac, Leo, Eli, Theo & Henry – presented a large poster card from the volunteers and led the children in “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “The Wheels on the Bus.” Many of the Calderon children joined in the hand motions.

After lunch at Mi Quinta, some of the volunteers stopped at Cecelia’s Marzipan Tienda to see a demonstration and make a few purchases before heading back to the day care centers. Several of us have decided to stop in a shop or two each day after lunch to help Calderon’s economy! So many handicrafts to choose from, but Calderon is best known for its marzipan.

When we arrived back at the daycare centers, the children were still napping and the tias and cooks were waiting for their English lessons. This is the first Global Volunteer Ecuador team to offer English instruction and the tias have told us how much they appreciate our lessons.

Before heading home to Quito, the volunteers from Center 1 stopped by to inspect the construction project. The transformation form dirt piles and trash is truly amazing! Soon the children will be able to play on their newly paved playground.

As we gathered for dinner, Josh passed out photos of our Global Volunteer Ecuador team to everyone. And at Colleen’s suggestion, we ended our meal with birthday cakes – chocolate and Tres Leches – form the Dulcinea down the street for Mary and Ann.

We said our final good-byes to Darcy and Josh and their children Eli, Theo and Henry, and to Delia and Aaron and their children Isaac and Leo.

Addendum:

Saturday and Sunday many of the volunteers took the opportunity to explore Quito and the surrounding areas. Our guide Martin shared this story:

The difference between the rich man and the poor man….

The rich man has 2 dogs.
The poor man has 10 dogs.

The rich man has a swimming pool.
The poor man has a river.

The rich man has a car and city pollution
The poor man walks everywhere and has fresh air.

Entry and message submitted by Bobbie and Breanna

Thursday, 22 July 2010

2010-07-22T08:13:00.002-05:00

Message of the day:

“I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”~William Penn

We started our day with breakfast together with a new twist: eggs cooked to order. Bobbie lest us know she wasn’t well and would need to stay behind. Colleen and I (Mary) promised to team up with Breanna and watch out for her. (Each of us knowing well that Breanna would help us with her command of Español!!). I thought our bus ride had a slightly quieter buzz of conversation as we discussed what our day might bring.

From Center 1 (from Sarah)

After climbing off the slightly fancier bus (with a coffee button but maybe less character than our usual carpet-ceilinged ride), we made our way through the less-active market (finding a gym on the way) to center one. After watching our kids drink colada and eat warm bananas we had a bathroom break and switched students for different activities. Tia Yesenia and I prepared a painting with sponges activity for Kathy’s kids, but soon after they arrived, and Joel finally stopped crying, they left and we got Linda’s group (who, being 2 or 3, were not suitable candidates for painting). After a brief activity involving shoelaces and foam beads, we traded kids again and we got Ann’s little ones who danced with us for about ten minutes before they lost interest and moved on to playing with wood blocks. Snack time involved watermelon seeds that needed to be swept up. About 10 bathroom breaks later, we had lunch… soup with yucca, then rice, beets, and spinach, of course only for those who finished their soup, and after making it most of the morning without a problem, Carmilo finally fell apart and responded, when I asked if he wanted to eat his rice and beets, that no, he wanted his mama. Then one of Karen, Theo, and Henry’s charges took Carmilo’s spoon and proceeded to finish the meal.

Lunch for us was uneventful, but included some laughs about potatoes and the amount of food left on Peggy’s plate. English teaching was fun (but hard as Linda and I struggled to explain certain pronunciations and English-Spanish equivalents). With a few interruptions, including cries of “sangro!” coming from the nap room where someone had a nosebleed. Also we saw Carmilo smile for maybe the second time today, as he chased some of the bubbles that Ann brought. Hair was unsuccessful as the only ponytail I made was deemed unsatisfactory by four-year-old Helen and redone by my tia. After sweeping, mopping, and picture taking, we left the center and settled in on our usual bus to ride to center 2, and later ride back to Quito with everyone piled on the left side to get a glimpse and hopefully a picture of a certain Chinese restaurant.

Outdoor Labor at Center Dos: (from John)

The men, young and old, accompanied by Kristi and Peggy arrived to a fresh delivery of paving block. Dogged and determined, the team slapped down 1000 square feet of pavers in two ½ hours. The community provided a wide array of qualified volunteers. Our leader, Rodrigo, skillfully laid out the screed the surface to be paved, while the young men adjusted the sand base. Another crew – 2 guys and a lady who laughed and joked the whole time, worked hard to filter the stone dust with a screen and brought their product to the ever dynamic Peggy, who swept it into the spaces between the blocks with her rustic sweeping implement which obviously was a remnant of the Incan era.

When energy ran low, the team was bolstered by the arrival of Aaron (we had already confiscated Josh and Eli from the relentless taskmaster, Tia Olga).
We returned from lunch to lay another 600 sq. feet, then proceeded to move/throw the remaining 100 or so blocks into a staging area with help from Mary & Lily.

On a side note – it’s been just great working with my pals Aaron, Josh, Isaac, Eli and the speed demon block layer, Leo. It’s been such a pleasure to meet your families and it hurts to see you go!

Inside center 2 (from Mary)

Without Bobbie, the older kid crew was a bit short this morning. Colleen jumped in with Breanna & her 15 2-3 year olds, then returned to work with me and our 4-5 year olds when Peggy (with a sore arm) arrived to join Breanna. Literally, I think the walls were shaking when those toddlers got taste of playtime “Peggy-style.” Kathleen and Delia were, as usual, swept away to care for their tiny, sometimes dribbling, sometimes crying, and sometimes giggling charges. As tutoring began, Delia, Breanna, Colleen and I were told to go awaken everyone and come down to do hair. The three of us with the older ones took our time climbing the stairs, I must admit, as we considered the prospect of waking 35 or so 2-5 year olds, herding them downstairs, and combing each little head as we attempted to keep everyone else occupied and out of the just washed toys. We made it – though I daresay some mamas were dismayed with braids that looked worse than this morning!! With everyone lined up, dishes washed & last blocks moved, we dragged out to the bus.

Addendum: Dinner Out

We truly enjoyed our meal at Crepe & Waffle restaurant both for menu sin papas and wonderful conversation. Too bad we didn’t think of a crepe sin crepe for Josh!! The finale of dinner was delicious ice cream and happy laughter on the bus home.

Entry and message submitted by: The Bennett family

Wednesday, 21 July, 2010

2010-07-21T08:10:00.002-05:00

Message for the day:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not, unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human races.”

Calvin Coolidge

Our day started with an egg-less breakfast but a good coffee (thanks to Josh & Darcy). We arrived at the center #2 after a quick drive through a clean landscape of tall mountains and urban chaos. For the first time since we have been here, no clouds crowded the skyline. Upon arrival we all went to different jobs. Delia with Kathleen went to help Tia Patty feed (or force feed) the babies downstairs. Mattie, a 15-month-old child with one ear and big melancholic eyes, welcomed us with a smile. I couldn’t believe Tia Patty was eating the same unidentifiable substances the kids were eating. The morning went by very fast, punctuated by libros time, music and dance. Both Kathleen and Delia had to sing to the kids who unknowingly were exposed to fragments of Japanese and Italian children songs. Since there was a little bit of time left after the kids’ lunch, Patty instructed us to help move the cement blocks at the construction site. After lunch as soon as I entered the room Patty gave me a bunch of instructions, filled my arms with clothes and ran downstairs to attend the English lesson. Here I was left alone with the kids (who said “a tia is always with you”?). I did what I was told to do (chanted clothes, spray and comb hair, changed diapers, etc.) let the kids play freely in the room, and yes let them take all the toys out of the boxes. When Patty came back first thing she said was that I had to put all the toys back after the kids left.

Hey, but we all survived, no injuries, no crying! I did it.

Meanwhile, out back, work continued on paving the courtyard. Whereas yesterday had consisted of moving junk around to clean the space, and hauling it up to the roof (for future G.V. to haul back down at a later date) today’s work was much more satisfying. We started with a level dirt lot, and a big pile of sand. Using buckets and a rickety wheelbarrow, John, Peggy, Isaac, Leo and I together with the local volunteers hauled the sand in and spread it around. Under the watchful eye of master Rodrigo, and with the mangy dog barking orders from the rooftop, we formed a human chain and passed the pavers from hand to hand into the lot. Four truckloads of pavers. By the way, this was a great lesson in teamwork. None of us can keep up with Peggy, who is twice our age and works twice as hard.

After mercifully stopping for lunch and a brief respite from the hot sun, we continue dropping pavers into place. By this time we are a well-oiled machine and making quick progress. Leo especially enjoys placing the pavers just so and knocking them into place. Why can’t I get him to be so meticulous when it comes to cleaning his room at home?

By 3:00 pm we are finished paving for the day. We are dusty, sore, sunburned, and tired to the bone, but satisfied with the progress we’ve made. We can see our work progressing and speak of plans for tomorrow. The boys have stopped complaining, probably equal parts exhaustion, and satisfaction with a good day of work.

Entry and message submitted by:
Delia & Aaron

Tuesday, 20 July 2010

2010-07-20T08:02:00.002-05:00

At the end of the second day working with the children of Calderon, Henry said, “I can tell that every day is a new day in the baby room.” As I write this, he and Theo are reviewing each of the babies: Mojses the energetic one who always smiles, James, the one who pushes, Samantha, a future Olympic medal winner, David, whom they are teaching to walk, and Steven, who I personally watched fall apart when Karen had to leave today. He calls her “Mama.”

As for me, I was surprisingly happy to see my little rascals today. Tia Gaby’s room is full of energy, but when she challenges them they are focused and clearly love learning. Tia was especially tired. She smiled less and yelled more than yesterday. But she told me about her life, and I learned that when she isn’t working at the school, she is a single mother, trying to learn English and hoping to come to America. And as the day wears on, the kids break through her had shell over and over, getting her to laugh – and in turn she makes them laugh. While waiting in the room for our turn to go out to the lunch area, she broke into song and dance – something about “elefantes” and the kids’ faces glowed. Now – for those of you who are not members of my family, you wouldn’t appreciate the irony of Josh and Eli standing side by side at the kitchen sink, washing dishes, picking through beans, peeling plantains, & slicing carrots. Personally I am thoroughly enjoying Tia Olga’s domination over them, as she overlooks every move they make with a fierce eagle eye. It remains to be seen whether this will translate into a long-standing commitment to kitchen work… time will tell.

On the bus ride home, the sound of conversation was punctuated with voices, describing the children that drive them crazy, the children they already love, the ways of the tias, & the missing construction tools. The voices are exhausted, thoughtful and happy. There is a lot of laughing.

This leads us to the message of the day, coined by the esteemed British philosophers, Monty Python:

“Always look on the bright side of life.”

