Newsletter: ¡Spring Projects in Bloom - Gender and More!
- Joshua Holmes
- May 8
- 3 min read
The following is an El Terreno newsletter published on 8th May 2025
I'm speaking to you from a short break here in Quito, reflecting on some of the amazing coordinated projects that 16 interns have run over the last 3.5 months. We've planted over 5,000 trees, planted a community garden, painted a school mural and run some great gender projects, to name just a few!
Thanks for your ongoing support and let's continue to ride the wave into this upcoming summer season!
Joshua Holmes
Founder, El Terreno
Empowering Girls for More Healthy, Independent Lives
Gender Equality and Reproductive health are pervasive issues in rural communities surrounding El Terreno. Established gender roles mean that the men still hold the economic power and women's aspirations are often limited to taking care of domestic responsibilities and raising children, often from a young age. Women also have a diminished opportunity to make decisions, as community leaders are almost exclusively men.
We officially opened our Gender Equality and Reproductive Health Internship last year to address the disempowerment of women and teenage pregnancy rates.
"EMPOWERHER" INTERNSHIP PROJECT
From December through March, Rineke 🇳🇱 🇳🇬 joined us as part of her International Development Studies MSc. During her stay, she interviewed various stakeholders, identifying the need to empower teenage girls at the Cochapamba school. In collaboration with her mentors, she developed a workshop series to help girls reflect on their past, identify their talents and plan for their future.
Watch her Final Presentation of her Inspiring Project:
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.
SAN JUAN SEXUAL HEALTH CLASSES
With reports of domestic violence and teenage pregnancy rates as high as 26% in some communities, sexual and reproductive health is also something that needs to be urgently addressed - with both boys and girls.
We were lucky enough to receive a €500 donation from Judith & Flo Wagner, which they raised as part of their wedding celebrations. This generous donation was directed towards a series of 8 workshops on relationship violence, body changes and emotional expression for 76 teenage boys and girls of the school in San Juan de Llullundongo.
A huge thank you to the newlyweds for your contribution and making this important work possible!
A WINDOW INTO THE WORLD OF LOCAL WOMEN
We also received word that Nolwen 🇫🇷 and Anissa 🇫🇷 - two interns from 2024 - had recently completed their documentary into the lives of women and girls in San Juan. This intimate video gives a rare glimpse into the aspirations and challenges women face in their societies.
Medical Equipment
You may remember that in December, we co-organised a 4k charity race with the Ministry of Health and the community of San Juan de Llullundongo. Through this initiative, we raised over $1,000 in essential medical equipment for the health centre.
The equipment as arrived - including wheel chairs, medical furniture, obstetrics equipment and more! We met with the health centre staff, community leaders and representatives from the Ministry of Health to deliver the equipment and celebrate a job well done!
These activities are made possible thanks to the generosity of people like you, many who make a single or monthly contribution to benefit the low-income communities surrounding El Terreno.
Do you want to develop your professional skills and make a meaningful difference in new cultures and surroundings? Consider an internship at in the Ecuadorian Andes or a donation to our community fund to provide more activities like this.
Last Call for Summer Programmes!
¿Do you still need to make plans for this summer and are looking for a once in a lifetime experience?
Summer is right around the corner and many of you might be cramming for your final exams. But if you're also looking for an unforgettable adventure, where you can also build your resumé and leave a mark - it's not too late!
We've got some great international interns coming from the 25 May to work on some amazing projects, including sustainable construction, water quality, public health and community tourism. If this sounds like you, don't miss out the summer of a lifetime in Ecuador!
If you're on more of a limited budget, but want to work in a team in the great outdoors while supporting our mission - our volunteering position is also open! We've only got a couple of spaces left, so don't delay!
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