Community engagement trips in. Ecuador. High school La Magdeleine in a native community

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1 Community engagement trips in Ecuador High school La Magdeleine in a native community Ecuador: tranquility and amazing diversities Works in the Andes, discovery of the Pacific Accommodations within families Practice of Spanish, the 2nd international language Experienced multilingual guide (00 593) fondationtio@hotmail.com

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS About our trip 3 More about the country 4 Your guide 7 The community of Morochos 8 Community project for college or high school 9 When to visit 12 Feedback 13 Our price 16 Expenses 17 To contact us 18 Before leaving 19 2

3 About our trip We invite students from around the world to join us in a cultural exchange and humanitarian endeavor. Unlike the classical tours, with us you will discover Ecuador in a different way by working with a native community in the Andes and visiting the country for few days more. You are directly in contact with the local population and your tour supports community and family-run projects. Ecuadorian families developing B&Bs Indian communities from the Andes Eco-tourism projects Our logo of responsible tourism Cutting out the intermediaries you pay less and at the same time the locals are better paid. In addition, we provide you with a professional service that has a long local social experience allowing you to discover all the beauty and diversity of this country. Finally, we have set up a trip which offers you the chance to live an unforgettable experience. 3

4 More about the country Sitting on the Equator between Colombia and Peru, Ecuador is the smallest of the Andean nations, covering an area no bigger than Nevada. Despite its size, the country is packed with startling contrasts of scenery, from steaming tropical rain forests and windswept highlands to ice-capped volcanoes and palm-fringed beaches, all within easy reach of the capital, Quito. Ecuador s mainland is divided neatly into three distinct parallel regions that run the length of the country. In the middle is the Sierra, which is formed by the eastern and the western chains of the Andes. East of the sierra is the Oriente, a sparsely populated area. West of the sierra is the coastal region, a fertile alluvial plain bordered on its Pacific seaboard by a string of beaches. Almost a thousand kilometers of ocean separate the coastlines from the Galápagos archipelago. 4

5 History The kingdom of Shyrus was the major presence in the area at the time of the Inca expansion from the south. Despite several years of resistance, the Shyrus and nearby smaller groups were integrated into the Inca Empire by about In 1525 the Inca Huayna Capac died, dividing his empire between two sons. Atahualpa, of Shyri descent on his mother s side, became ruler of the northern part of the empire, whilst Huascar received the rest. A violent civil war between the two brothers followed and Atahualpa won. Thus when the Spanish conquest began in 1532 the Inca Empire had been severely weakened by the civil war. Atahualpa was captured and paid a huge ransom in gold and silver for his release; despite this he was murdered by Pizarro and the Inca Empire effectively came to an end. The Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano of the world (5 897 m) Costs Although prices have risen under the dollar, as far as travelers are concerned, Ecuador is still a great value destination. The most widespread hidden cost in Ecuador is IVA (impuesto al valor ingregado), a tax of twelve percent which is added to most goods and services. 5

6 People A survey held in 2014 revealed that Ecuador s population would reach 15,000,000. This is approximately sixteen times the number of Indians estimated to have been living in the area at the time of the Spanish conquest. The population density of about 46 people per sq. km is the highest in South America. About 40% of this total are Indians and an equal number are mestizos (mixed Spanish/Indian stock). About 10% are white and the remainder black or Asian. A little map of Ecuador The majority of the native people speak Quechua and live in the highlands; they are the direct descendants of the inhabitants of the Inca Empire. There are also several small groups living in the lowlands who speak their own distinct languages. These tribes include, among others, the Jivaro, Auca, Cofan, and Secoya of the Oriente and the Cayapa and the Colorado Indians of the coastal plain. The highland Indians are often bilingual, although Spanish is a second language and not much used in remote areas. Until land reforms of the 1960 s the majority of the Quechua Indians were little more than slaves to the big haciendas owners. Nowadays, they are developing cooperatives and own land but nevertheless live at a subsistence level in many cases. 6