Entry and message submitted by:
Darcy

Monday, 19 July 2010

2010-07-19T08:00:00.002-05:00

Message of the Day:

“We ought to be doing all we can do make it possible for every child to fulfill his or her God-given potential.” Hillary Rodham Clinton

We begin our first day of “real” volunteering with a breakfast of cereals, breads, jams, fruits, yogurt, juice and coffee at 0700. Our missing volunteer, Linda Longtin, arrived Sunday at 12:30 and joined us for breakfast. After a hearty breakfast, the bus arrived promptly at 0800 and took us to Calderon, home of daycare center 1 and 2. After an orientation by Lily, coordinator for FUNDAC, all 21 volunteers busied themselves with various tasks helping the tias in the kitchen or with the children. At 1300, we all broke for a lunch of vegetable or vegetable beef soup, spaghetti with potato and cheese or spaghetti with potato and meat sauce followed by fresh pineapple slice for dessert. Afterwards, we all returned to our respective work stations where Karen frantically tried to learn the Spanish phrase for “I do Not change diapers” and Aaron developed blisters on his hands from chopping carrots with a dull knife and removing screws with a less than ideal screwdriver. At 1600, the bus picked us up and returned the “cansada” volunteers to the Sold de Quito Museum Hotel. During our two hours of free time, Kathy and Karen purchased water for our group while other volunteers did errands or rested. At 1830 we reconvened for a delicious supper at the hotel. After supper the volunteers shared first impressions of the daycare centers and then retired for the evening.

Entry and message submitted by Peggy

Sunday, 18 July

2010-07-18T07:57:00.002-05:00

Message of the Day:

“Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out”
-Anonymous

“Bienvenidos!” reads the sign to our breakfast and meeting area as we are welcomed by our team leader, Kristina Herman Hill. We are informed that we will be the 138th Global Volunteer Team to serve on the Ecuador project. After every volunteer enjoyed their wonderful breakfast provided by the phenomenal staff at the Sol de Quito Museum Hotel, we commenced with our introductions of twenty of twenty-one volunteers present this day. Following our introductions of learning names to faces and brief background information exchange, we proceeded to signing up for the daily journal chronicling and message of the day duties. Kristina proceeded to provide us with a brief summary of the historical Global Volunteer service establishment at Calderon. She then guided us through the service manual provided by Global Volunteers to review and discuss the Philosophy and Service, additional duties to be undertaken by the volunteers to assist Kristina, daily schedule review, sign up for projects, team goals, review of characteristics of an effective team, discussion of the Global Volunteer policies and guidelines and general information about Ecuador. A brief overview and welcome orientation were provided by representatives from the Calderon community, Yolanda and Malakita. Five team goals were developed by the team:

1. To meet people and grow through relationships.
2. To help others and make a difference.
3. To learn about Ecuadorian culture.
4. To not take things fro granted and remind myself to stop whining/complaining.
5. To practice Spanish.

Any donations brought to Ecuador by volunteers are to be collected by Kristi by Wednesday or Thursday to be presented on behalf of the team volunteers:

Coordinator duties to assist Kristina:

1. Kathy & Karen: stocking water
2. Mary & John: free time
3. Bobbie & Breanna: health & safety/first aid kits
4. Colleen & Peggy: meals
5. Ann & Kathleen: final celebration 2nd week
6. Darcy & Josh: final celebration 1st week

After lunch, Kristina provided the volunteers with a Spanish lesson with the inclusion of practice time. We ended the day of programming with optional “free time” activity suggestions provided by two tour guides, Martin and Andres. John and Mary, volunteer coordinators for free time will post sign-up sheets for all to finalize decisions regarding the weekend tours, dance program, salsa dancing or other additional programs.

Our initial day of full orientation came to a close with a delightful meal prepared by the staff at Sol de Quito Museum Hotel. ¡Buenos suenos!

Entry and message submitted by: Kathleen

Day 12, January 14, 2010

2010-01-14T15:07:00.004-05:00

Message of the Day from Barbara: WILL YOU EVER BRING A BETTER GIFT FOR THE WORLD THAN THE BREATHING RESPECT THAT YOU CARRY WHEREVER YOU GO RIGHT NOW?

This has been quite a full week already. We have all worked really hard and some of us are needing a rest from the daily activities. But it is not time to slow down just yet. There are still things to be done.

This morning it was our delightful breakfast as usual with our thought for the day and journal reading from yesterday read by Cora. Then it was everyone off to the work centers.

About mid morning Sue and I finished the grouting for the upstairs room that Barbara and I had worked so hard on. It was the remaining room that had not been grouted. I have to say it looks really good for a trio of first-time grouters. I’m not sure but I think Maestro was impressed. I know I was.

Jackie and Joanna worked with Kathy and Alexandra in construccion with the 3 – 4 year olds. Their project today was making footprints. They painted each child’s foot, one foot yellow and one foot blue and made their footprints on white paper. From upstairs I could hear the kids laughing about getting their feet tickled. Joanna and Jackie were happy to finally get the kids outside in the sunshine. The ninos loved it.

Cora was with Paty and the babies. Cora tells a story about one of the babies, Anahyi, who has had a fever. She was given a liquid Aleve and then rubbed down all over with a lemon. The tias are convinced it was the lemon and not the Aleve that broke her fever. It is felt all around that these little ones are going to miss Cora as much as she will miss them. Not to mention how much Paty will miss Cora. I really don’t know how Paty manages on her own.

Barbara spent the morning with a new child. The little girl cried all morning. Barbara finally got her to stop crying, but the group sang a song about mothers and children, which started her crying again.

Glenda was with Sandra today, and they also had a new child. They were singing and dancing every time I looked at them. They also recruited one of the workers from outside to lead in the dancing to the always beautiful Ecuadorean music.

Joanna and Meredith had a nice break, getting a manicure by Paolina’s mother, Janet, who is also an artist like Marguerita. Joanna got a really nice French manicure, while I got some fancy stripes with sparkles.

Judy and Shannon were at Center #1 today. They both thought it was a very pleasant experience and not at all like the first impression we may have had.

I was still feeling under the weather so I took some time off to sit in the swing. As I soaked up the warm sunshine and marveled at the beautiful surrounding Andes mountains, I couldn’t help but be a little awe-inspired by this seemingly less complicated culture. The people, the children, the music, the colors, the language all make up this beautiful collage called Ecuador. I am very glad I came.

Later that evening we went to a wonderful restaurant in Old Town called Hasta la vuelta, Senor. We had a great dinner along with sangria. Everyone had a fun time.

By Meredith

Day 11, January 13, 2010

2010-01-13T15:01:00.000-05:00

Message of the Day from Jennie: GIVING IS THE HIGHEST EXPRE3SSION OF OUR POWER.

First, I wish to recap two items: Who we are, and where we are from; and team goals:
Barbara (NY), Glenda and Judy (Boston, MA), Jackie (CA), Shannon (AZ), sisters Meredith (TN) and Joanna (WV), me—Cora (MO), and our beloved leader Jennie (MN).

All of us are between the ages of mid fifties to early seventies and are grandmothers, except Jennie who is in her late twenties, has yet to “bite the bullet into motherhood,” but has mothered each of her Oldies-But-Goodies expertly and compassionately.

Our team goals included: (l) to learn Spanish; (2) to promote goodwill as an ambassador from the U.S.; (3) to serve the children, workers and community; (4) to appreciate Ecuadorian people and their culture; and (5) to enrich our lives. At last evening’s team meeting we all agreed our goals had been more than met. We have also melded into a strong (sometimes strong-willed) team as the 136th to this beautiful country.

We were all together for our breakfast of fresh fruit and juice, yogurt, roll and butter, and guava jelly, cereal and scrambled egg with ham. Joanna will rejoin the team at day care center (DCC) #2 after a 24-hour flu. Meredith and Judy will remain at Sol de Quito to recuperate. Jackie gave us her journal report during the meal. Shannon and Jennie will work at DCC #1.

It is sunny today, beautiful, yet I still have no photos of the Andes, especially Cotopaxi. Jennie used my camera in hopes of capturing the sight for me, but the mountains were shrouded in a haze.

Lunch at our regular spot, Mi Quinta, featured juice for some, potato soup, an entree of chicken, potato cheese patties, beef salad, and red Jello for dessert. We look forward to lunch, to down time, to compare notes. We brought back leftovers for our dog on the roof.

Shannon at DCC #1 with Jennie worked with 3-4 year olds coloring and practicing for their Friday presentation. Jennie also danced with the children.

At DCC #2 Glenda worked with tia Kathy, Jackie with tia Alexandra cutting, dancing, as they practiced for Friday, and reading two books in English. We swept the second floor for grouting.

Barbara cut, sliced, and diced in the kitchen. Joanna and I stayed close to tia Paty, where we shared nine, three of which are infants and most of the group is in diapers, but tia Paty works hard at potty training any toddler over 12 months. Having Joanna sing to the babies is such a treat.

This afternoon at DCC #2, Jennie, Sue, and Jackie prepared art activities for tomorrow while I attempted posters for one of the songs we will use Friday. Shannon at DCC #1 punched holes in art work for the children’s folders and both sje and Jennie helped get the children ready to go home as did those of us at DCC #2.

After a supper of spaghetti and a fruit-filled mousse, we nine, including sickies, were escorted to Jacchigua, a national folklore ballet, by our patient tour guide Martin and driver Carlos (both in suits). We were all pretty spiffy too. Jennie, who’d seen the ballet last year, made other plans—understandably.

Oh were we in for a treat! The small theater was perfect for close viewing and many had front-row seats. The cast attire was authentic Ecuadorian. The music group of four included the pan flute and mandolin (known here by another name). What a wonderful way to wrap up our time here!

Yes, two more work days.

I don’t recall ever working with such a caring and quirky bunch of volunteers. Yes, we are FAMILY.

And, Jen, while this experience would be good anytime, you have made our two weeks absolutely exceptional. Bravo!

So I leave this additional thought: Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. I John 3:18 (NIV)

By Cora

Day 10, January 12, 2010

2010-01-12T14:53:00.001-05:00

Message for the Day from Jackie: THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR GIFT AS MUCH AS YOU NEED TO GIVE IT.

I awoke this morning to my regular cheerful good morning from Sue my roommate who is usually up before me. The sun was out!

Breakfast was at 7:15. Our cook Chartio made a nice breakfast as usual. During breakfast Jennie noted that dinner is at 6:30 tonight. A short meeting will follow.

Around 8:00 Pili picked us up at the hotel. The city of Quito comes alive at that time. Riding to Calderon at that time is a learning experience.

After stopping at center #2 first, Sue, Jennie and I went on to center #1. The children were finishing their snacks. The tias greeted us with hugs and kisses. Center #1 is a beautiful old Spanish building (needs a lot of work). It used to be a restaurant I was told. It is also used for a temporary Calderon bus terminal. The children are divided into two rooms, babies, 2-year-olds and 3-to-5-year-olds. I worked with (Yesenta) who has been with the center for 5 years.

For their table project she talked about chickens. The children glued egg shells on traced chickens I prepared the day before.

Tia (Germania) worked with Sue at another table. After craft time we spent some time in the large yard where the children loved the freedom to run and play ball.
At lunch the children always have soup which they love. They had rice, avocado and hominy as well. The tias always made sure they finished their food. Their nap time followed their lunch on floor mats. Jennie, Sue and I left for lunch while they napped at 1:00. Mi Quinta served us lentils, herb rice and pork chop and always soup of the day.

After the children woke up from their nap, Jennie, Sue and I worked on a project which started the previous day as well. We cut out rabbits for their personal pencil boxes and traced chickens, large and small.

