Newsletter: ¡Encouraging Water, Trees & Children!
- Joshua Holmes
- Feb 8, 2024
- 4 min read
The following is an El Terreno newsletter published on 8th February 2024
After an uncertain start to 2024, things are calming down in Ecuador and we're looking forward to Carnaval celebrations this weekend!
In this newsletter, we're happy to share with you highlights of a few very cool projects to leave a lasting change on local communities.
Joshua Holmes
Founder, El Terreno
Water is Life
In terms of infrastructure, lack of safe and reliable drinking water is the biggest problem local communities face. It results in high rates of gastro-intestinal illnesses (especially amongst children) which leads to malnutrition, as well as 3-4 months a year of water shortages which slows economic development.
Furthermore, with average annual rainfall in Guaranda on the decline, things are likely only to get worse as climate change accelerates.
During 2023, interns completed three internship programmes on Community Water Projects. The final contribution to rural communities from September to December was Quinten Harskamp (the Netherlands).
During the 3 months he was with us, Quinten worked with the water committees ('juntas') from San Juan de Llullundongo to digitally map out the water sources. Then, alongside our Agroecology mentor, Sebastián Araya, they designed a reforestation plan to plant thousands of trees to increase rainfall and prevent contamination.
But that's not all! As a part of his research, Quinten also created a short documentary featuring key stakeholders on the challenges they face and their aspirations for safe and reliable drinking water.
Watch the documentary here:
Finally, Quinten presented his plan and documentary to community leaders and over 150 inhabitants of San Juan.
All in all - a great success!
As a result of this project, his plans have been adopted as local community members will be planting over 5,000 tress this month, in a collaboration with the local water committees, local government, Fundación CARE and the El Terreno Foundation!
Congratulations, Quinten, great job! We're sure this experience will serve you as you follow your career in Sustainable Development.
To hear more about Quinten's internship in more detail, click below watch his final presentation:
If you want to make a difference through a hands-on project, while developing your professional skills alongside trained professionals, get in touch to arrange what an personalised internship might look like for you.
#Social Impact
Nursing Spaces for the Next Generation
In the lead up to our first EcuaExplora group in April 2023, we invested a lot of time, money and effort into renovations of Atandahua's abandoned school.
This work laid an important foundation in creating usable community infrastructure. Now, a group of young women from the community have banded together in the attempt to open a free local nursery through the ministry of social and economic inclusion. They have successfully identified 35 toddlers in Atandahua and surrounding communities who would benefit from the service.
While the electric, water and painting was already complete, there was still work to be done to make it ready for these groups of children. In particular, the reparation of the kitchen so that the largely under-nourished children can receive breakfast and lunch on site.
As most families can't afford private childcare, services like these free up time for mothers to gain more independence, as well as socialise children ready for school.
As a result, El Terreno foundation contributed almost $1,000 in materials including doors, windows, roofing and wood to prepare the spaces.
This has been made possible by the generosity of our donors. In particular, we would like to thank Simon and Kathy, El Terreno volunteers from 2022, who have contributed almost $500 from friends and family towards this initiative!
The donation was made as part of a special occasion - their wedding! - and we wish them a long and loving partnership together.
There's still a few final touches and some Ecuadorian red-tape to get through, but we anticipate the nursery to open in the coming months. We'll keep your posted!
These activities are made possible thanks to the generosity of people like you, many who make a small monthly contribution to benefit the low-income communities surrounding El Terreno.
Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.
We're Safe and Sound!
Ecuador has received a lot of bad press over the past few weeks due to the conflict between the government and drug cartels. We are saddened by the news and feel for all of the people affected.
Fortunately, we are safe as things in Guaranda have hardly changed - Carnaval is on for this weekend!
For those who have been wanting to join us but now is not the right time for you, we're are looking to develop online courses. Of course it won't be the same as a real-world immersive experience, but it's a great way to build experience from the comfort of your own home.
We'd love to hear what virtual learning journey you'd like to go on!
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