Newsletter: ¡Getting Stuck In!
- Joshua Holmes
- Nov 15, 2023
- 3 min read
The following is an El Terreno newsletter published on 15th November 2023
Over the past couple of months, we've made more strives on building projects, both here at El Terreno and within the community.
But we have some other exciting community projects to round off as we reach the end of 2023 - look out for the next edition!
Joshua Holmes
Founder, El Terreno
Entering the Home Straight
After our EcuaExplora group departed, our Architecture and Sustainable Construction Interns, Elise and Alina, take Gina's cabin a forward, by building out the kitchen extension.
"You can feel that this project comes from the heart and that the main motivation is improving the quality of live for the local community. The love and energy that Joshua and Karina put into the work is omnipresent and create a wonderful atmosphere. I was nervous to spend such a long time away from home, in a country where I couldn't really communicate with anyone... But from week number two I was hooked and the time went by way to fast.
"I loved the life in the casa communal with the other volunteers, the interaction with the local community, visiting the market on Sundays, the Spanish lessons, the excursions linked to the internship organized by Joshua, the planning and construction work on Ginas House and the Weekend trips with the other volunteers. I felt very comfortable in my homestay and by the end it was really hard to say goodbye.
"I learned a lot about my profession, but also about myself and my place in the world. I would fully recommend an internship with El Terreno - no matter what profession or interests you have."
- Alina, Germany 🇩🇪 (Architecture & Sustainable Construction Intern)
But that's not all. During October we received two more interns, Alptug (Turkey) and Sylvia (Germany), who dedicated 4 weeks to make even more progress.
The highlight was our first week-long adobe course. Since the departure of Sofia, we've been missing her experienced hands - so we invited her back!
Throughout seven days, the interns learned directly from Sofia on the properties of working with clay, while building the bathroom walls. It also featured trips out to other construction projects and an architecture workshop from Sebastián, our architecture mentor.
All in all - a great success!
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.
Community Constructions
We've delivered lots of great programmes over the last 18 months with the help of our regular charitable donors. But we've recently been offering help to improve local infrastructure, so that community organisations can continue to make an impact to the people they serve.
We began in the local health centre, which required some improvements before their annual inspections so they could continue functioning. We helped by covering the cost of the builders to make these essential changes, including redecoration, plumbing and laying tiles.
We also received a request from the Catholic church group in San Juan, who said they wanted to build a toilet block, as children would go behind the building to go to the bathroom during Sunday school.
While we are not a religious organisation, we see the value of all the ways to bring the community together and the need for hygiene. We we contributed over $450 towards the new toilet block, built by local families, so that children have access to safe public toilets.
These community contributions are made possible through regular donations from supporters like you.
Consider joining them from only a few dollars a month.
¿Where Have You Been?
We haven't sent out a newsletter in a while, and you might be wondering why! Other than the busy day-to-day activities, was that we have also created a special internship newsletter series. Over the course of seven emails, we have laid out all you need to know:
¿Why Intern Abroad?
El Terreno's Mission, Vision & Team
Guaranda's History, Culture & Development Needs
¿What is a Personalised Internship Programme?
Adventures for your Free Time
Travel Logistics and Staying Safe
If you're curious, we highly recommend you check it out, simply sign up via the button below and you'll begin receiving the list in just a couple of days!
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