Some children loved sitting with us cutting and drawing with scraps of thin foam material. Others just loved having enough space to run and play with each other.
We helped clean up the room when Pili arrived at 4:00. Before we left we said our sad goodbyes.

P.S. I will remember for a long time the tias, the children and the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen each day!

By Jackie

Day 9, January 11th, 2010

2010-01-11T14:49:00.003-05:00

Message for the Day from Judy: THEY TOO SERVE, HE/SHE WHO STANDS AND WAITS.

Monday, the beginning of our last week, turned grey and drizzly. This is our first rainyish day with the ninos. I don’t know if it is a “Monday thing” or the weather, but the children seem restless today. Last week I was amazed at how most of the 2 to 4 year olds could sit quietly in a chair for what seemed to be 10-to-15-minute time periods. Today they seemed to be more like this age group in the U.S. Last week some volunteers, unused to activity, gave out books. The children love books. They read to each other. Ignacio reads aloud. His favorite book has pictures of animals, and he moos, neighs, and barks loudly—to himself having a wonderful time.

The volunteers help the tias by tracing the picture of the day—a cartoonish dog, cat, duck, etc. Today, however, the activity of the day involved the tia painting each child’s hands in turn so the child could make a hand print on paper. After each hand print the child had to leave and wash los manos. The hand washing is in addition to the 6 or 7 mandatory hand washings before and after breakfast, snack, lunch, and snack. After lunch the kids also brush teeth. Also the tias prepare for each meal by working tables and hoisting tables on top of each other so the floor can be swept and mopped. Between cleaning tables carrying chairs, sweeping and mopping, washing and drying hands, and washing towels, the tias have very little time.

Meanwhile, today, Barbara and Meredith toiled and tiled. Barbara said, “It’s back, arms, dusty and dirty. Kudos to these two ladies.

Jennie, Sue, and Jackie worked at day care center numero uno under difficult circumstances. The children eat, have an activity or not, and nap in the same space. Hopefully this afternoon will be better.

By Judy

Day 6, January 8, 2010

2010-01-08T12:51:00.003-05:00

Message for the day from Meredith: EXPECT MIRACLES

TGIF! What a full and exciting week it has been! The characters in our story have become our friends—Tias Elisa and Chavela in the kitchen, Tia Paty with the babies, Tia Alexandra in Arte, Tia Sandra in Hogar, Tia Kathy in construccion. And, of course, Lily, Pili, Margarita, Elvita, Carmita, Marujita and all the women of FUNDAC who have worked tirelessly with us and helped ease our transition into Guarderia #2.
Buenos Dias! We greeted the children and they greeted us. We helped the children eat breakfast and then went on a quick tour of Calderon. Elvita told us about the oldest barrios in Calderon and how the population has exploded in the past 5 to 10 years. We saw many neighborhoods, the old-style tile roofs, the unfinished construction, the Cementerio—Parque del Recuerdo. The views of the valley and the new airport were beautiful.

Our final stop was both impressive and emotional. As we entered Escuela Fiscal de Minas “Tarqui” we were surrounded by hundreds of girls in uniform. They were all eager to meet us and even practiced their English a bit. This public school as girls in the morning from about 7:30 – 12:30 and boys and girls from about 1 – 6 p.m. (Escuela Fiscal Mixta Bernardo de legarda)

Everywhere we go we are greeted with open arms. As we finished our tour, Elvita explained that many people from Calderon have moved to Spain and the U.S. in search of work.

Back to work!

Barbara and Jackie continued working with Tia Alexandra in Arte. Alexandra’s mother filled in for a while, and they all colored pets. Jackie’s dog, Indy, is now famous. To elaborate on the theme of “pets,” Barbara read an entire book about two dogs upside down in Spanish.

Sue and Tia Sandra helped the children paste red crepe paper on green Christmas trees, and Sue organized each ninos’ work in folders.

Cora continued to have at least on, often two, in her lap at all times. I spotted her singing to Victoria during refingerio. Per Cora, “Victoria appreciates good music.”

Tia Kathy had no problem asked for Judy’s assistance! Tracing cats, pasting brown foam pieces, helping with the daily meal routine, and cleaning the center and the children.

Upstairs the princesses are nearly completed and beautiful. Meredith painted yellow and silver stars, and Joanna painted the shirt purple. They also painted the floor a lovely shade of purple! The turpentine came in handy.

Glenda finished the silver crown and star wand and said, “She has become herself.” A beautiful Ecuadorian princess indeed. Glenda admired Carmita’s work on the flowers. And we all have admired Margarita’s bears.

Shannon stayed back with a nasty head cold. We missed her, but were glad she didn’t spread her germs.

Lunch at Mi Quinta featured empanadas. Highlights in the afternoon included painting the maracas, story time, nap time, and deep cleaning.

Off to Otavalo, Mindo, and Quito’s historic center.

By Jennie

Day 5, January 7, 2010

2010-01-07T12:45:00.002-05:00

Message of the Day from Joanna: LIVE IN THE MOMENT

We arrived at Center 2 at the usual time and were greeted by the children and tias. Today they requested that some of the volunteers work outside to clean up the garden. To that end, Meredith and Barbara spent most of the morning and early afternoon working alongside parents and grandmothers weeding the flower borders, cutting the grass with dull and broken hedge clippers, and edging the borders. Joanna worked in the garden as well. We had these observations:

1. The people are very diligent and hardworking.
2. They seem to prefer using hand labor in lieu of tools, lawnmowers and rakes.
3. They used potato sacks as trash bags—a form of recycling.
4. Jennie suggested that they have difficulty repairing lawnmowers, etc.

Joanna and Glenda continued painting and refining the murals. It has been very pleasant painting in quiet companionship with the birdsong music and breezes through the open windows. Glenda helped Joanna with the mouth on her princess; tomorrow we will add the finishing touches.

Judy was proud to announce that when the other volunteer group presented the cake to the children she didn’t eat it. Judy and Glenda played with the two year olds—interactive games and stories. They worked with Sandra—played outside. Judy’s observation: They washed hands five times—before and after playing outside.

Jackie worked with Fernanda. Some activities were: Story at board regarding family life and a song—Jewel of Father’s Eye, about a father and children. Kids made play dough. Jackie observed that the children are very receptive to Fernanda.

Barbara floated (operative word) from garden to kitchen. Barbara’s observation was that dishes are washed with Lava soap and cold water. Boiling water is poured over stacked dishes.

Jennie bought hand nails from little Ignatio’s grandfather. These will go on the stairwell that is to be tiled. Joanna observed Jennie reading a lengthy Dr. Seus book to a very attentive group of two year olds. Observation: Children are able to sit and attend to task as well as wait while teachers prepare.

Shannon spent time in construction rincone. She traced pictures and wrote instructions for kids in Espanol. She played outside pitching balls with kids. Observation: Some tias speak loudly to children but always lovingly.

Cora continues working with Pati and the babies. Joanna observed that they have a good rapport with one another. Cora observed that Pati was affected by her child’s illness (as anyone would be).

Judy observed that the children (even 2’s) have good coordination while eating.
Sue spent time with the babies and seemed to love feeding, holding, and rocking.
Glenda was given an ice pack by the kitchen tias.

We returned to the hotel and prepared for an early dinner consisting of a delicious crunchy roasted corn, fried plantain, ribs, hominy, and cake.

At 6:00 a group of us embarked on the tour with Martin and Andres. We drove by the Basilica (built in 1898) adorned with indigenous animals instead of gargoyles. Continued driving to the “border” between Old Town and South Quito—up the mountain for a sparkling vista of the city at night en route to The Virgin. Unfortunately she was shrouded in darkness. Continued to La Ronda where we strolled this historic district replete with artsy shops, bars, and musicians. We enjoyed Canelazo at the Bohemia.

The city was founded in 1534 and has 1.5 million people.

Later we drove by San Francisco Cathedral and Independence Cathedral. Also the President’s mansion.

By Joanna

Day 4, January 6, 2010

2010-01-06T12:41:00.003-05:00

Message of the Day from Shannon: DON´T HIDE YOUR LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL

After breakfast, we drove directly to Center #2. The volunteers who purchased supplies at the art store presented them to Lily. She was most grateful for the gifts.

Sue spent the morning in the art room where the lesson of the day was hygiene. First the children had a talk about bathing, shampooing hair, and brushing teeth. They then took dolls outside, were placed in groups of four, and each group bathed a baby. This was followed by a writing lesson on the letter O. Then they had a period of outside play.

Meredith was in with the babies. She helped feed the babies twice, helped them go to sleep for their naps, and played with them. Cora was also with the babies. She fed, diapered and rocked babies, and washed the bibs. She also recommended that one of the children see a doctor for what looked like a splinter in his left hand which was developing cellulites.

Jackie worked in the construction room where the children had a similar hygiene lesson. The children also painted. Outside the children played soccer, ball, played on the swings and teeter totter.

In the morning, Joanna was with the 4 year olds. They exercised then had a hygiene lesson similar to the others. In the afternoon, she worked on the mural.

Glenda painted and painted and painted. She is 75% done with the figure she is painting.

Barbara spent a frustrating morning trying to create purple paint unsuccessfully. She played outside with the children.

Judy was with the 2 year olds. The children finger painted a quarter moon with a face that she had traced. The children painted the moon, themselves, the table and the floor. She was intrigued watching Kathy mix soup with a wooden implement that looked like a chicken foot.

Shannon worked in the kitchen. She washed dishes, peeled potatoes, and shelled beans, then washed dishes again after the children´s lunch. We learned the menus are planned and rotated every three months. A government nutritionist checks the menus and the FUNDAC treasurer is also involved. Shannon has a new appreciation for canned and frozen vegetables.

Lunch was at the same restaurant. We had chicken, rice, broccoli, juice, and some fruit for dessert. On the way back to the center, we stopped at a Marzipan shop and had a demonstration on how to make marzipan. Most of us tried it out and made a flower. We were given pins with the FUNDAC logo. They are very pretty. Back at the center Joanna organized some singing games for the children. They, us and the tias had fun. This evening we went to La Marical, walked around and had tea, coffee, or wine. Did a little shopping. We had dinner at a crepe and waffle restaurant. Delicious! Much laughter and storytelling--a good day and evening.

By Shannon

Day 3, January 5, 2010

2010-01-05T12:38:00.004-05:00

Message for the day from Sue: Carpe Diem; Seize the Day

This group was eager to do so. After the reading of a clever account of Monday´s activities, assignments were discussed over breakfast and we set out with Pili for site 2 and to work. Everyone seemed to have a good day.

Meredith reported that she was able to read a storybook to the ninos in Spanish upside down. Shannon worked in the anteroom where the children glued pieces of paper on a tracing of their names. Joanna started out in the art room and then the mural project beckoned and she ended up helping out downstairs as well. We are all excited about the murals being painted to complete the work on the 2nd floor. Team 136 leaving our mark!

Jackie reported that the babies were especially vocal and that she was able to quiet 1 of them successfully. Judy was glad to get her group of children outside playing catch and soccer. She did rescue the escapees who ran upstairs. Glenda is working on the mural and again led the tias in the maracas project. Cora worked with the babies and expressed particular appreciation of Paty. Barbara installed another toilet seat, peeled potatoes and is painting ARCA IRIX rainbow upstairs.

