Ain't No Mountain High Enough

By: Mikayla Bowen, Program Director

Though most of our current program directors only arrived in Ecuador a few weeks ago, we dove headfirst into experiencing the incredible Andean hiking that Ecuador has to offer. During the past few weekends, together we have hiked two popular hikes near Sangolqui—Rucu Pichincha and Ilaló—both of which can actually be seen from the roof of the Manna House.

The first hike, Rucu Pichincha, was a 5-hour hike to the first summit of one of the major volcanoes that surrounds Quito. We began by taking the TelefériQo, a cable car which brings you from the city of Quito up to the start of the hike at around 4100 meters. The elevation here was no joke—even the starting point of the hike was higher than those of us new to Ecuador had ever experienced. Slowly and steadily, we hiked and climbed through rocky terrain and steep sandy slopes up to el cumbre, the summit, at an elevation of 4696 meters! There were incredible views of Quito along with very happy dogs throughout the hike.

After our descent back to the base of the hike, we rewarded ourselves with photos with llamas along with the most incredible view I’ve ever had on a swing.

Our second hike this past weekend was Ilaló, a shorter but quite vertical 2-hour hike on the mountain which separates the two valleys outside of Quito. Throughout the hike, we had incredible views of the Chillos Valley, especially on the way down as the sun was setting. We passed 14 crosses on our way up to the 15th and largest cross.

Overall, we are super excited to have access to some of the most awe-inspiring hikes in the world throughout our service here with Manna! We can’t wait to literally reach new heights and see more of the beautiful landscapes Ecuador has to offer.

A Musical Fundraiser

By: Emily Churchill, Community Development Fellow

At Manna Project Ecuador, we often run fundraisers and events for our own community center, but it’s a real treat when we get to help out with events for our partner organizations! 

In December, I was fortunate enough to attend a fundraiser for Antorcha de Vida, one of our partner organizations that serves local youth with a range of physical and learning disabilities. Antorcha is one of our most important partner organizations for its long history with Manna Project and the deep bond that our volunteers form with their community. 

I was able to help out with a fundraiser they held in congruence with a larger fundraiser for several nonprofits in the  region. The event entailed a contest of guagas de pan and colada morada (traditional Ecuadorian treats for All Saint’s Day) held in a shopping mall in downtown Sangolquí. The contest was judged by local beauty queens and well-known musicians. 

I got to help some of Antorcha’s volunteers sell guagas & colada morada to the attendees of the event. And we were able to sell a ton! It was so inspiring to see the earnings that Antorcha was able to take home from the event to support their efforts. 

At the event, I got to know one of Antorcha’s volunteers, who like me, also sings and plays the guitar. As we were chatting, the MC of the event announced that anyone who could come up on stage to sing a song would win tickets to a concert held in the local stadium the following weekend. Before I knew it, I was being dragged up on stage with my new friend in front of an audience of a hundred people to sing in front of them. 

My heart was pounding. I’m used to performing in the U.S., but now I would have to choose a song to sing for an Ecuadorian audience. I chose a small Mexican tune that I know and sang a few bars of it. Everyone smiled and clapped and I ran off the stage in shock by what had just happened. 

The following weekend, I was able to attend the concert with my new friend from Antorcha. It was one of the silliest but most memorable experiences I’ve had over my first few months with Manna! 

A Few of My Favorite (Ecuadorian) Things

By: Emily Churchill, Community Development Fellow

It’s been almost a month since I returned to Ecuador after a year away. Last summer, I interned in the southern city of Cuenca for two months over which time Ecuador earned a big place in my heart. As I reflect on my first month with Manna Projects Ecuador, I thought I’d share some of my favorite Ecuadorian things, both new and familiar, that make this place so special.  

1. The markets 

There’s a farmer’s market just a block away from Manna’s centro in downtown Sangolquí where you can pretty much buy any fruit or vegetable imaginable, plus some varieties that you’ve never heard of. Ecuador is home to some unique fruits including ‘tomate de arbol’ (which literally translates to ‘tree tomato’) and ‘taxo’ (which is a blend between bananas and passion fruit). I can leave the market with two full bags of produce for around $3. I also always buy from the same women and this week she recognized me and gave me a free orange! (side note - it was a little moldy, but hey, maybe next week it will be a not-moldy orange!)

2. Cotopaxi 

Manna’s Ecuador site just happens to be at the foothills of one of the world’s highest and most active volcanoes. At just over 19,000ft, the summit of Cotopaxi towers over the town of Sangolquí. On a clear day, the rooftop patio of the Manna house offers a nearly perfect view of its snow-capped peaks. I am in constant awe of this mountain and stop several times a day to admire it. And although the prospect of its eruption is quite daunting (it has erupted 50 times since 1738!), I feel humbled by its magnificent presence. It’s our goal to summit Cotopaxi by the end of the year. We’re just hoping that the daily hike up the small hill outside our center is enough training! 

