Niels van Beelen (Netherlands)

March 2007 

What a great experience were the last 14 weeks it went by incredible fast, too fast if you ask me.

During my stay here I learnt lots of new friends who I want to thank for making the stay here so pleasant.

The whole alto choco area is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and probably ever will see. The combination of plants and streaming rivers and densely populated forest is a great beautiful experience to see. I can recommend it to everybody.

Most of all I won't forget the warmness of Milton and Ines they welcome everybody so warm it really feels like home. It was great fun to take part in this volunteer work here with this organization and it makes me feeling very good when I think back of the time here.

All who I met the last weeks thank you very much, and maybe I will return some day.

Greets,

Niels van Beelen

Luuk Arts (Netherlands)

March 2007

An unforgettable time for the rest of my life. The beginning in the first week was not so good because of our lost luggage. But the country and especially the Alto Choco reserve did forget this problem very fast. I love the country and the culture what did feel me very comfortable during the last three months.

Living in Alto Choco is one big adventure with every day new experiences. The most beautiful things in Alto Choco are the cloud forest with his waterfalls, rivers and plants. But not only the cloud forest is something nice, also the contact with other volunteers is perfect. I have now many new friends. And the contact with Milton, Alfredo and Ines is wonderful, I'll never forget one of these people. I feel very sad leaving this reserve but it will be forever in my mind. Thanks a lot people to the staff in Ecuador but especially Milton.

We where here for a school project, redesigning the Botanical garden in Alto Choco. For 15 weeks we worked in the reserve on this project. And we liked it very much. I hope the plans we made are become real in the future.

I have nothing more to say, only that I'm sure I want to come back in the future for at least Ecuador or maybe for the Alto Choco reserve for say Milton and Ines hello.

Thanks a lot everybody for the great time,

Luuk Arts 25 March Quito

Martin Omischl (Austria)

I have worked 8 weeks in Quito in the old people's home called "plenitude ciudad de la alegria". Now, after passing these 8 weeks, I can say, it was one of the best times in my life.

I came to Ecuador without speaking any Spanish and only with a little experience as far as the care of old people is concerned. I didn't really know, what to expect, so I just jumped into this adventure. The first 2 weeks in Quito I took Spanish lessons, just to know the basics of this language. With these basis language skills I have started to work. At the beginning I had some problems understanding what the people were saying but all the people living in the home treated me quite nice and showed understanding for my language problems - more, they started to teach me new words and how to use them correctly and so I had the best teachers, I ever could imagine.

Most of the residents are lonely, their children are occupied with work or even forget them. I tried to make them forget that they are living in an old peoples home: I have talked a lot with them, they told me their life stories and taught me a lot more than the language: they taught me how real life works - things, no teacher in no school teaches. You can learn these lessons only by facing real life on your own or listening to people, who have already done this.

As a volunteer I didn't get paid money, but in reality I got paid more, than any money could do: they gave me their love, a kiss, a warm handshake, a piece of bread saved from breakfast or a bright laugh. And that is, at least in my opinion, the best and the most you can earn when doing this kind of work.

Erica van den Berg (Netherland)  

CEAM is a walk-in day centre for elderly (55+) people. The main aim is to provide medical attention and recreational activities. As a volunteer you can do or organise activities with small groups, depending on your skills, initiatives and qualifications. Activities that are organised are, for example: arts and crafts, music and dance, gymnastics, cooking classes and organic garden classes. The centre is excellent and working very hard to develop more activities and promotion. I worked for two months in CEAM. I taught English classes three times a week and international cooking classes. At times I went with a group of people to outings ( e.g. to a movie). Every day I met many different people. I talked with them regularly. The people were very friendly and I learned a lot about the people and customs in Ecuador. If you want to work In CEAM it is necessary to speak/understand Spanish quit well, because nobody speaks English. This is especially important if you want to work independently with a group. I enjoyed my time in CEAM very much. It was an experience, never to forget.

Brian Gattis (USA)

This project is a great opportunity to reach out to those who are less fortunate, and to become immersed in a completely different culture.

Come into this project, I was afraid that I would not gain the trust and respect necessary for teaching, because of my skin color, nationality and intermediate Spanish ability. This was evident in the first week, but I remained patient and calm, and soon the children began to treat me as a friend and respect my knowledge as a teacher. The frustration that I felt for not being able to communicate well with then in Spanish was completely overshadowed by the satisfaction a felt teaching a child something new in a given subject. Though the children fought often, they were all genuine and friendly on the inside, and I will miss them so much.

I recommend this project to even the most elementary of Spanish speakers, because no matter what your level is, the experience is so rewarding.

Bayley Laurence (USA)  

Working with the street children was one of the hardest things (mentally) have ever done, but also the best. It was rewarding every day when the kids confided in me or just gave me a really long hug. Leaving will be very hard. I wish I could stay for more than a month, because they finally trust me and listen to me.

It was extremely rewarding and the most sincere gentle love that I ever imagined possible. What the kids need, more than anything really is constant love. They are intelligent and wonderful kids who have had absolutely terrible lives. All their problems are directly due to bad childhoods. They need people to let them see that the world really can be an okay place. They are still young and endlessly hopeful, so a little love goes a long way.

They are the most resilient creatures you could ever meet, and fun and beautiful and sweet besides. They are actually really incredible.

Certainly I learned more from them than they did from me.

I recommend this project to other volunteers because the project needs as many volunteers as it can get!