I enjoyed my time in the kitchen and peeled more garlic than I ever have. Late in the afternoon after a session with books and coloring , volunteers sang active songs with the ninos.

Ending the day with stop offs at stores, supper and salsa Lessons. A day properly seized!

By Sue

Day 2, January 4th 2010

2010-01-04T12:35:00.002-05:00

Message of the Day from Glenda, NOTHING VENTURED NOTHING GAINED

I write this journal in between arriving back to the hotel and dinner. And I must say this was one amazing day.

The official day began with breakfast and the journal reading, then onto the bus to view the other day care sites. Then on to work.

The facility was clean and tidy and the classrooms, ninos, and tias were welcoming. We were ushered off to our designated classes and from that time on a frantic, frenetic pace through lunch.

At lunch I asked my colleagues for comments regarding their morning and here are some responses regarding jobs accomplished.

Meredith- I did slicing, chopping, and dicing. I am a Vegamatic!
Sue- Wonderful little 2 year olds!
Judy- I swept 2 rooms and made ¨pelota¨ small paper balls.
Cora- beautiful babies
Shannon had to change one dirty diaper and Cora only had to do a wet one.
Barbara installed 6 toilet seats and organized the office.
Chip-cur off some of his finger and Shannon used her first aid kit to keep the man still chopping.

I witnessed and heard Joanna´s lovely voice made magic with the children. They all became quiet and listened too.

After lunch we returned to the work site where I was able to do paper Mache with our team and the tias and the kitchen ladies. If all goes well, at the end of this week, everyone will be shaking their maracas.

by Glenda

Day 1, January 3rd, 2010

2010-01-03T12:19:00.003-05:00

Message of the Day from Jennie-EXPECT SURPRISES!

Global Volunteers 136th service mission to Calderon, Ecuador begins with a day of orientation. Judy, Glenda, Sue, Jackie, Meredith, Joanna, Cora, Shannon and Barbara gather for breakfast, introductions in pairs and then a meeting with our FUNDAC hosts. Yolanda, Marujita, Elvita and Pilar seamlessly translated by our fearless leader Jennie. We learned about the two centers -#1 has 60 children including 10 kids of the tias. Children are in a nearby house. Center # 2 has 40 children completing 2nd floor construcion. Curriculum includes art, reading, legos, puzzles, homemaking and science "rincones." There are 15 tias-8 at the first center, 6 at the second center plus Lili the administrator. The children range in age from 7 months to 5 years. The women were warm, open-hearted and repeatedly expressed their appreciation for the work of Global Vonunteers. Hugs and gratitude all around.

Jennie then reviewed our possible roles in Calderon, practices and policies. People volunteered to coordinate food, water, celebrations, journal, first aid and free time. We signed up to write Journal entries and "message of the day." Jennie reminded us of the GV principal mission to "Wage peace and Promote Justice."

We then did an exercise beautifully facilitated by Jennie where we each wrote 3 "to verb object" cards indicating our most important reasons for coming to Ecuador on this trip. All of the cards were posted into five categories by a group decision making process. We then chose one statement that best exemplified each category as follows-
To Learn Spanish
To be an ambassador of good will from the US
To serve children, teachers and the community
To appreciate Ecuadorean people and their culture
To enrich my life

The morning ended with the group spelling out some characteristics of an effective team as follows-
Respectful, Cheerful, Coorperative, Energetic, Flexible, Open Hearted, Friendly, Cohesive, Teamwork, Accountable, Appreciative, Enthusiastic, Prompt, Attentive, Giving, Sharing, Generous.

A delicious lunch was served featuriing lacro de papos-potato soup
pollo-chicken arroz-rice papas fritas-fried potatoes, forsas con crema-strawberries and cream and maracuya-passion fruit juice.

A break after lunch. Some went to the mall. Then we gathered for a review of Safety and Health suggestions.
Remember safety trumps.
No personal gifts
No intimate personal contact
No illegal drugs
There must always be matched labor.

An animated Spanish class followed highlighting greetings, ages, marital status, family composition and body parts which culminated in a body song.

Martin Mioanda coordinator of Ecuador-Quito.com then spoke to us about available tourist opportunities for weeknights and next weekend. There was considerable interest in our group for many of his exciting offerings. He generously proposed lower rates and a free salsa class at the hotel. These activities will be coordinated and we will get back to him. More hugs all around.

Dinner featured trucka-trout arroz-rice papas and sopa de verduras-vegetable soup jugo denaranjellas-juice. Dessert was a pear like fruit called babaco.

After dinner we met to discuss free time plans. It was decided that most of us will go to Otovalo, a trip that included leather, lake, equator and market on Saturday Jan. 9th. We will go to Mindo, the cloud forest for nature on Jan. 10th. Jacchigua the National Folkoric Ballet on Jan. 13th and the Night Tour including churches lit, Panecillo and La Ronda on Thursday Jan. 7th.

We requested a better rate and Martin has offered the Tour for $20 each. He´ll let us know about the Salsa class on Tuesday Jan. 5th. Final event was a birthday song and gift to Evan. Exhausted volunteers retired before 9 pm.

by Barbara

"May the world go around with your smile- unknown

2009-10-08T13:21:00.003-05:00

Calderon, Ecuador

So I’m going to start out my journal entry with a little excerpt of my own personal journal, outlining my two goals from our first day together. As you may or may not have noticed, I tend to talk a lot, so here’s the unabridged version of my three-word goals:

“1.) LEARN FROM THE CHILDREN.
I think there’s a big difference between learning about children and learning from children. There’s something we can all learn from the naivety of young children. Ignorance is bliss, right? They have so little- practically nothing- yet their joy is infectious and inspiring. It’s something I can’t wait to witness firsthand, I think the idea of it will sink deeper and allow me to be more grateful- or at least aware- of the privilege I have.

2.) MAKE PEOPLE SMILE.
If I can help bring joy to others, I think I will personally be more content with myself, and note further whatever I will be able to get out of with the idea of simplistic joy that I talked about with my other goal. I don’t care who it is that I make smile; I just want to make people smile, to see that tangible form of joy- even if just for a second.”

And I think I expected it to be as easy as that. Easy smiles and piggy back rides. What I failed to recognize— and tend to always do because of expectations I unconsciously set—is that it’s a hell lot more than that. I think I expected to be in a state of utter admiration at these children, but what I didn’t realize was that I wouldn’t have time to stand back in admiration. Runny noses, incessant crying, legos being thrown, running with scissors… and all progress hindered by the language barrier.
It’s been a lot of work, and for me, hardly with enough time to reflect. Other team members have helped me realize throughout the past week that I’ve been trying too hard, and I have to just let the kids come to me. Our team goals really ring true with me, I think. I have to find patience within myself instead of wasting my energy trying to please everyone else. And it really has gotten easier since then.
Sure, Anthony—the four year old who many of you know as the one with the mushroom haircut who craves attention—spent the entire interval between breakfast and snack today crying for no apparent reason, but he eventually stopped. And that’s all there is to it. In that time, I wasn’t able to make Anthony stop crying, or even help him focus on his artwork. But in that time, I got to know some of the other children better instead of devoting all my energy on just one of the seven. And that’s how we have to look at it.
I find it hard to be gratified with the work we are doing, and constantly find myself wondering whether or not I am making a big difference in these people’s lives. I find myself living life as a series of memories in the making… Always thinking about how I can’t wait to share the stories and the photos. I need to start focusing on breathing, on living in the moment. I’m waiting to get something out of this experience, expecting not only to be able to run an extra mile when I get home because of the altitude difference, but also, like I said in my goals, to be more aware and gracious.
I think once I start focusing on the present moment, I will begin to learn to be more tolerant of Anthony’s tears, Abel’s tendencies to not listen, and all the other quirks of the other children.
A singer named Jonah Matranga, who one of my really good friends back at home knows personally once said:
“I am most definitely naive, and proud of it. I am also very pragmatic and rational, but I think being naive, keeping that child-like core, is important for keeping any sort of moral center.”
And once I learn to keep my child-like core, I will begin to joyfully serve the children.

By Zoe

***
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost. There is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.

-Henry David Thoreau

Hasta Luego!

2009-10-08T13:04:00.002-05:00

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world, the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." -George Bernard ShawBuenos nochesThis report is brought to you from Once ' 11 aka, StanleyHave your coffee, this is a two partner.Ecuador, a land of ancient culture and modern technology bridging the gap as it straddles the equator, looking for true North, Upward mobility. A land of artisans, street vendors, and centuries old cathedrals and beautiful museums. Shopping malls of upscale brands sprouting like new blades of grass in the valley of Quito ' 200 years Free.We Global Volunteers who came from East and West USA. Came to Ecuador to be of service to the babies, learn the culture, and to support the people. This past week, we have cleaned and feed and nurtured the babies of Calderon. In return, we have been showered by the babies with smiles, laughter, tears, and looks of love. We have washed walls, cleaned carpets and wondered, Is this the service I signed up for...and at the end of the day, we smiled at each other and verbally and non'verbally said, YES IT IS!, Job well done.We have fretted and worried about the safety of the children. The seesaws, and concrete playgrounds. will it hurt one of our Charges, but we see they survive and flourish and smile. They smile with the innocence of babies.This weekend our team spread out to various parts of Ecuador from Octovala, to the rain forest, to the thermal spa of Papallacta. And as we start this second week, we sadly say goodbye to four of our beloved team. We say adios to mother and Son, Margaret and Tayte, aka Marten, and mother and daughter, Marsha and Sara. they will be missed. Hasta Luego.

StanleyB

"Someone to tell it to is one of the fundamental needs of human beings." -Miles Franklin

The rich and the poor meet together, the Lord is the maker of them all.

2009-10-07T22:55:00.002-05:00

Just what are those Calderon children made of?
Is it snakes and lizards and puppy dog tails?
Is it sugar and spice and everything nice?
Just what are those Calderon children made of?
Is it hugs and kisses,
Smiles and near misses?
Is it potty chairs and banos
Runny noses and manos?
Is it crayons and cut outs
Playing hard and sleep outs?
Eating it all
The bananas the salads the soups
Is it holding lightly to tia’s shirt
While waiting for
Mama, papa, hermano, o abuela?
I know
Calderon children are made of hugs and kisses
And loving each of us
Both the misters
And the misses

By Pat

Ecuadorian Leaders Request Your Service

2009-08-02T21:43:00.004-05:00

FUNDAC (Fundacion de Damas Calderonenses) is an organization legally constituted since 1993, is conformed by 20 voluntary women whose mission is offering social help to the needy classes of Calderón, specially worker women, poor children and old people. The social services help that we bring are centered exclusively in the Day Care center Nuestra Señora del Carmen, now we have two functional local that harbor 130 poor children whose ages go from the 3 months of age to the 5 years old. We also work with people mature adults for who we offer Shops of growth and identification of their list of third age with recreational and occupational days.

