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17 Nov 2024
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Description
We are a small non-profit organization working in a coastal town in Manabí-Ecuador
Our project sustains a successful Children's Library and communitary center in a coastal Ecuador town hit by a 7.8 earthquake. We run a Library and a Van to support neighboring community libraries. We are empowering Girls and Women and helping boys to walk into healthy masculinities through educational programs to unsettle patriarchal mores that marginalized their elders. Your support enables us to continue and expand our much-needed gender equality programs throughout a coastal corridor of liberating libraries in rural Manabi.
Challenge
While 73% of girls in canton Jama register in elementary school only 1% reach college and 15% are economically active. Teenage pregnancy is pervasive, leaving young women in dependent situations for the rest of their lives. While living in this tiny fishing village seems idyllic on the surface, there is an underlying pattern of abuse against girls and women, resulting in domestic violence and child abuse. 7 out of 10 young girls have been abused before reaching adulthood.
Solution
Our Children's Library deals with gender issues. We pay specific attention to girls and boys ages 10-12 because we believe that nourishing young girls self-esteem through reading, sports, science projects and arts will enable them to develop a healthy sense of their bodies as a territory they command. At the same time, we are working with their young male peers in masculinity workshops and activities that will help them become respectful and equal partners for future strong women. We created the program ( Bosque y mar) "forest and sea" to interact with young adults of both sexes, to protect the environment, to reflect about genres, and to improve academic performance. All of this through reading, sports, environmental activities and communitary meetings.
Long-Term Impact
Educational assistance increases school graduation and trains girls for skilled labor and professions. Sports and arts programs open an array of healthy opportunities to mingle between genders. Our Library is an example other neighboring communities are replicating. With our new library bus we will be able to reach over 1.300 women and girls in communities surrounding Don Juan. All our educational programs promote gender equality, social organization, local leadership, and cultural awareness.
Volunteers
Our volunteers must have a full comand of Spanish they are expected to interact with children from the first day. They spend´a minimum 8 weeks with us. While teaching English, assisting children with their homework, sport coaching or offering art workshops they also learn from the community. You will be invited to fish with the locals, learn their gastronomy, use a machete. The Foundation offers lodging in a shared bedroom in the second floor of the Library, you will share bathroom and kitchen with other volunteers; we supply the basics to cook your own vegan meals.Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity WorkArt ProjectsLanguage practiceHelp with Eco ProjectsTeachingGardeningDIY and building projectsGeneral MaintenanceHelp with Computers/ InternetUN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
If you are an open minded traveler who is willing to change your life style in order to really get to know the culture you are visiting, as well as yourself, this is a good destination for you. I you are very set in your ways, and intend to reproduce your modern urban comfort you may end up feeling lost. Please keep in mind you should come and help solve problems, not create them. Nevertheless, once you have been accepted as one of us, we will do our best to make you feel safe and confortable.
This is a fishing community that can offer many learining opportunities, artisanl fishing, preparing fish and shrimp and the local cuisine in a wood stove. We often hold friday afternoon tea parties with our volunteers to read and discuss literature. The founders are a couple of Literature Professors that can help you get started on a Latin American Literary journey. You will be able to learn artisanal fishing, local cuisine, machete, fish cleaning. You will learn about family dynamics and Ecuadorian culture.Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
First and foremost: you must be proficient in Spanish, if this is not the case, and you are still learining, please contact us when you are in full comand of the Spanish language. As a result of our excellent experience with volunteering families, we are looking for traveling parents who are teachers, artists or professionals and would like to spend a couple of months volunteering with their families. We want families who are interested in arts, education, sports, and culture. Single volunteers are welcome, but we believe families embody different gender dynamics, and also their parent-children relationships offer an alternative to what is pervasive in the region. We also value peer relationships that build between children volunteers and the local children from Don Juan. The opportunity to learn from different cultures and be exposed to other ways of growing up is the most valuable asset volunteering families offer and receive from this project.
Teaching experience is welcome, but not mandatory, and Spanish proficiency. You will be always accompanied but, after a couple of weeks, you should be able to run our local Children's Library in a small fishing village in the coast of Manabí, Ecuador. You need to have a command of Spanish to help with homework, you should also be willing to teach English, Art, recycled crafts, coach sports or help with homework and come up with creative and fun possibilities for the spare time of our young neighbors, this is your place. You will also be asked to help out in the local grade school teaching English and playing games in English with the kids. There is plenty of things to be done if you have an open disposition and are willing to share your talents. Since you will be part of an educational program, we need you to stay with us at least 8 weeks, as we prefer volunteers who able to stay for longer periods.
