Day 3: The Work Begins

January 6, 2010

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” -Maria Robinson.  

By: Celine Reyes

We were all up bright and early by 7:00 this morning  for a delicious breakfast of oatmeal, eggs, and bacon accompanied by fresh fruit, and pineapple juice. It was a great way to start off our first day of work here in Mondaña. Our guide, Robert, took us to the high school and told us about the education system that they have at the Yachana Technical High School. The students who attend the school board here for three weeks, then return home for one week. They spend their mornings here learning English, Science, Math, and the rest. The afternoons are saved for “hands-on learning,” when students learn about things such as ecotourism, agrohusbandry, and microenterprise. 

Nick checking out Robert's shirt... Which one are you?  A change maker, innovator, or problem solver... all three!!

Then it was time for the heavy lifting--literally. We headed to the shore where well over 100 aluminum/plastic hybrid sheets were dropped off by canoe. The sheets are going to be part of the roof of the high school, which collapsed in the rain because of beetles that ate parts of the former thatched roof. This task is much easier said than done since these sheets were bulky and were not very light. Most people were able to carry only one sheet up the very long trail from the shore (except for Adam and Robert who carried three or four sheets by themselves). 124 sheets and a few hours later, it was time for lunch and our work for the day was done.

Site Leader Zach leading the way on carrying the aluminum roofing from the river to the rain-forest.

  

Lunch was extremely rewarding, especially the flan for dessert, but what was even better was our afternoon float in the Napo River. After a few minutes in the canoe up the river, we buckled into our life jackets and hopped onto our raft of inner tubes. The water felt so great, and some of us even got slight tans.

The group on their way to their tubing adventure down the Napo River.

The entire group, including Kate from ProWorld and Robert from Yachana.

We had a little free time before dinner, which we spent developing some community standards for the rest of our time here, and playing a game of charades. Dinner was delicious (as has been all the food here).

Afterwards, Douglas McMeekin, the founder of the Yachana Foundation, joined us for an evening chat. He told us all the details about the plans for the new Institute that Yachana is working on: a two-year program for those who graduate high school, almost like a junior college. We learned about his passion and drive to stop deforestation in Ecuador, and his efforts to do so, including Yachia--a program where people can make an online personal donation to a farmer in exchange for assurance that the farmer will maintain his land and not cut down any of his trees. It gave us a lot to chew on, and while we may not agree with all of Douglas’s opinions, his accomplishments and energy are truly inspiring.