Welcome to Calderón!
Calderón is a rural communiy in Quito’s Metropolitan District, are located to the north from the capital to 30 minutes of distance, its climate is dry of nature, with temperatures of up to 30ºC. The population has increased in these last 10 years due to their benign climate.
Calderón is characterized for bread handcrafts and for carved in wood being these of national and international recognition. Their people are kind and simple, at the same than other places here it has migrant indigenous population that left their children under the care of third people and to who we also offer our contingent of social help.

The day care centers are located in the first one in center of Calderón next to the Municipal Market and the modern local N. 2 in San Rafael's sector

From the year of 1998 we have the great opportunity to have the help of Global Volunteers, their annual brigades have left us samples of shared work, solidarity, friendship and mainly its economic contingent has been good for the execution of construction projects.
We should indicate that yours generous contribution in this last season has been excellent to finish the first one and second plant of the new construction of the local N. 2 located in the neighborhood San Rafael to 2 kilometers of the center of Calderón, in a same way the donations of educational material for the good operation and attention to the benefitted children.

Our recognition and gratitude for all the volunteers that visited us, to their directors and coordinators that every day is pending of our necessities a thank you infinite, God blesses.

Lourdes Erazo
FUNDAC REPRESENTANT

The 133rd Calderon Brigade

2009-07-21T18:38:00.007-05:00

The 133rd Calderon Brigade

(“Personal relations are the important thing for ever and for ever, and not this outer life of texting and twittering (sic). E. M. Forster, Howards End).
[Notwithstanding, here is the twittering.]

Well here we are in Quito
With goals and expectations
So we can serve the children
We gave up our vacations.

We’re tended well by Edith
She keeps us well apprised
Of where to be and when and how
She fears being too surprised.

Michelle’s a GV veteran
She keeps us all enthralled
She brought along two friends
She’s the mentor to them all.

Maggie tagged along
To give volunteering a try
She’s the trio’s photographer
For a shot she has a fine eye.

Emily appears quite stalwart
And claims to be a bit shy
But behind the formal manner
A soul of warmth will catch your eye.

Kara served in Tanzania
She has a pleasing manner
She approaches work quite carefully
To her problems do not matter.

Ashley can be hard to please
She’s bound up blue and firm
With children she’s not easy
So she picked a shorter term.

Lori is bold and wide open
She liked to hang out with the boys
She’s a hit with all who meet her
But was embarrassed by the birthday noise.

The first week went by quickly
And we learned the ropes quite well
To those departing early
We bade a fond farewell.

Kathy ventured the farthest
To join our merry team
She liked the shops in Otavalo
Of Ecuadorian sopa she is not keen.

Sarah smiles oh so coyly
She retired at twenty-eight
She has a fear of running water
And trusting South America with her fate.

Laura slipped in late on Sunday
With her a suitcase of gifts
With Andre she toured the Old Town
And from her we all get a lift.

Sonali’s a gracious young woman
And time with her really flies
When her father gets his hands going
She tries her best not roll her eyes.

Arun is Sonali’s father
A most gregarious fellow
He has a keen eye for a bargain
A Bond fan he’s the fellow to follow.

Margaret is quite particular
Not a thing out of place in her house
Her son throws his socks helter skelter
And her waffles come out like Mickey Mouse.

The writer of this little ditty
Seems at times to just go along
But if you dare put a mike in his hand
He’ll break out into some kind of song.

Martin talked us off to Otovalo
And advised us all to look about
The Indians are mighty shrewd merchants
And the goblins will get you if you don’t watch out!

We made a stop at the equator
And we were told the reason why
This is the best place for viewing
But have you seen a star in the sky?

Sunday was our day of rest
And a chance to go it alone
Some shipped off to Mindo
A trip from “Romancing the Stone.”

And who can forget Mosaico
With its constellation of light
We harked back to La Mitad del Mondo
And thought the guide may be partially right.

I trust that all’s been accounted for
I know our work is finally done
We all gave the best that we had
And will leave with the rising sun.

(June 26, 2009)

Written and dedicated to the team by Guillermo

"I am happy"

2009-07-21T18:32:00.001-05:00

Quote of the Day: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

We all have many reasons for coming on this trip: for choosing Ecuador over China, for choosing Global Volunteers over some travel agency for a tourist-like vacation; for wanting to work with small children rather than adults.

I chose to come to Ecuador through Global Volunteers for many reasons, but probably primarily because I felt I needed to step out of my life for a while, and see things from a different perspective. It’s easy to get stuck only seeing yourself and your own experiences.

I thought that coming to Ecuador would feel like I was being transported into another world, but really, Quito and the people I have seen and heard about aren’t very different than me as individuals. It seems that the politics and the economic state of our world divide us more than anything else.

Little Abel in Rincon Construcciones is just as mischievous as many boys that age in the preschool class my son Cainen was in. Naomi is just as quiet and shy as my daughter. Melanie, Aidan, Kerly, Wendy, and Jonathan all want love and attention like any child does.

And as Sarah told Andres in the car the other day on our way to the show: when asked how Ecuador is so different than the United States, I paused and couldn’t think of what to say. She said (maybe somewhat jokingly) “everyone here speaks Spanish.” Maybe that really is the biggest difference (at least for a white, English-only-speaking American)

I have felt the stress that sat in my chest from my problems with my job and family loosen over the past week, and I have been reminded that I need to count my blessings. I am reminded by hearing the stories of so many people and working with the children the past four days, that we have more in common than we sometimes think.

Edith told us this morning to recognize the times which we are happy, instead of always feeling that our happiness is in the future or incomplete. And to name those moments by simply saying “I am happy.” Two weeks ago I would not have been able to say that, but right now, I think I can honestly say- “I am happy.”

Written by Cara

"Go with the flow"

2009-07-21T18:21:00.003-05:00

The day started off with a hearty breakfast, as usual. With the arrival of Laura from Lexington, MA, our motley 13-member volunteer team was complete!

Edith, our ebullient host, briefed us on the protocols to follow on our first day at the children’s center: no photos until later in the week, willingness to be deployed to any chore at any time, and splitting the donations between the two centers.

After breakfast, we boarded our bus. With the bus’s sliding windows, rattling window panes, its jerky movements during gear shifts, and its thick diesel fumes, I was reminded so much of India. Actually there are so many facets of this lovely country that remind me so much of India that in spite of having been here only for 2 days, I feel right at home here!

We arrived at a fruit market right in the heart of Calderon. After a few steps through the market, we got into guardería #1, with that childish excitement of meeting the children at the center. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by a loud chorus of ¡Hola! It is really amazing how universal some things are, when it comes to children’s behavior! After a quick “lottery”, Edith split the team into two, one for each center. All of us walked to the second center, and on the way, we got a glimpse of the neighborhood. It is a poor neighborhood, but all the people we met were so warm and welcoming. Gosh, I already love this country! We toured center #2, and inspected the ongoing construction work. Michelle, a returning volunteer, commented on how much progress had been made since she had last been here, a year ago.

The people assigned to center #1 walked back to their center and we assumed our respectively assigned duties. I was in Rincon Ciencia, with Tiá Elisabeth. The initial half hour was a little challenging, as I was trying to recall some of the Spanish words I had learned from the guidebook. One of the kids quickly picked up “OK” – I assume I had used it so much without thinking about it, that she caught on to its meaning! I helped Elisabeth with some tracing work, and then helped the kids with some drawings. Thank God I knew the words for cloud, sun, sky and rain!

We helped the tiá’s serve the kids’ lunch, and after the kids were all settled in, we walked down the street to a neighborhood restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon, we helped cut out some patterns that were going to be used to make hats for a park outing later in the week.

At the end of the day, I was exhausted (the 9300 ft. elevation didn’t help.) But the fact that the tiá’s worked so hard day in and day out gave me the strength to continue. Come to think of it, I will be back in Palo Alto in 2 weeks’ time, and these women will still be working in this challenging environment. In a lot of ways, all the women in this center really inspire me to work hard every day of my life; in a funny way, they are helping me, rather than the other way around.

Written by Arun

No Act of Kindness is ever too small.

2009-06-21T20:17:00.001-05:00

A delightful celebration was given for us by the children of #2
Daycare to end our two weeks of service. The children including the babies were dressed in costumes as they danced and sang. The time to leave was sad but they gave us good feelings of being appreciated and needed. Even with the lack of material goods, the children were very loving and especially well behaved. It was an unforgettable experience our time in Ecuador.
Global’s leader, Edith, has a gift of caring and makes service an easy task. Her energy was endless, her time and skills very much needed to keep the program organized and the work enjoyable.
The lodging was quaint and the food was the best we ate in Ecuador!

Written by Laural

Secong week.. here we go!

2009-06-21T19:14:00.001-05:00

Quote:
“Ability is what you’re capable of doing.
Motivation determines what you can do.
Attitude determines how well you do it.”

Week number two for Laural and I started out just as it had last week, with breakfast, reading of the journal and a brief meeting. It was exactly like last week except that we were missing Roberta and Brittany. As we split our services between the two daycares this week, we really missed Roberta, with her excellent motherly skills and Brittany, with her endless energy and enthusiasm for the kids and the work. We dropped Laural off at the daycare number one and Edith and I headed off to our new home for this week, daycare number two. We walked into bright new faces yelling HOLA and immediately we felt at home. Although every tias probably could have used our help, Lilly assigned us to work with Cristina who’s in charge of the under 2 year old group. We were amazed by Cristina’s efficiency in running the daycare number two. She was warm and caring but also firm and commanded the attention of all the kids. She quickly had Edith and I working, getting kids cleaned up and playing. We found daycare number two to be more organized and hygienic, which only made me that much more impatient to have the construction of the second floor completed quickly so that they can accommodate more kids here. After helping with lunch and clean up, Edith and I quickly trekked back to daycare number one to pick up Laural for lunch where we got much wanted update on the kids of daycare number one. It seemed that because of the election yesterday, both daycares had less number of kids than usual. When Laural returned to daycare number one, she found out that one of the babies that were sick earlier in the morning had gone home. The afternoon flew by, with Edith and I cutting out letters for the rincons and other rooms and Laural continuing to care for the babies and washing their bibs. The team returned to the hotel and rested a bit before our cooking demonstration from Lusmila who showed us how to cook the traditional Ecuadorian chicken soup. We will definitely be making a trip to SuperMaxi to pick up some seasonings that we can’t get in the states to make this soup!

Written by Rim

First service day...

2009-06-21T17:50:00.000-05:00

Quote:

“Where you end up isn’t the most important thing. It’s the road you take to get there. The road you take is what you’ll look back on and call your life.”

