Newsletter: ¡Thank you 2023, Welcome to 2024!
- Joshua Holmes
- Jan 1, 2024
- 3 min read
The following is an El Terreno newsletter published on 1st January 2024
New Year is a time of reflecting on the past and renewing for the future, this year is no exception! Watching the highlight reel (see below) brings back fond memories, which culminated in some amazing projects.
And we're making some important changes to our programmes and infrastructure to make things even better in the coming months - so watch this space!
I hope you'll continue to join us on the journey, and that this year is a meaningful, prosperous and regenerative one for you.
Joshua Holmes
Founder, El Terreno
¡A Football Tournament to Rival the World Cup!
With all online and offline donations accounted for, we raised almost $2,500 for her school library project in San Juan de Llullundongo. This is a vital resource for a school that collects and sell plastic bottles and paper in order to pay for basic cleaning equipment.
As a result, Olive and accompanying intern Lorenza led several classes in the school to spark the passion in reading amongst students. They also supported sustainability workshops lead by 'Red de Mujeres y Jóvenes Protectoras/es del Agua y el Páramo Bolívar' to highlight the importance of recycling and water conservation.
In December, the funds were put to use as promised, taking around 200 students to the municipal library and carnaval museum to expose them to the essential educational and cultural resources that the children have access to. Some of the children had never even visited Guaranda - and it was a lot of fun!
At the request of the parents's association at the school, funds were also directed to painting a mural on the entrance walls in the school. Thanks to the design of Lorenza and the local artists who worked alongside the kids to complete it over the course of 4 days!
As a further legacy, Olive bought over 70 books and more have donated, so that the school can continue reading to the children. This will be supported by the continued support of the municipal library and our monitoring of the book use.
While our interns have now departed, there is still work to do to ensure this project is sustained and built upon over time, including more books, library visits and ongoing classes in the importance of reading.
Please consider a donation to help improve the educational opportunities for low-income indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Andes.
Learn more about Olive's experience through her final presentation:
If you're inspired and looking for a meaningful life where you fulfil your purpose, travel the world and make an impact, find out more what an personalised internship might look like for you.
Looking Back on 2023
Did 2023 seem like a bit of a blur? It did for us too!
So we've made a highlight reel of all the amazing things our volunteers, interns and mentors have been up to during the past 12 months. Check it out!
Taking Inspiration from Cultural Preservation
There are better ways to achieve success than reinventing the wheel, which is why we take regular visits to other projects working towards the same aim.
A great example is La Moya, a community tourism project set up in the foothills of Chimborazo volcano. Over the years, they have self-organised to create spaces that not only bring much need income into these rural communities, but also created a means to preserve local culture and traditions.
This is just one of the many development projects we visit with our volunteers and interns when they come to El Terreno. There's a whole selection of community and eco-tourism activities on offer.
Check out our free activities guide to see what you could be doing on your adventure to the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes.
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