7 Thierry Rouzaud Francisco Montaño N y los pinos 54 years of age separated, 2 children Cdla Kennedy - Quito Ecuador fondationtio@hotmail.com LANGUAGES Bilingual French/Spanish (French/Ecuadorian nationality) Certificate in Advanced English (University of Cambridge 2009) : C 1 level Working knowledge in Russian (distance courses) Working knowledge in Kichwa (voluntary in native communities) EDUCATION Masters in computer science (bachelor + 4) Night course 1991 Advanced Vocational training certificate in tourism Free learning 2003 Advanced Vocational training certificate in social economy Free learning 2004 Diploma in Teaching French as a foreign language 2012 French alliance PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Tourist guide in Ecuador (Andes, Amazon, Galapagos, Pacific) Organizing tours of fair tourism and working camps for volunteers, supporting projects Director of a host structure for street children in Ecuador Creation and development of the foundation, self-financing for a third of the budget Free-lance (NOG) Professor for the city of Paris Developing computer courses for adults Fixed-terms contract Computer scientist Conception of software for statistical reports, users training in Paris Fixed-terms contract Volunteer in agricultural projects (Israel, Norway, Turkey, India, Nepal, Senegal, Uruguay, New-Zealand, Benin) (NOG) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Course in First Aid for All (Red Cross Paris) Online course in French and English: project management, nutrition-health, agronomy Competitive rugby for 20 years and running practice Organic gardening for self-sufficiency 7

8 The community of Morochos Morochos is a rural indigenous Andean community located in northern Ecuador, Cotacachi Township, Imbabura Province, near Cuicocha Lake. The community of Morochos is made up of nearly 200 families for a population of a thousand people. Different activities are developed: Reception of tourists (host families) alpaca farming agricultural work water supplies safeguard of ancestral activities (crafts, traditional music) Children of the community 8

9 Community engagement trip (works in the Andes, discovery of the pacific) A youth institution (university, high school, other group) has the opportunity to work in community engagement. We share activities with families and support with our trip the purchase of equipment or other types of needs. The second part of the tour allows us to go further in the country, from the Andes to the Pacific. After Otavalo, we visit one of the most terrific crater lake of the world and go down to the west coast visiting the isle of la plata considered as a small Galapagos, the small town of fishermen of Puerto Lopez and Guayaquil the most important city of the country. DAY ACTIVITIES (Andes, Pacific) We receive you at the Quito airport, bus to our hotel in the modern part Visit of the old part of Quito, the country s top museum, travel to Otavalo Community or family work, according to the needs (agricultural or other) Community or family work, according to the needs (agricultural or other) Community or family work, according to the needs (agricultural or other) Community or family work, according to the needs (agricultural or other) Visit of the alpaca farm, discovery of the indigenous cultural heritage Free time in Otavalo s market, bus to the Cotopaxi province in the afternoon Visit of the superb Quilotoa crater lake, bus to pacific coast and Puerto Lopez Day trip to Isla de la Plata, whale-observation between June & September Tour to Archaeological excavations of Agua Blanca, beach of los frailes Visits of Montecristi the town of the panama hats and of Guayaquil, free time Transfer to the international airport of Guayaquil NIGHT Hotel in Quito (2 800 m) Families (2 800 m) Families (2 800 m) Families (2 800 m) Families (2 800 m) Families (2 800 m) Families (2 800 m) Guest house Cotopaxi (3 100 m) Guest house in Puerto Lopez (0 m) Guest house in Puerto Lopez (0 m) Guest house in Puerto Lopez (0 m) Hotel in Guayaquil (0 m) 9

10 Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Quito where you are met on arrival and transferred to our hotel in the new town. Day 2: (Quito city tour) we walk around the old town and visit some churches (Sto Domingo, San Francisco) and the most important sights of the capital. Depending on your time of arrival, we visit the museum del banco central for ceramics, exquisite pre-columbian worked gold, and masterpieces of colonial and modern art. After lunch we travel to the middle of the world, straddling the line that divides the northern and southern hemispheres. Then we travel to Imbabura province. Night with families in the community. Day 3: We mostly work with otavaleños people. Otavaleños have been accomplished weavers since pre-colonial times, when they traded textiles for achiote (a red dye) and cotton with people of the Oriente. Today, we begin communitarian or family works. We have meals with the families. Agora s comprehensive school in native community Day 4: We continue to help in community or family projects and in meal preparations. Do not forget your working clothes and gloves. We organize in distinct groups to be more efficient. We are also welcome to participate in a range of social or environmental tasks. Day 5-6: We go on our community or family engagement. Showers, drinking water are available during the work. Don t forget your sun block. The indigenous people of the community are keen for visitors to come and see life in the village and learn about their culture. Day 7: We visit one of the projects of the community, the Alpagas breeding, located not too far from Lake Cuicocha. In the afternoon, we discover the indigenous heritage with our guests. Cultural evening planned (traditional games of the Indians of the area, music and typical dance). 10