3. My roommates 

I just happen to live with some awesome women who inspire me to be a better version of myself everyday. They are some of the most capable, hardworking, and passionate people I’ve ever met and I could not be more excited to work with them this year to accomplish all of our ambitious goals. We just enjoyed a weekend at Cotopaxi National Park that was full of great hikes, yummy food, and lots of laughs. I have so much to learn from them and feel so grateful that our paths have crossed through Manna. 

4. Public transportation 

Some Ecuadorians might call me crazy for praising the country’s public transit system, but in comparison to the U.S., Ecuador is an incredibly well connected country. In just thirty short minutes, I can hop on any virtually any bus that passes through our neighborhood and arrive in the center of Quito, the nation’s capital. Beyond that, buses that connect the towns in the valley of Los Chillos are frequent and plentiful, and fare costs just around $.30 a trip. Of course, there are always improvements that can be made to improve access and sustainability, but new investments are being made all the time to further connect Ecuador’s more remote towns to its larger cities. 

5. Random acts of kindness 

Ecuadorians are some of the warmest and most generous people around. Whether it’s an offer from one of our Adult Conversation Club participants to take us on a hike, or a free ice cream cone from the mom of one of my guitar students, people are always willing to go out of their way to make your day just a little brighter. Just like many other cultures, what you get out relies a lot on what you put in. But I guarantee that if you show kindness and gratitude to Ecuadorians, they will pay it back tenfold. 

That’s just a short list of some things that make me happy to be back in Ecuador. Here’s to eleven more months in this amazing country!

Appreciation Post: Why Our Community Members Rock!

We’re serious when we say you make lifelong friends as a Manna Project volunteer. This statement isn’t just in reference to the relationships you build with your fellow volunteers--we’re talking about the community members too. We’ve been blown away by the kindness that the community has extended to us. Of course, the serious need in Ecuador is the primary motivation behind our services, however, the warmth that the community reciprocates is a bonus that we cherish. This kindness comes in the form of both continuous trends and particular acts. Such continuous trends include how, everyday at the Community Center, our volunteers are greeted by at least 7 or more parents with a warm hug and kiss on the cheek! Additionally, nearly every day of class, at least one Program Director receives a snack or a flower from one of their students. With regard to the more isolated acts of kindness by community members, below is just a sampling of the generosity we’ve been fortunate to experience in the last couple months.

1. During their second week working at the Centro, two young girls made Abigale and Kate cards with the words “Te amo”.

2. When Kate casually mentioned that she couldn’t get her Claro phone plan to work, without any hesitation, her host father Christian stepped in to call Claro and sort things out.

3. Alexandra took Abigale out to the scenic Panecillo in celebration of her birthday.

4. Laurita and Christian took Kate out for dinner at the only authentic ramen restaurant in Quito for her birthday.

5. Community member Melida gave the Program Directors an impromptu ride home and stopped at her home along the way to feed them a delicious lunch.

6. Community Member Carmen invited the Program Directors to her house for Dia de Amistad and also later hosted a barbecue at her house for the Program Directors just for fun!

7. Community members Renee, Andres, Ricardo, Karina, and Carla took the Program Directors on a scenic hike up Ilaló.

8. The parents of a young girl who takes our English classes give Kelly and Kate a ride every Tuesday.

9. Community members Andres and Mateo volunteered their Saturday mornings to help cover the front desk during Adult English classes when we were short-handed.

10. Abigale’s Adult Nutrition and Cooking class surprised her with a cake for her birthday and Kate’s Adult English class also surprised her with a cake for her birthday.

11. Not only do the members of the Adult Nutrition and Cooking class help brainstorm recipes for classes but they offer to bring the ingredients!

12. For International Women’s Day, community member Christian gave every female volunteer a rose to honor their womanhood!

13. Community member Alexandra volunteered her time to host an embroidery class at our Community Center so that parents waiting for their kids to finish with their English classes have a way to entertain themselves.

14. Community member Laurita volunteered to drive Pechta to and from the doctor’s office because she is still learning how to speak Spanish. She even helped translate so that Pechta could communicate with the doctors!

15. Laurita and Christian volunteered their personal greenhouse to allow us to host nutrition classes.

16. For nearly each holiday, every Program Director receives at least 6+ Facebook messages and texts from community members sending them holiday greetings and wishes.