We began our first service day with breakfast and a brief meeting. I’m proud and surprised to report that we departed on time at precisely 8:00 am. The trip through Quito to Calderon was uneventful except for the fact that our van was the size of a large shoebox. The daycare center is located right off the local market thorough fare. Needless to say, the area is very poor. Our arrival commenced with a briefing from Lilly, the center’s director. We were given a brief tour. Much to our delight, eager and enthusiastic faces greeted us with shouts of HOLA! The team, led by Lilly, took the 10 minute walk to center II. Scott, the rooftop guard dog announced our arrival. Once again, the warm welcome was a complete joy. All the smiling faces and waves and shouts of HOLA make us all that more eager to start working with the children. In fact, some team members, (Brittany) were getting a little impatient to start. After our tours of center II, we headed back to center I. We quickly sorted and catalogued the donated goods, then headed off to our “rincones,” Laural with the babies, Rim in Lecteurs, Brittany in Art and myself in Construction. The children rotate “rincones” in 30 minute intervals so we had the opportunity to work with a wide age group of children. At 12:00, mayhem broke out as it was lunch time for the children. Thank god the children are the most cooperative, helpful, independent little sours. If it weren’t for their easy nature, feeding 40 kids would be a lot more difficult then it was. The children willingly line up, use the bathroom, wash their hands and carry their chairs to their assigned tables. Truth be told, you would never find this degree of cooperation in Daycare centers in the states. I was surprised to see that the “Clean Plate Club” rules here. The children must finish all their food! After lunch, the stuffed and exhausted children nap 6 to a bed. The equally exhausted members of team #132 headed off for lunch. At 2:00, we returned to help clean. Everyone pitches in, floor sweeping, bed making, mopping, dishes, even taking blankets outdoors to wash the old fashioned way. After clean up, the children must be spruced up; hairs combed, hands and faces washed and clothes straightened, all in anticipation of parent arrivals. At this point, Mari was waiting to transport us home. In the sprit of Ecuadorian warmth and generosity, Mari gave Lilly a ride to her destination, only to drop her off and pick up another passenger, only to drop her off and pick up yet another fare – but the most important – her 7 year old son, Ronnie. Upon arrival at our hotel, some of us rested while others ventured out to the mall and SuperMaxi, a very special outing for Rim as living as a single New Yorker, she never actually sees a grocery store.
Dinner was followed by a “38th” birthday celebration for Rim. She wished to celebrate January Birthday in Ecuador but couldn’t. So….better late than never. The evening ended with all going to sleep with the happy faces of the children in our memories. What an extraordinary impression they leave on us.

Written by Roberta

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

2009-06-20T14:25:00.001-05:00

We landed in Quito almost a week ago. The arrival was uneventful, if you exclude the chaos at baggage claim, with baggage spread all over the piddly claim area. After 20 minutes, including walking on a (stopped) conveyor belt, I got all the bags and we left. I had not had the thrill of walking on a conveyor belt in a long time!! The view upon stepping outside the airport building was like what one I´d see in India: huge billboards spread out over the entire width of the airport wall, people all over the place. Our van was not more than a 100 ft from the building, but I was panting like a dog in heat by the time I got into the van (rule no. 1: take it easy when you´re not acclimated to the 9300 ft altitude, and let someone else carry more of the baggage).

We are in a tourist-class hotel along with 11 other American volunteers. The volunteer team is a motley crew, from all parts of the USA, and also includes a woman who lives in Kuwait.

The hotel is more like a very big house, with very traditional indigenous decorations and fittings throughout. It also has a piano in the restaurant, so on some days, we get entertained by the guests. The staff is very friendly, and the one I have gotten to know well is a matronly black lady called Cherito. Cherito now lets me use the microwave in the hotel kitchen, to heat up my morning coffee. Unlike Rani (the Tamil lady we had in Madras during last year's trip, whom I could understand), I have no clue what Cherito says to me. I think she still hasn´t figured out that I don´t speak Spanish that well, and don´t understand most of what she´s saying. In addition to the 13 volunteers, there is also a bunch of Mexicans here who work for Toyota. They all speak pretty good English, so needless to say, hanging out in the lobby in the evening is a lot of fun.

Our local host is a really ebullient Peruvian woman, who looks so Indian that I´d have believed her if she told me her name was Vijayalakshmi. As it turns out, her name is Edith (that´s EH-DEETH). Edith is a wonderful person, sensitive to all the people´s needs, and coordinates all aspects of our visit.

On Monday, we all got ready and boarded the bus to Calderon, 15 miles out of Quito. With its sliding, rattling windows, its jerky movements during gear shifts, and its belching diesel fumes, the bus reminded me of being in India. Calderon is a small town, not unlike Shiddlaghatta or any other small town in India. Access to the child care center where we volunteer requires going through a market selling all kinds of vegetables, meats, and some fruits I have never seen before. There are also a lot of stray dogs all over the place, so overall, that market is an odd blend of a market in India and one in Africa (the women carrying babies wrapped in cloth on their backs reminds me of Africa.)

The child-care center has children of all ages, from 6 months to 5 years. The first half of Monday was a bit of a challenge. As you can imagine, for a guy used to speaking Spanish only when ordering cold beer or hot coffee in Mexico, it was hard to tell the kids to sit down, not hit, stand, sit, eat, drink, cross hands, cross legs, etc.) With the help of a dictionary, the nanny in the room (and Sonali who´s thankfully in the same center as I), I have now gotten to the point of being able to speak enough of the language, to get the kids to do what I want. One really cute little girl, Carolina, corrects me when I mis-speak, so that helps as well. She has also started saying "OK", which is really cute. Phew, speaking in Tamil to the kids in Madras last summer was so much easier.

Quito is a compact town, and once we got over the horrible altitude-induced headaches (rule no. 2: think like an elephant, and DRINK LOTS OF WATER from day 0), we got to explore the city in our free time. The people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. There are a lot of people here who can pass of as (Asian) Indians, so Sonali and I don´t stand out at all. On the first day we were in the mall, a man behind me overheard me struggling to order something at the cafe. After I´d ordered, he must have figured out I wasn´t fluent in Spanish, and asked me if I was from India. I said I was, whereupon he gave me a big pat on the back, and said that the Ecuadorean people respected Indians (at least that´s what I think he said.) What better welcome to this country!

Because of the altitude, the place is refreshingly free of mosquitoes and other critters, in spite of being very close to the equator. Night times require sweaters, and going to bed requires warm blankets (I think the receptionist at the hotel must have been amused when I landed up at the hotel and asked if the rooms had air conditioning.) The weather really is fickle, and when the guidebooks said that one could see warm, dry, wet and cold in one day, they were not kidding. Edith jokingly said that the Quito weather was like men: unpredictable. I was wondering whether the men had an opposite perspective,-)) Talking of sweaters, I noticed that the locals were pretty well-dressed, and I looked really bad in my sheepskin jacket, so I (finally) bought a sweater that I now wear out.

Some things in the city are ridiculously cheap: a cab ride across town costs $3, a vegetarian dinner at an Indian place for 3 people cost us $8, and petrol is $1.50 a gallon. On the other hand, alcohol is very expensive ($65 for a 750 ml bottle of JW Black Label whisky, $40 for a bottle of tequila that I wouldn´t even bother to look at in California, $25 for a bottle of wine from Chile, that happens to be just down the coast.) Thankfully, in order to avoid the problems due to altitude, I haven´t had a drop of alcohol since I landed here, so no loss on this front. Some of the Americans complained about the traffic, the bumpy roads and the uneven sidewalks. I told them that coming from India, this place looks so tame!!

We have now gotten used to this place and the routine now: daily briefings at breakfast, fresh juice from fruits I have never heard of, the trip in the rattling bus and the loud ¡Hola! from the wonderful children every morning. En-route, I look at the 18000 ft Pichincha volcano, which, relative to Quito´s altitude, looks like a large hill than a really high-up volcano. Since it was only 10 years ago that it erupted and spewed ash over the city, crippling it, I also pray to Pichincha, so he stays dormant, at least while I am still around here ,-)))

I can't believe it has been almost a week since we landed up here. I feel so settled down that it feels like I have lived here for years. Why is it so? Is it the country, the lovely people, or just me? I suspect it´s the first two. But I know that once I land in Palo Alto, it will feel like I never left...how weird.

- as

As We Say Good-bye (for now) to Calderon

2009-02-13T16:16:00.004-05:00

Message of the Day - Jennie Taylor
A child points out to you the direction and then you find your way.
(Kenyan Proverb)

We again received a warm welcome and this morning with many of the niños calling out our names. The morning went by quickly with each of us in our respective rooms - holding babies, coloring, teaching and learning vowels in Spanish, calming the sad ones, brushing teeth, and giving and receiving hugs. (The children are very affectionate.) Then the music began - we all danced. The Tías especially enjoyed this part of the day and almost every child was spinning around to the Latin beat.

Lunch was a real treat to watch - we learned very quickly that the kids don't like beets. The staff tries very hard to prepare balanced meals but four year olds have their way sometimes. There were piles of beets on the floor. Shortly before our lunch, we visited the home of Abel and Aidem and met their mother Anana and their sister Isabella. They are a poor family who live in a very small one bedroom apartment. It was quite an experience to connect with the family of two little boys we were all quite fond of. The balance of the afternoon was quiet time for all of us as the little ones slept. Before returning to the hotel we prepared crafts for the next days activities.

We have all gotten to know each other and many of the children... and it's sad to go. Julie has written a touching summary of our time spent with the little ones cared for by FUNDAC that I am sure we all agree with. "The last two weeks in Ecuador has been an incredible experience. I love children and I have always wanted to do something that would have an impact on the lives of less fortunate children. Working with the children of the two day care centers has been fun, challenging and very rewarding for me. I hope that I have given the children a feeling of being loved with my help, many hugs and lots of smiles. I pray that God will take care of these children."
- Ed Collins

Our team's contribution to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals: 290 hours of volunteer child care to 82 infants and pre-schoolers. We're proud to help improve children's welfare in Ecuador through Global Volunteers!

Week Two in Calderon: More Babies!

2009-01-27T15:36:00.003-05:00

Message of the Day - Rita Lakmann
Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. (Mother Teresa)

Buenos Días! We entered Guardería de Nuestra Señora del Carmen #1 and the children shouted this familiar greeting. After working with about 35 children and 6 tias last week in Day Care Center #2, we were anxious to meet the new tías and nearly 50 children in Center #1. We helped the tías serve a somewhat chaotic breakfast, and then eased into our placements. Today was Tía Mariela and Tía Jenny's first day on the job, so our extra hands were much needed.

Highlights from the morning....Edwardo and Tía Mariela spent several hours with the 12 babies in the Rincón de Bebés. Ed had the rare privilege of witnessing one boy's first steps. Julie and Tía Gakz played games indoors with the 2 year olds, and Claudia patiently drew apples for Tía Paty and the children in the Rinion de Construccion. It is difficult to catch Claudia and Julie without a child in their arms! Pamela and Tía Jenny worked with a very active group of 3 year olds, and helped them glue foam pieces onto pictures. Rita, Tía Olga and Tía Germania made sure all children ate a delicious breakfast, lunch and refrigerio. Olga and Germania ensured that Rita thoroughly washed and rinsed the dishes. The women in the kitchen enjoyed music while they cooked! Jennie and Tía Ruth helped another class of 3 year olds sting pieces of straws onto yarn and tied the bracelets onto the children's tiny wrists.

Off to lunch at Mi Quinta restaurant. Jennie was happy to have Blanca as our waitress. Blanca's children go to Day Care Center #2, and Elle and Jennie enjoyed sweeping the 2nd floor with her last week. As we walked back to Day Care Center #1, Cecilia ran out of her marzapan shop to greet us. How wonderful to see familiar, friendly faces as we ate lunch and walked the streets of Calderón. A sure sign we are much more than tourists in this town, The afternoon passed quickly as we held children and traced snails, trees and hearts. The new environment was overwhelming, but after decompressing, we all agreed that we're striving for and achieving our goals: To help FUNDAC and to serve the children. And we're having fun doing it. We laughed about our adventures and mishaps over dinner, and are excited to hug the children again tomorrow.
-Jennie Taylor

Message for Wednesday, January 27 - Pamela Ward
A volunteer is a person that is a light to others, giving witness in a mixed up age, doing well and willingly the tasks at hand - namely being aware of another's needs and doing something about it.