11 Day 8: Free morning in the typical and colorful market of Otavalo. Shopping and time for using the Internet. In the afternoon, we reach a country inn in the province of Cotopaxi located at m in the middle of many volcanoes (Cotopaxi, Corazon, Rumiñahui, Pasochoa). Rooms of 2, 3 or 4. Day 9: We reach the beautiful turquoise crater lake of Quilotoa (3,900 m). Then we continue to the west coast. Puerto Lopez is a small fishing town strung along the wide, crescent-shaped bay. Enjoying an undeniably picturesque setting, the town s golden sands are set by the turquoise waters of the ocean and the green hills rising on other side. Night in a guest house. Day 10: Day trip to Isla de la Plata, whales-observation between June and September. Some 37 km out to sea from Puerto Lopez, Isla de la Plata is a small, scrubby island of just 8 square kilometres which was once the ceremonial centre of the Bahía culture (500 BC to 650 AD). The island is the only place in Ecuador, including Galapagos, where blue-footed, red-footed and masked boobies are found at the same site. We come back at the end of the afternoon. Second night in the guest house. Blue-footed booby Day 11: Tour to Archaeological excavations of Agua Blanca, and the beach at los frailes. We visit the museum and the archaeological site, passing funerary urns, the Rio Buenavista valley and returning via a view point and a pungent sulphur lake. After lunch, we travel to Playa Los Frailes, one of the most beautiful beaches on the Ecuadorian coast, enclosed by rocky cliffs at each end and backed by a tangle of forest. Third night in our guest house. Day 12: We go by bus to visit a workshop of Montecristi, capital of the Panama, one of the most famous hat of the world. Then we go back by bus for our last night in Guayaquil. We visit the main city of Ecuador, the square of iguanas, the Cathedral and walk along the river Guayas. Day 13: We let you at the international Guayaquil airport for your flight back. 11

12 When to visit There s no real summer and winter in Ecuador and its weather generally varies by regional geography, with temperatures determined more by altitude than by season or latitude. The warmest and driest months in the Sierra are June to September. Outside these months, typical Sierra weather offers sunny, clear mornings and cloudy, often wet afternoons. It s quite cold, with an average of 12 C to 20 C including warms days. In the Oriente, you can expect it to be warm, humid and rainy throughout the year. In the lowlands it can get particularly hot on clear days, with temperatures easily topping 30 C. But as there have been noticeable recent changes in the world s climatic patterns, the wet and the dry season are not anymore really distinct. Our tours are organized all year round and we can pick you up at the airport whatever the day. Toquilla straw hats (Panama hats) 12

13 Contacts for feedback You can also obtain information about our trips by contacting the following individuals: Nolwenn Le Liboux, Spanish teacher in the French school of New York, Pierre Lafontaine, Canada, Alain Guyon, France, Anis Ouyahia, Canada, Catherine Davoine, Ottawa, Canada, Laure, teacher in New York, Jacky McInley, Nigel Edmonds, Ottawa, Canada, 13

14 Feedback from Alain (France) Why Ecuador? Living in France at 61 years of age, I had visited every continent except South America. If I was going to visit only once, I wanted to see the diversity this continent had to offer. Ecuador is a relatively safe country, which includes the Andes, the Amazon and the coast in a relatively small area, provided me with this opportunity. I didn t plan anything in advance of the trip. Upon arriving in Ecuador, Thierry suggested that I join him and a group from Quebec on a humanitarian and cultural tour. I not only saw different landscapes but also different cultures. After discovering the historic and beautiful center of Quito, we took a bus to the northwest to the indigenous community of Chilcapamba. The village is located in the Andes at over meters. We spent almost one week living in this community and were welcomed with open arms by all. The goal of our stay in Chilcapamba was to help clean irrigation canals for drinking water. The work was carried out by the 130 families of the community under the supervision of their cheerful leader; Alfonso Morales. The local language is Quechua, but most people speak some Spanish which allowed us to interact with them. Our participation in their project seemed to make the local people happy. Living in the midst of a culture which was very different from our own was an enriching experience. By talking to the local people, we became aware of different challenges they face, including their efforts to maintain their traditions and culture in a world that is changing rapidly (amenities of the modern world, aspirations of young people etc). 14