I’d like to emphasize that this list is in no way exhaustive. These are just a few of the acts of kindness that immediately came to mind. There are many wonderful perks of being a volunteer for Manna Project, but the Program Directors--Abigale, Gaby, Kelly, Pechta, Simba, and myself-- unanimously agree that the people we serve are by far the best aspect of what we do. The next time you think about donating or getting involved, think about how special these people are.  The kindness that our community members regularly demonstrate is active rather than passive. For these people, a kind “hello” or a warm smile is not sufficient; kindness requires one to step outside of one’s comfort zone and go out of one’s way to make another person’s day. Us Program Directors came here with the intention to serve the community but, to be perfectly honest, the community serves us in ways that go beyond English or nutrition classes. They’re teaching us to be better people. For that, I will forever be grateful to this community.

A Day in the Life of a Program Director

Welcome to Manna Project Ecuador! Here we’re going to illustrate one day among 3 different Program Directors: Kate Clendenen, Gaby Hochu, and Imhotep Simba.

Kate 7:00 AM: I wake up and stumble to my shower half asleep. Though I don’t enjoy leaving the comfort of my bed so early, this is the best time to take a shower. The sun is perfectly positioned to shine brightly through my bathroom window so I can enjoy the bright, warm rays as the water washes away my grogginess.

Gaby 7:30 AM: Rumi and I are fast asleep when my alarm goes off. Rumi is one of our cats. I pet him while I wake myself up. I get out of bed and get ready for the day. I make a nice big breakfast of a smoothie and an egg scramble with quinoa. Then I leave to head to a partner organization that I attend weekly, Antorcha de Vida, with my fellow Program Director, Abigale.

Kate 8:00 AM: On my way to the bus, I stop at the corner store at the bottom of the street to buy a Powerade. The store owner is a good friend of mine because I come here almost every day to buy snacks. We refer to each other as “veci” which is short for the Spanish word for neighbor: vecino. As she and I chat, I hear the bus pull up outside. I quickly say goodbye to my veci and hop on the bus. It takes me about 45 minutes to get to ESPE, the local university.

Kate 8:45 AM: I arrive at ESPE and walk over to Mariela’s classroom. Mariela is an English Professor at ESPE. I assist her with her classes every week. Though she always gives me some general guidance as to what topics she would like me to cover, I make my own lesson plan for the day and lead the class under her supervision. The professors at ESPE love to have Manna Volunteers primarily to help their students become more familiar with the native English accent. Class won’t start for another 15 minutes, so I chat with Mariela with what I have planned for the day and get myself organized.

Gaby 9:00 AM: Abigale and I flag down a Los Chillos bus and luckily we manage to get seats! The bus ride to Antorcha is close to an hour, so we get comfy and enjoy the views.

Kate 9:00 AM: I arrive at ESPE and walk over to Mariela’s classroom. Mariela is an English Professor at ESPE and I assist her class every week. ESPE professors love to have Manna Volunteers to help their students become more familiar with the native English accent. Today we watch and discuss a Ted Talk about what it means to be truly happy. It’s interesting to listen to students’ opinions because it helps me better understand the culture of Ecuador. Next, we play a game: I have them improvise conversations in groups during which they have to use as many idioms as possible. Finally, we finish off the class with debates for speaking practice!

Gaby 10:00 AM: We arrive at Antorcha, and I walk in with a smile on my face because Antorcha truly is one of the highlights of my week. Antorcha de Vida is a center for people with special needs. We greet the teachers and therapists and play with the students until it is time to head to swim therapy. We usually race or play soccer when we arrive. Then it is time to head to the pool for their bi-weekly swim therapy. Abigale and I each hold two students hands, and we make the 15 minute trek to the pool.

Gaby 11:00 AM: We arrive at the pool, and the students are rushing to get into the pool. Abigale and I usually swim laps with the students and towards the end we play games. Swim therapy is an excellent way for the students to get exercise in a manner that they enjoy, and it is especially helpful for the students with cerebral palsy who do exercises with the physical therapists in the pool.

Kate 11:15 AM I say goodbye to my class and head over to the bus stop. It takes me another 45 minutes to get to our Community Center.

Kate 12:00 PM Our Community Center doesn’t open until 2:00 PM, so during the two hours that I have I grab lunch from a nearby shop and prepare for class. I am also responsible for Manna’s social media accounts so I usually use this time to post on our social media accounts or work on writing newsletters or blog posts.

Gaby 12:00 PM: After an hour of swimming, Abigale and I say bye to the students. I already can’t wait to see them again next week! I go and buy cevichochos for lunch from my favorite street vendor. She already knows my order every time I go. Cevichochos are one of my favorite foods here. It is ceviche but instead of being made with any type of seafood, it is made with chocho beans. It is so delicious so I eat it way too fast before boarding the bus.

