Fruits of Our Labor: Summer Projects coming to Fruition!
The following is an El Terreno newsletter published on 04th August 2026
Hola there,
As we approach the end of the summer season, we're beginning to see the hard work of our Changemakers bear fruit!
Watch this space four our WASI PICHAY celebration we'll share next newsletter with the completion of Gina's House!
Joshua Holmes
Founder, El Terreno
Transforming San Juan's Nursery: A Safe Space for 36 Children to Grow
This month, we're invited our global community to help us reimagine the nursery in San Juan de Llullundongo, Ecuador — a place where 36 of the country's youngest and most vulnerable children spend their earliest, most formative years.
Lucy 🇬🇧 and Maia 🇬🇧, they've witnessed first-hand how much geography can shape a child's access to learning and opportunity. During their time with El Terreno, they have immersed themselves in the San Juan community, working closely with staff and families to understand exactly what the nursery needs to thrive — and it's this understanding that has driven them to take on its transformation as their project. |
Every child deserves a safe, engaging environment in which to learn and grow. Sadly, this has not been the reality for the infants at San Juan. Peeling walls, broken or missing windows, faulty lighting and exposed electrical cables create daily safety concerns, whilst essential learning materials — books, toys, puzzles and art supplies — remain scarce. |
To share more about their time in Ecuador, Lucy and Maia put together a special presentation reflecting on their internship: the people they've met, the challenges they've witnessed, and the work they've carried out so far in the San Juan community. |
The early years lay the foundation for a child's entire future — and together, we can ensure every child at San Juan has a space where they feel safe, valued and inspired to learn.
Support will the continued transformation of rural nurseries today! |
Honouring Ancestral Wisdom: A Workshop with Andean Midwives
Deep in the Andes, our changemakers have been holding vital workshops with local community midwives to celebrate ancestral knowledge and strengthen our collaborative healthcare network across the region. |
This first gathering was organised and led by four of our dedicated interns: Gabrielle 🇧🇪, Zoey 🇺🇸, Soliana, and Alice 🇫🇷.
The session gave our team the opportunity to deepen its connections with these respected local leaders, to listen directly to their priorities around sustainability and community impact, and to gauge their interest in the multimedia components of our wider project. |
By listening to, and working alongside, traditional midwives, we ensure that our public health initiatives remain truly community-led, respectful and sustainable — rooted in the wisdom that has supported Andean families for generations. |
Moments like these remind us that meaningful change grows from genuine relationships. As we look ahead, we carry with us the trust built during this workshop and remain committed to walking alongside these communities, guided always by their knowledge and their vision for the future.
A Two-Way Street: English Lessons and Andean Life
Real sustainable development is always a two-way exchange. Late last year, we were delighted to welcome Conor 🇬🇧, an English teacher from England, and Annie 🇦🇺, a conservation biologist from Australia, who joined our team in the Andes to work directly alongside rural schools and local educators. |
The team gained valuable insights into innovative methods of soil regeneration, natural pest control, and efficient water management that can be directly applied to our own agricultural initiatives. They also had the opportunity to see firsthand how different crops are being cultivated using ecological approaches that enhance both productivity and environmental health. |
During this exchange, Conor had the unique opportunity to work hand in hand with local teachers, learning deeply from indigenous culture, values and community principles, whilst helping educators and students perfect their English with a native speaker. For Conor, the experience was profoundly motivating — offering fresh, real-world perspectives to bring back to his own students in England, and a powerful reminder of just how vital English education is in rural communities. |
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