We boarded the bus on this warm and sunny morning to begin our second day at Day Care Center #1. We step through the food market and enter the door to the Center. The children are seated at their round tables drinking warm milk and eating a biscuit. Their smiles beckon us to come and share breakfast with them. There are more children to look after here and coupled with the recent turnover in two out of five tías, our assignments are more challenging. But we are able to apply what we learned last week effectively.

Rita worked with the 4-year-olds, cutting foam pieces, glueing designs and decorating cupcakes with colored paper. Jennie and Ed headed to the local hardware store to purchase items Ed needed for his handyman chores. When not helping Ed get set up, Jennie spent time with one group of 3-year-olds, teaching them the vowel "u". Julie carried out a lot of art projects, played games, sang songs and went to the small outdoor playground with her charges. Claudia was on kitchen duty swaying to the beat of salsa and the Macarena. She had brown fingers from peeling green bananas to show for her effort. Ed was Mr. Handyman. He rebuilt a crib, put up a coat rack in the babies room, rebuilt two highchairs and fixed the third faucet in the children's bathroom. As for myself, I spent most of the day with the second set of 3 year olds, pasting and glueing red foam onto tracings of hearts and apples. The color of the week is "rojo" and the wall was ablaze with Rojo when we finished hanging up the children's creations. The morning flew by as we were continuously active with our assignments, cleaning up, chasing stray niños, washing dirty hands and comforting those who cry.

I spent some time feeding the babies today and gladly obliged as their little mouths opened wide for the next spoonful and the next. After lunch, the children were sound asleep in their two rooms. But soon, one child would emerge and another and another, each groggily wiping the sleep from their eyes, letting out a yawn or two and walking over to us to be held.

In this moment, you realize they don't ask for much at all, they just want a hug, soft words, love and affection. They just want to feel safe..like any child in any part of the world.
- Pamela Ward

Our First Week in Calderon, Ecuador

2009-01-23T23:24:00.000-05:00

Message of the Day - Pamela Ward
"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead)

We have all gotten to know each other pretty well and realize that we have so much. By floating from room to room I was able to observe my global volunteer colleagues an "paying it forward" or giving to the children and expecting nothing in return. On the other hand we get much in return and it is hard not to become teary eyed when we are greeted each day; with beautiful smiles and "Hola."

Elle, by the way, wields a mean pickaxe. She had the grass that was growing into the front wall removed in no time flat. Her next task was to supervise two volunteer mothers pulling weeds while at the same time mowing the playground grass. No wonder that by 1 p.m. she took a much needed rest - but it was no ordinary rest. She was on the swing with 3 month old Leonardo cradled in her arms. Latter we learned she loves to eat beetles - if properly prepared. Julie never ceases to amaze us - after just one day of slaving in the kitchen, the staff claims she now speaks Spanish. She has also become rather adept at peeling apples and get out of her way when she is scrubbing.

They cleaned everything - walls. cabinets, doors, and floor. As a post script, the kids ate almost everything today, without too much coaxing. I guess there was some extra love in those pots of food!!

I still hear bells. Around 11 a.m. I was putting tools in the shed and saw Claudia playing soccer with the older ones, "all of four years old." The kids were laughing and shaking the bells on their wrists that Claudia tied on. It was quite a sight. Later we were all glad to have some quiet time. While the little ones napped, I spotted Claudia holding a sobbing Adam. Poor Aidem and his brother Abel are always so sad. Each day with hugging, holding and soothing - English of all things - they seem to be responding.

Paty says Pamela's the "princess" of arts and crafts, lego building and puzzles. She speaks to the little ones with such kindness and warmth they feel loved and comfortable and want to participate and cooperate. The floater also noticed she had the clean plate table at lunch - they ate it all. It must have been that extra love in the food pot and the kindness in the voice.
Rita spent the day with the inquisitive two year olds. What a handful they are but they are calmed by Rita's infectious smile and her calming demeanor. Just peak into the "Home Room" and watch them serve a meal to Rita.

The two-year-old niños seem to be the best at high fives - I saw Rita coaching them along too. PS. She likes to hold Leonardo too!!

Last but not least - where was Jennie most of the afternoon? Just think, we were allowed to walk back from lunch unsupervised and we even got on the bus by ourselves. It seems that Jennie and Mari spent several hours with FUNDAC officers planning the coming years activities and construction schedule. It will be difficult this year for FUNDAC since the number of volunteer are way down. Please convince anyone you can to "pay it forward" and consider helping the neediest children of Calderón.
-Ed Collins

Working on the Millennium Development Goals

2009-01-22T22:36:00.004-05:00

As with every Global Volunteers team, our projects in Calderon are geared toward meeting our commitment to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Our Calderon Development Partnership addresses two of those goals: To Reduce Child Mortality Rates; and To Provide Complete Primary Schooling for Boys and Girls. In this regard, the FUNDAC childcare program works in a manner similar to the Head Start program in the U.S. to provide a firm health and education footing for preschoolers so they are ready for primary school.

Every volunteers works eight hours a day in project preparations and on-site work. We're committed to full-time assistance to the work project. Either in child care, assisting meal preparations, or helping to construct the new Center, our efforts are focused on improving and expanding our assistance to FUNDAC.

Today, Claudia returned to her children after a day in the kitchen and they were thrilled to have her back. The little ones grabbed her legs and she sat herself down in the child size plastic chairs to play and interact. Rita spent time with her group of youngsters and with what little downtime she had, cradled baby Leonardo. Julie returned to her babies and used her teaching skills to help three older children of the mothers with their English. They were attentive students and it was captivating to hear them count to twenty and learn the English names of animals.

Ed, Elle and Jennie did the dirty work. Ed worked with Walter, the father of one of the children, to finish repairing the fence. Ed and Walter then moved 80 cement blocks to the courtyard to help with the goal of cleaning out the second floor so it can be skim coated. Elle and Jennie swept up and carried buckets and buckets of sand and dirt from the second floor to the courtyard and their dust covered faces and hair were the lasting evidence of this hardship duty. Two primary labor goals were now completed. Living up to the philosophy of Global Volunteers, the labor projects were accomplished with the willing hands of several parents of the children in this daycare.

I spent the day in the kitchen with Elisa and Isabelle. Warm and cheerful women they are, who talked a blue streak, thinking I knew more Spanish than I do. It is times like this that I wish I could better communicate as there are many questions to ask and stories to share. I am glad I had the opportunity to spend time with these two and see how much effort goes into preparing just one day's worth of meals for 40 children.

While in the kitchen, I could be an observer. Hour after hour there was the happy sound of 40 energetic children learning about the color azul, playing in the courtyard and eating chocolate covered bananas. I watched as they merrily chased bubbles in the sunlit courtyard and played soccer with the four balls we purchased the day before. And I observed just how dedicated, enthusiastic and special my teammates were.

After lunch, we made cut outs of fruit which will be assembled into several mobiles. This gave us time to spend with Christina and some of the staff. These women work so hard and have infinite patience. Christina was asked if she was tired at the end of the day. She replied, "Yes. but I take home the smiles of the children."

Hopefully we will leave a positive imprint on these little ones, hopefully we will teach them something. But these children are teaching us more than they will ever know.
-Pamela Ward

Initiating Our 10th Year in Calderon

2009-01-21T19:53:00.002-05:00

Message of the Day - Julie Barner
"No one has ever become poor by giving of themselves."

They know us now. Forty little voices greeting us in unison as we entered the daycare center. "Buenos Dias" with the boldest among them rushing to be lifted and embraced.

It was another productive day, leaving our team tired but exhilarated at the same time, and appreciative of this opportunity to give our time and talents to these beautiful children and the mothers of Calderón.

Elle earned the biggest gold star of the day for resurrecting an old lawnmower to replace the grass cutting steak knife. With it she worked her magic in the garden.

By mid-morning Ed got his wish: nails - new ones, to replace the recycled rusty ones. By the end of the day he had rebuilt much of the quaint, colorful fence along the garden giving new life to the exterior of the building. A number of the children have taken to calling him Tio and they look forward to seeing him when he leaves the garden to come in and play.

Julie spent her second day with the Bebés, There isn't a moment of rest in this room - diapers to change, mouths to be filled, faces to be washed and little teeth to be brushed. She loves every minute of it.

The two- and three-year-olds at the Center adore both Pam and Rita, and each child wants to sit next to them at their little tables when meals and snacks are served. The children love getting their special attention and Rita and Pam have plenty to give.

You peel "muchas papas in catorce años". That's what Claudia learned Tuesday from Señora Elisa, the Center's chief in the kitchen. Claudia spent the day washing little bowls and cups, peeling potatoes, washing little bowls and cups, chopped onions, cilantro and cabbage, and did I mention washing little bowls and cups?

Our fearless leader Jennie would step in and interpret for each of us and for the second day led us safely through the back streets of Calderón to have our lunch, and to stop along the way to purchase new soccer balls for our ninos.

Returning to the hotel on Tuesday evening we watched our new American President's inauguration. For his Inaugural address, President Obama reminded us that all people deserve peace, justice and dignity.. sentiments that reflect the goals and intentions of each of us serving as Global Volunteers in Ecuador.

- Claudia Danovic

A CONVERSATION IN CALDERON

2008-07-30T11:55:00.000-05:00

BY MARIA DE LOURDES (“MARUJITA”), President of FUNDAC, Calderon, Ecuador

Welcome to all the wonderful volunteers in our town! Our organization has been in existence for 20 years, 13 of those as a government-recognized non-profit foundation. I’ve been involved with FUNDAC since the beginning. We offer educational, medical, psychological and social services to approximately 100 impoverished children at two daycare center locations. They also work with Senior Citizens, offering social opportunities and support, including lectures on topics of particular value to seniors, and semi-annual day trips. We also offer social and sometimes medical support to the families of the children.

FUNDAC’S funding and other support has come from various sources, including the provincial council, a Belgian corporation that was partnering with the regional council to identify worthwhile projects to support philanthropically, and by Global Volunteers. They also have a variety of other fundraising activities, such as raffles, bingo nights and others that mainly help to augment the existing government-subsidized salaries of $80 per month for their staff members, and cover the complete salary of a key staff member whose position is not subsidized by the government. The government also provides them with food for the children, and monthly menus to ensure that the nutritional needs of the children are met. They actively reach out to local organizations that can help them in their work. For example, they have engaged with “Vista Para To dos”, which is a non-profit organization that offers low-cost vision exams and glasses. As a result, each child at FUNDAC now is given a monthly eye exam.

FUNDAC has made substantial improvements to the first facility (Daycare #1), and are now in the process of constructing a new facility (Daycare #2). Global Volunteers have, in collaboration with their own local volunteers and workers, done the majority of the work to improve the existing facility and construct the new building. The new building will eventually have three floors, but they are already serving children in the completed first floor. After the building is complete, they plan to have all the children in the new daycare center and to use their first daycare center as a permanent Senior Center.