Currently, we are looking particularly for volunteers with capacities to teach the teenagers in Don Juan to surf, snorkel, swiming, etc; the practive of other sports and the hability to play chess will be highly valued in our Community Center.Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: FluentAccommodation
You will be staying in the volunteer lodgings at the Intercultural Center in Don Juan. It is a beautiful two story bamboo house housing the Library in the first floor and the volunteers bedrooms in the second. After hours, volunteers have the house for themselves. On occasions we may have week end activities or community gatherings, we will always let you know in advance, but you are not expected to work out of your schedule. There are two bedrooms: one has a queen bed for a couple and 2 bunk beds and a single bed in the second bedroom. On ocassion, there are parties in town, you may want to pack your earplugs. You will be sharing bathroom and kitchen with other volunteers. The kitchen is fully equipped, we will provide the basic goods for you to prepare, along with other volunteers, your own meals. You will buy from local vendors whatever else you need: fruit, vegetables, fish, shrimp etc...
If you are willing to live a simple and healthy life in a bamboo house you will be very happy here.What else ...
Our village is in the equatorial line surrounded by beautiful beaches, primary forests, and archaeological sites. You may borrow our bikes to go to Jama (south) or Pedernales (north). The Intercultural Center is located in the Center of the Village just a block away from the beach. There is a nearby surfing beach and a Natural Reserve where you can hike. This calm and beautiful place encourages you to relax, read, meditate or swim, bike and take long walks. This is a great opportunity to learn something about yourself while helping others.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Our online connection is very good. If you are planning to work during your volunteering, you need to organize your schedule so that you may be available from 9-11 am and 2-5pm. Besides this schedule you may work in the Library.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (26)
Fue una hermosa experiencia… read more
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Fue una hermosa experiencia… read more
I've been home a couple of months now since leaving in November!
From my perspective, I stayed for 3 months and was able to take care of the garden and plant with the kids, whilst also helping out in the library.
The volunteers both local (Adri, la veci y Bryan) & foreign, along with the kids, Esteban y Rut are what make this such a… read more
Children at the library are very kind and open minded to test new books, new sport, new games, and always with a smile. There is an incredible atmofere. It is peaceful, and you feel confident.
Rut and Esteban are amazing people.… read more
Es un proyecto genuino que afronta estereotipos de género y trabaja para que los niños puedan desafiarlos sus mismos - ya sean chicos que muestran sus… read more
We would love to see her return someday.
El proyecto es precioso y funciona perfectamente. Tuvimos la oportunidad de participar en el proyecto de la biblioteca, en las reformas de ella y en el mural. Aprendimos muchísimo!
Y que decir de Don Juan, es un sitio hermoso con una gente adorable que te cuida desde tu llegada. Pasamos las fiestas… read more
. Al principio dudamos un poco porque
no sabíamos si éramos aptos para aportar algo importante y útil, luego en la entrevista con Rut y Esteban, ella nos dijo que todos tenemos algo que enseñar de nuestra experiencia de… read more
Mi estancia en Don Juan fue de dos meses. Dos meses cargados en emociones, lecciones personales, reflexiones de ética, ... Para mí el choque cultural fue total y de lo más interesante. Desde el primer día, Rut,… read more
Andrea es una voluntaria perfecta: está absolutamente capacitada para lo que se propone hacer. En su visita ofrecióndos talleres para niñas y mujeres. Trabajó… read more
Agradezco mucho haber tenido la posibilidad de trabajar, aprender y compartir mis días en Don Juan. Rut y Esteban son muy amables, siempre… read more
It is a perfect place to get in contact with different people in Don Juan and see the lifestyle of these enormes great people! The library is an amazing place for the children to learn about their country while reading books or doing… read more
Buscamos mucho y un día... ¡Apareció! ¿Saben cuándo la intuición te expande el pecho y te dice “¡Eh! Detente aquí, esto es interesante”? Eso nos pasó cuando leímos sobre el… read more
The library is not a classroom, and I think that's the… read more
This is the perfect opportunity to make a difference for a community that needs it and learn a lot while you volunteer.
The place is very comfortable, the food is delicious, and Ruth and Esteban are lovely and very accommodating.
We had a really… read more
Estamos muy agredecidos de que pudimos ser parte de este proyecto por cinco semanas. Para los niños que vienen a la biblioteca (9-12am+ 3-5pm) este es un lugar seguro donde pueden aprender cosas nuevas mientras se divierten. Hemos tratado de contribuir en esto… read more
Volunteering here will be rewarding and the bond you will make with the community, and especially the children, in such a short time will astound you and be nothing short of beautiful. I can… read more
Una de nuestras mejores experiencias en un año de viaje y una de mejores de Ecuador.
No es solamente un volontario pero mas una experiencia humana. Es un ONG donde los voluntarios pueden ayudar con un projecto personal Baptiste y mi trabajan sobre una enorme mapa del mundo y tambien para ensenar un poco de cocina 'francaise'. Rut… read more
cheers!
Rut & Esteban