Gaby 1:00 PM: Abigale and I arrive at Manna’s community center. The center opens at 2:00, so we use this free hour to do last minute prep before our classes.

Kate 2:00 PM The Community Center opens but my class is not until 4:30pm. During this time I usually greet parents and help kids with their homework. There are a lot of kids that come to the Community Center just to hang out so sometimes I’ll play with them! Some of the other Program Directors teach classes 3:00 PM so sometimes I also assist them if they need me. Also at 2pm, our Peace Corps Volunteer Simba arrives!

Simba 2:00 PM: I arrive at the centro, grab a Manna laptop, and start checking emails. I also prep for Rainbow Days, a weekly group session that I lead with the youth at the center. I then prep for sports hour, which starts at 3:30.

Simba 3:30 PM: This time is designated to physical education hour. The goal of this hour is to get youth moving. These activities can include anything from Catch One Catch all to dance competitions, relay races, teaching the fundamentals of baseball, to the most popular soccer! The most important thing for me is making sure the youth and I always warm up together with a lap around the field and then stretch together. I typically have something planned for sports hour, but I am also open to the ideas the youth have!

Gaby 4:30 PM: My kids class starts. I teach Level 3, so my class tends to be ages 10-12. Class lasts an hour and a half. Today, I announce the Star of the Week. Each week I give a prize to a student who behaved in the previous week. For the first hour, I teach and they take notes. Then if everyone behaves, we play a game for the last half hour! I split them into teams and we play a game where they have to correct mistakes that I write on the board on their mini whiteboards. The team that wins gets chocolate!

Kate 4:30 PM I lead the B2 preparatory class that Manna offers. This is our most advanced course and it is designed to help prepare students for taking the B2 Exam. This exam is required for anyone who wants to teach English in Ecuador. Other professionals who don’t teach English but use English in their field also often take the exam. We start class with a warm-up that requires them to speak in English to each other. Then we practice certain sections of the exam, review the answers as a class, and discuss strategies for improvement. After exam practice, we close the class with a reflection on what the students did well, what they need to improve on, and the steps they will take to improve.

Simba 5:30 PM: This hour is dedicated to our Rainbow Days group session! The Rainbow Day group sessions provide youth an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about topics such as making healthy decisions; the support systems we have such as family, teachers, and mentors; the values we have as individuals; and settings goals, just to name a few. This group is really important to me because it provides an opportunity to share some of the same things that were shared with me as a child when I attended various youth programs. I also love it because I can add value by sharing information or strategies to address things that aren't so common in their communities and homes.

Kate 6:00 PM After class, I head home early because it is my turn to cook dinner for everyone!

Simba 6:30 PM: I write some final notes for my Rainbow Days session report. Then I contribute to help clean up the center before we leave close at 7pm. On Wednesdays, we usually get a lot of traffic, so on this day I often see many of our community members who often invite me to go hiking at one of the many beautiful parks in Ecuador or check out a night venue I have never been too before!

Kate 6:45 PM When I open the front door to the Manna House, I am greeted by our two adorable, loving kittens: Mika and Rumi. I put my things away, feed the cats, wash my hands, and start cooking! I decided to make shepherd’s pie because it is rainy outside and comfort food is the best.  

Gaby 7:00 PM: We have been cleaning the centro and doing the closing procedure for the last hour. At 7:00 PM we tell all the kids who are playing the Wii that we are closed, and then the rest of the Program Directors and I say bye to Simba and catch a bus to head home.

Kate 7:45 PM Everyone arrives home from cleaning and closing the Community Center for the day. I just finished cooking so we all sit down and have dinner together. We go through our highs and lows of the day. The highs are great of course, but I also think lows are fun because they usually evoke a few laughs.

Gaby 9:00 PM: I prep for tomorrow’s class and start grading the midterms that my students took last class. Based on the scores, I have a feeling that most of my class will pass! Rumi and I go to bed around 11 PM, and tomorrow a new day begins! It was a full day, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Kate 9:00 PM Depending on how I feel, I use this time to either prep for the next day’s classes and programs or I relax in bed with Netflix and promise myself I’ll wake up early in the morning to prep. I usually end up going to sleep around 11:00 PM. As I lie in bed, I can’t help but think of how lucky I am to be working abroad in such a beautiful country with such beautiful people.

We have just described a day in the life for the three of us, and as you can see our days are very different! We each juggle around 4 programs at Manna’s community center, as well as 3 partner organizations and internal organizational roles. All of our days are very different; no two days look the same. We keep very busy, which makes each and every day an adventure!