For the final week of the University of Oregon Sustainable Development Study Abroad Program the students completed their Ecuador experiences with a visit to the Bahía de Caráquez Municipality, Los Algarrobos School in Canoa, the Planet Drum greenhouse, and two days in the beautiful mountain town of Mindo.
At the Bahía de Caráquez Municipality, we met with long-time friend of Planet Drum Foundation and current vice-Mayor Iván Aguirre and members of the city planning department to discuss earthquake recovery, city development plans, and ecological projects. In the city planning department we were shown a variety of video simulations showing projected plans for a new boardwalk and various city parks.
The visit to Los Algarrobos School in Canoa included a variety of activities at the school and in the community. At the school, we assisted in building a stage area out of bamboo, dirt, and sand; we helped groups of students work on the garden projects around the school, which included watering and planting plants that the students brought from home; and we transplanted trees that the students planted in the elevated seedbeds installed by Planet Drum. Students had collected seeds of various native fruit trees and we had previously helped them plant them in the elevated beds. Now the seeds had germinated and were ready for transplanting. Students had been instructed to bring used plastic bottles to school. We helped them fill the bottles with dirt from our greenhouse and transplanted approximately 50 trees from the seedbeds into bottles. Students were then able to take their trees home.
After working with the students at the school, we went into town and at a community park we dug holes and planted 2 dozen native fruit trees. Thanks to Rachel from Los Algarrobos for helping to coordinate the community planting event!
The final visit to the Planet Drum greenhouse consisted of machete lessons, a bamboo construction class, and the opportunity for each student to plant a tree in the ground near the greenhouse. While learning proper machete technique, the students helped clear brush near the greenhouse. Meanwhile, others learned how to make a bamboo ramada (shade structure) with a thatch roof, which will provide crucial dry storage space at the greenhouse during the rainy season. After finishing those projects, each student planted one tree around the greenhouse.
That evening we celebrated the culmination of the program in Bahía with a large dinner where we invited some of the community members who worked with us during the previous three weeks to join us. Orlando, Laura, an Ecuadorian volunteer, Cristian, the fisherman, and his wife joined us, as did Marcelo Luque and Mikaela from Cerro Seco. It was quite the feast, and everyone had a great time. Afterwards, we made a bonfire on the beach.
The following morning everyone packed up their belongings to take off for Mindo for two days on the way back to Quito and the end of the program. Mindo provided a beautiful setting for a reflective class and eco-tourism activities, such as a waterfall hike, zip-lining, and a chocolate-making tour. After two nights in Mindo, the group transferred back to Quito and students either caught flights home or continued traveling on their own.
A big thank you to all the participants for a great time and another successful study abroad program with Planet Drum in Ecuador!Photos by Clay Plager-Unger.
Reader Interactions