The Tandana Foundation is organizing a Gardening Volunteer Vacation to the beautiful Andean highlands outside of Otavalo, Ecuador from October 18 to the 25th.
The volunteers’ primary purpose on this trip will be helping out at a local tree nursery. They will be doing a little bit of everything at the nursery including planting trees, pruning roots, digging ditches and pulling weeds. The volunteers will also collect saplings which they will plant at the nursery
The nursery was built by an organization representing 23 indigenous villages, called UCINQUI. UCINQUI sells the trees in order to earn money to help the 23 communities with health, education, and other projects. Most of the trees are used to protect water sources and reforest in the 23-village area. The Tandana Foundation has assisted with infrastructure projects for the nursery, including acclimatization beds and a greenhouse.
Helping out at the nursery is not the only gardening work the volunteers will be doing. The group will participate in a minga, a community work day, helping plant trees in a local community. They will teach a lesson about plants to the students at the Ulpiano Navarro School in Quichinche and will work alongside the students in the school garden. The volunteers will also have an opportunity to learn about the plants cultivated by local families.
When they are not having fun digging in the dirt, the group will have plenty of time to enjoy the local culture and see beautiful scenery. They will visit the world-renowned Otavalo market and participate in a cooking class taught by a local chef. They will enjoy a demonstration from master weaver and visit Cuicocha volcanic lake. The volunteers will relax each night at lovely La Posada del Quinde in Otavalo.
The trip will cost $1,200 if the volunteer wishes to share a room or $1,300 for a single room. This cost does not include airfare or personal expenses but does include food, lodging, transportation and activities while in Ecuador. To register for this trip please visit http://www.tandanafoundation.org/gardening-volunteer-vacation.html.
The Tandana Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers cross-cultural volunteer opportunities, scholarships, and funding for small community projects in highland Ecuador and Mali’s Dogon Country. Tandana coordinates service projects and volunteer vacations that offer visitors to Ecuador or Mali the unique opportunity to be guests rather than tourists, to form cross-cultural friendships, to experience a rich indigenous culture, and to make a difference in the lives of new friends. Its scholarship program allows rural Ecuadorian students to continue their secondary education. Its community projects help villagers in Mali and Ecuador realize their dreams of improving their communities. Otavalo photo below from www.2backpackers.com. For more information about The Tandana Foundation, please visit www.tandanafoundation.org.