The original daycare center is in a building that is leased to them by the community. Our lease expired this year, and was renewed for another ten years because the government representatives could see the great improvements made to the structure and know that the children served are those from families with a lot of economic need. While it is possible that we could lose their lease in the future, it’s very unlikely given the demonstrable results of our work with the children and improvements to the structure (made possible by Global Volunteers!).

The economic support and willing hands of volunteers that Global Volunteers brings to them is extremely valuable to FUNDAC, and they consider the partnership to be one of mutual collaboration, working hand in hand to help in their community. (The photo shows a CPR class by our beloved volunteers.) They would love to have more Global Volunteers come to help them so that the work can progress more rapidly to allow them to serve more children and adults. They feel that the process and model of the partnership are very good, and that Maricela Miranda is excellent in working with them. Particularly as it relates to the funding they receive through the partnership, Maricela manages the budget extremely well and is strict in reviewing their proposed budgets and clarifying acceptable expenditures.

On Monday, July 9, in a meeting with the government authorities, we pledged to continue the collaboration between Global Volunteers and FUNDAC.

July 18, 2007 - More Reflections on the 100th Team in Ecuador

2007-07-19T18:13:00.000-05:00

Wednesday evening was once again a celebration time for Team 100 volunteers and our gracious hosts from Camp Hope and FUNDAC. It is overwhelming to be part of a two week celebration that has been built on the cumulative contributions of 99 teams before us. I hope each and every one of them that have been here before know how much their participation and contributions to the host communities are compounded exponentially and are being felt by each of us during this wonderful celebration of Team 100. My heartfelt thanks to the other 99 teams.

Our evening bus ride took us to a community center in the residential area where Jackie, President of Camp Hope lives. We dined on ham, rice, and salad, with ice cream for dessert. I include the menu only because most of us may remember more that after dinner the dancing began, with Mari, Rita, Jackie, Ignacio and all our Ecuadorian hosts encouraging us to participate. They led us through several hours of motion exhibited through extensive hip and foot movement. Global Volunteers’ Policy #4 in our handbook is all about Matched Labor, but Wednesday evening was all about Matched Celebration!

Ignacio, Mari, Rita and Jackie serenaded us with several songs while we all caught our breath in preparation for the final dance, and the room that felt chilly when we arrived was filled with the warmth and outpouring of thanks as we left.

Mari graciously gave us an extra hour of sleep in the morning!

My thought for the day is an excerpt from a longer quote:

“…So take too many pictures, laugh too much and love like you’ve never been hurt before. Don’t be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.” - Anonymous

- Katherine A.

July 18, 2007 - Reflections on the 100th Team in Ecuador

2007-07-19T18:11:00.000-05:00

My alarm clock is set to ring at 6:30 AM but once again I am up much earlier. It is still dark, but the chirping birds outside the window tell me that it is about 5:00AM. At home, I would be up and about at this time as I am very much a morning person, but here I just lie in bed thinking about everything I have experienced in Ecuador and wondering what the new day will bring.

After enjoying our usual breakfast buffet, listening to the moving journal entries for the day and learning from Michelle Gran why Global Volunteers journal writing was started, we were off to our work sites.

This morning I did construction work at Calderon – twisting wires around metal re-bar rods with a special tool. I have never done construction in my whole life before coming to Ecuador and never thought I would want to but it’s really not so bad when you’re working with a group of wonderful people. One of the ladies from Calderon made it especially fun by singing and dancing – no doubt getting ready for the dinner dance planned for tonight. I thought the morning would drag on but before I knew it, it was time to walk to the restaurant “Mi Quinta” for a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon, I got to do what I looked forward to the most – playing with the babies! I thought they might be napping as they were yesterday, but to my delight they were all awake except one. Whether playing peek-a-boo, changing their clothes, or taking my name tag out of their mouths, babies are such a joy!

The afternoon flew by even more quickly than the morning – it was time to head back to the hotel. On the ride “home” I thought about which quote would be most suitable for this service program, and decided on this one because it reminds me of Mari, Global Volunteers, and the dedicated staff at Calderon and Camp Hope:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”

- Toni G.

July 17, 2007 - Reflections on the 100th Team in Ecuador

2007-07-19T09:35:00.000-05:00

As I reflected back over the past week and a half to decide what to write about in my journal entry, two quotes came to mind. The first occurred last Friday during the home visits from Camp Hope. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to talk with the mother at the first home. As she held her baby daughter, I told her how beautiful all of her children are. She graciously said thank you, and then told me something that I will never forget. She said, "Above all, I try to teach my children respect t. Everything else is good, but respect is the most important.” This comment touched me so much because if I lived in a home with seven people sleeping in one bedroom, I am not sure I would have the strength of conviction to place “teaching my children respect” as my top priority. I do hope, however, that I never let myself forget the courage and grace demonstrated by this mother to her children.

The second quote I felt best reflected the attitude I hope to take with me when I leave this country came from one of the women in charge of FUNDAC in Calderon. She was explaining to us their goal for the new space we are building to add onto the space of the existing daycare center #2 building. She said, “We are so grateful for your help because every time we have to turn a child away due to lack of space, our hearts break”. This is a woman who does so much for so many and she is constantly thinking of what more she can do for the community.

I think her words echo the thoughts of all those working at the two host organizations as well as my fellow volunteers. I have yet to (and am sure I will not) hear a volunteer say, “OK, good two weeks. Now I am going to go back to the States unchanged.” I am pretty sure that statement would be impossible. Instead, the conversations I have witnessed are filled with plans to sponsor a child, or plans to save a bit more money to donate each month, or even plans to immediately research another volunteer trip. I am incredibly lucky to have had this experience at such a young age. I will never forget the people I have met on this trip who have taught me that these two weeks are simply the beginning of all we can do for these children in the future.

Final Thought: “The highest reward for a person’s work is not what they get for it, but what they become because of it.” - John Ruskin

- Valerie N.

July 17, 2007 - Reflections on the 100th Team in Ecuador by a First-time Volunteer

2007-07-19T09:17:00.000-05:00

It is hard for me to put in words what I am presently experiencing here in Ecuador, …and not just because English is my second language!...but I will try. I did not know what to expect at all when I signed up for this journey of service and learning with Global Volunteers, but I dad to do it!!! I had to go for it!!! I had to make this jump in the unknown. And here I am today, trying to share some of my feelings with you all, beautiful people!

I will never forget the kindness of the leaders and members of this unique 100th team. This is just fantastic to be such a large group being here for the same purpose of giving, serving, learning, sharing and loving.

I will never forget my days at Camp Hope with these adorable children who made me cry and laught of joy more than once. These innocent angels touched my heart to the deepest – forever!

I will never forget, while working on top of this building yesterday afternoon at FUNDAC, twisting wires with my friendly partners, the majesty of all these mountains surrounding us Pure beauty. A moment of eternity…No, I will never forget.

May this wonderful and breathless experience help me to become a better person…to myself and to others. A person more humble and always full of gratitude each and every day. I will end here with these last few words: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

Love always.

Thank you.

- Sylvie B.

July 17, 2007 - Reflections on the 100th Team in Ecuador

2007-07-17T21:16:00.000-05:00

Ecuadorian life seems almost routine now, with a familiar rhythm: Morning wakeup, walk, breakfast eggs and rolls, bus rides, work, lunch, more work, errands, dinner and free time. Our group is long past the "what do you do?" conversation; in an age of reality TV, I've come to believe the volunteer experience is way more entertaining.

Despite the familiarity, each day holds a few gems that surprise, inform, entertain. Today we saw another side of Quito that's higher up on the glitzy scale that the neighborhoods where we live and work here. I admit that the sight of upscale shops and well-manicured entryways felt wonderful. There is clearly great wealth here, as well as great poverty.

As we approach the final stretch, my thoughts are turning homeward. I wonder how to describe Ecuador and the Global Volunteers experience. One word: contrast.
- Rich and poor
- Oil and eco-tourism
- Filthy work and spotless laundry
- Great need and greater hospitality
- Super-singles and empty-nesters
- Harry Potter and Salsa dancing
- Rainforests and 1-room houses
- $120 shoes and $1 purses
- Weathered indigenous women and handsome Calderonian hostesses
- Pre-Incan pottery and gilded cathedrals
- Beautiful hummingbirds and raty mongrels
- Strangers and friends

- Carrie W

July 16, 2007 - Reflections on the 100th Team in Ecuador from a Returning Volunteer

2007-07-17T20:49:00.000-05:00

My thought for the day: My life is not the same having seen the sun shine on the other side of the world.

The first time I arrived in Ecuador I felt apprehensive, as many of you - my fellow team members - did. I had no medical or carpentry skills so I wasn't sure what I could offer that would make a difference.

To be able to comfort a crying child, give words of encouragement or just offer an extra pair of hands is all that is needed of me. The smiles and hugs I receive from the children and staff remain with me long after the two weeks is over.

I am always amazed at the group of caring, generous people I am privileged to be a part of. A teacher at Camp Hope once said to me: "Thank you for coming to Camp Hope. You could go anywhere on vacation - yet you choose to come to Ecuador to help our children."

When we return home and try to explain to others the wonderful experiences of our Global Volunteers team in Quito, Ecuador, they may enjoy our stories and pictures. But the only people who truly understand are the fellow team members who hold the same special memories in their hearts.

- Barb N.

July 16, 2007 - Reflections on the 100th Team in Ecuador

2007-07-17T20:18:00.000-05:00

We awoke to another beautiful morning. Our colleagues staying at the other hotel joined us for breakfast as did Rachael, our new translator. Each group then left for their respective work sites. My group attended the tour of Camp Hope and learned that Camp Hope serves 125 kids, 50% of whom have disabilities. Camp Hope offers an array of services including PT, OT, psychology, speech therapy, medical and dental care. There are 15 classrooms to educate both "typical" and special needs kids. In addition, social, vocational, and spiritual services are offered as well as parent education, volunteer support, transportation for the children, and an orphanage named Casa Hogar. We toured classrooms for children who are babies, toddlers, K-3, Pre-vocational and Vocational II. The vocational classrooms help to train students in basic skills that they may be able to use in work settings. At Casa Hogar we met Pola the dog and Elsa the pig, who may be joining this large family for dinner (the pig, not the dog!). The facility is absolutely beautiful and the love and care surrounding these children was apparent. When we returned to Camp Hope I had the great fortune to work with Delia, the school nurse, in the very well-organized infirmary. She quickly lined up some great dermatology cases, including some of my favorites including eczema, warts, seborrhea, candidiasis, scabies, actinic keratoses. I was extremely impressed with her clinical acumen and ability to explain diagnosis and treatment to each patient with the utmost compassion, respect, humor and playfulness. She considers all of the children her own and treats them as such. I was left with the overall impression of a place alive with hope, faith and love, so my thought for the day is a quote from Reinhold Niebuhr:

-Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope.
-Nothing that is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith.
-Nothing we do however virtuous can be accomplished alone; therefore we must be saved by love.

- Peggy S.