15 Our week ended with a heart-warming feast which included dances, songs and story-telling by the community as well as by our friends from Quebec. I also saw beautiful scenery. We walked for 4 hours around the lake of a volcano, reaching 3500 meters in altitude. The weather was a mixture of fog, rain and sun, all of which contributed to the splendor of the surrounding landscape. At Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world, we walked for about 1 hour (4500 to 4800 meters) until we reached the glacier. While there was less air at this altitude, there was also less pollution and we felt a sense of calmness and happiness! We visited the colorful Otavalo market with its many rich and varied crafts. We also stayed for a few days in the Amazon, in the middle of the forest. Our accommodations were both rustic and natural. With a local guide, we took part in various walks and discovered many unique and diverse animals and plants. Our guide also explained to us the threats that deforestation represents to this natural world. Our visit in the Amazon ended with a canoe outing on the river at night - our imaginations were transported to another world as we listened to the amazing sounds of nature. With the tour over, I returned to France but my thoughts were often of Ecuador! My wonderful memories will always be with me and are likely to affect me for the rest of my life. Thank you, Thierry, for the great trip organization, your knowledge of the country and its people, your kindness and your role as a translator. Also, thank you to our friends from Quebec, who were always open to new people and places. I have lived outside of France and travelled in many countries but this trip stood out because of its social, humanitarian, cultural and environmental aspects. This trip went beyond my expectations! Alain from Brindas near Lugdunum, France 15

16 Our price As well as being a non profit-making organization, we offer prices less expensive than the cheapest tour operator. Furthermore, we boast the same conditions, the same quality and above all, we promote immersion inside the country along with local projects. People living and working in the country charge you less, offer you good quality, high skill, and the local people get a fair share: This is the definition of fair tourism. Prices do not include : Prices include : Air ticket A meal in Guayaquil (about 30 $) Tips Extra drinks (juice, soft drinks) «COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TRIP All the mentioned activities Accommodation Food (except one meal in Guayaquil) Guided tour Local transportation Museums and park entrance fees Mineral water for the day (WORKS IN THE ANDES, DISCOVERY OF THE PACIFIC)» (12 NIGHTS) Minimum number of participants: 30 with 3 free Prices per person 750 USD Contact us for payment terms (fondationtio@hotmail.com), transfer details can be found on the page: 16

17 Expenses Accommodation (B & B, hotel, families, native communities): 40 % Food: 15 % Transport: 15 % Museums and park entrance fees: 02 % Tips, phone: 03 % Help to the local projects: 10 % Organization: 15 % Cuicocha Lake (province of Imbabura) 17

18 To contact us By By mobile: By skype o whatsapp Pseudo: fondationtio (+33)

19 Before leaving To get more information and to reserve, send us an at the following address: You can deposit if you want 10% of the total cost at this bank account: Name of the bank Number Swift code Beneficiary Identity card number Address City Province Country The balance will be paid at your arrival Banco Pichincha Cuenta de Ahorros PICHECEQ ROUZAUD Thierry Nicolas Hervé Chalturita, La Granja Chaltura San José de Chaltura Imbabura Ecuador or during the tour (as you want) The flight to Ecuador is on your own. We will wait for you at the airport upon your arrival and we leave you there for your departure, whatever the days. From Europe, Iberia has direct flights from Madrid to Quito-Guayaquil. From the US and Canada, you will have to catch a flight to the US, typically Miami, where you can connect with a flight to Ecuador. From Australia and New Zealand, the most straightforward is the Quantas/LanChile route from Sydney to Quito and Guayaquil stopping in Auckland and changing in Santiago. 19

20 Health There s no reason to be paranoid about contracting tropical diseases. In reality, most are rare and pose much more of a threat to residents, especially those from poorer communities with limited access to clean water and healthcare, than tourists. Consult your doctor or a travel clinic at least two months before you leave to discuss whether you need vaccinations or malaria prophylaxis. More about our tours We strive to protect the environment while contributing positively to the community. We really act in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Our visit to protected areas is really helping the conservation effort. Most of our accommodations recycle, conserve water and energy or use ecological waste systems. The buildings are constructed from local materials by local people, the food grown nearby in organic gardens. We use as much as possible local owned services. You will really promote ecotourism and responsible travel. For more information, this web site: Or send an to: fondationtio@hotmail.com The middle of the world 20