Ecuador
Manna Project International
From USA to Shandia: Embracing Slow Living and ...

Leo Saunders, a Program Coordinator with Manna Project International, reflects on his first three weeks in Ecuador, navigating cultural differences, teaching in local schools, and embracing life in the Amazon.

From USA to Shandia: Embracing Slow Living and Community in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Manna Project International
Nurturing Community Growth: How Manna's Chicken ...

Chickens are an essential asset in numerous communities, offering not only a reliable food source but also serving as a vehicle for economic empowerment. The consistent production of eggs and meat from chickens significantly enhances nutritional intake and can increase family incomes, particularly for those facing food insecurity.

In various initiatives, we have integrated chicken farming as a sustainable agricultural practice. By equipping local community members with training in effective poultry care and management, we not only advance food security but also create pathways for entrepreneurship. Chickens require a relatively low initial investment, making them an accessible option for families aiming to improve their financial stability while thriving in diverse environments.

Additionally, involving families in chicken farming promotes cooperation within the community. Neighbors come together to share knowledge, resources, and support, thereby reinforcing the community's social fabric. As families acquire the skills necessary for raising chickens, they also develop an appreciation for sustainable farming practices, which can be transmitted to future generations. Thus, chicken farming evolves into more than just a means of sustenance; it becomes a vital catalyst for comprehensive community development.

Nurturing Community Growth: How Manna's Chicken Project in Ilayaku is Transforming Lives
Ecuador, Community, Program Director
Manna Project International
When Soccer Isn't Just a Sport: Futbol in ...

Growing up in Maryland, I played soccer until around middle school, when I realized I wasn’t all that good at it and that I was in love with basketball instead. Since then, I’ve been known to kick the occasional ball around, but I was pretty nervous when I was invited, along with my friend and fellow PD Patrick, to play for Once Valientes B (in English: eleven brave ones) in the Shandia soccer league.

When Soccer Isn't Just a Sport: Futbol in Shandia
Ecuador, Community, Events
Manna Project International
Music, Colors, Foods … and lots of Laughter - ...

As in many parts of the world, this past week in Shandia was all about the celebration of Carnaval. Originally coming from an area that calls the local Carnival the annual “fifth season”, I was especially excited to see what Carnaval in Ecuador would look like. What would the local customs, foods and music be like?

Music, Colors, Foods … and lots of Laughter - Carnaval in Shandia
Manna Project International
A Day in the Life of the Amazon Rainforest: ...
A Day in the Life of the Amazon Rainforest: Welcome to Shandia!

Update and Coming Plans

     We've finished up our summer camp Saturday with a rousing party for the kids and their families. The campers were awarded diplomas lauding their many achievements over the past three weeks of camp. They also each received a CD containing a slideshow of the paseos, charlas, and art projects. Now we have a lull in activities over the next two weeks that we'll use to prepare for the start of our class programs which begin on September 11th. These include English, nutrition, cooking, and computer classes while women's exercise and the library times will continue to run on their regular schedule. 
     Currently, there's an on-going festival in Sangolqui with an upcoming bullfight as the main attraction that most of us plan on attending. We've also have planned an overnight trip to Cotapaxi, a nearby, looming 20,000 foot mountain, so I'll have plenty more to write on over the next two weeks to keep everyone updated.

Until then, heres a picture of the family to hold y'all over. 




Ciao,
Jefferson

And Our New Country Director is.....

Heather Kryzak!


Our usual readers know Heather intimately because she was the voice of the blog for last years group. Heather has generously accepted an offer to stay in Ecuador with Manna through December with an option of staying for the entire year. We are all extremely excited to not only have a new director that knows the ins an outs of life at MPI Ecuador, but one who is also a joy and pleasure to be around. Welcome back Heather.


Camp

We are entering our third and final week of camp and I have confidence in saying that it has been a major success so far. It has been our first responsibility as PD's and everyone has instilled confidence in the kids and community that this group is as capable and as fun as the last! Our advertising paid off and we have 28 children signed up with half of them new to the library and Manna! The camp is three hours in the morning and consists of a charla (lesson), arts and crafts, english lesson, snacktime, and then games. We've also been on two paseos (field trips) with one more planned for this week. My last blog post was a little heavy on the words so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  


 Craft time

Joey leading the daily charla 

Polly reading in english to the kids

Our first paseo to a local pool 

Polly and Walter

Madeleine "playing" with the kids 

Snack time with Miguelito 

Me schooling Bolivar in futbol

As camp winds down we'll be prepping for the beginning of our class in September and are excited to get into our regular schedule so stay tuned for that. Also I'll be following up with an announcement about our new Country Director! Until then.

Jefferson 

New Kids on the Cuadra

Hello MPIE readers,

Well the final cluster of the PDs of 2011-2012 left yesterday so my group has taken the reins and its safe to say that the Ecuador chapter of Manna is in safe, capable hands. This is not only my first blog post for Manna, but my first blog post ever so bear with me over the next few weeks as I get the tone of the blog and formatting under control. We started our summer camp on Tuesday this week and its been a huge success so far, however a more in-depth post on that will be coming in the next week. I just wanted to use this first post to introduce myself and my fellow bloggers who will be running Open Hands and Dirty Feet over the next year.

My name is Jefferson Deming, 22 years old, and a recent graduate from Vanderbilt University. Im from  El Dorado, AR, a small town in the southern part of the state. I've traveled a fair amount throughout Europe and South America and am looking to bring this experience to the blog. As aforementioned, this is my first go at blogging so am looking forward to learning the ropes. Im the director for Small Business Development, Agriculture, Computer Class, and the Teen Center so let me apologize ahead of the time for any bias.


A graduate in Health Sciences from the University of North Carolina-Asheville, Peter is looking forward to the next year and all the experiences ahead here in Ecuador.  He will be working in the Agriculture, Child's Nutrition and Preventative Health programs, as well as being an active member at Manna's Teen Center and Library. Pete will also be heading up our Video blogging which we hope to incorporate more thoroughly into the blog this year. 

Sarah Grossman is a graduate of Brown University '12 in International Relations. Born and raised in NYC, she has spent the last three summers working in community development in Panama, Mexico, and Ecuador. In light of her passion for serving impoverished communities, she joined Manna Project in Quito, Ecuador. She currently runs the Small Business Program, teaches Advanced Adult English, and does international PR. When she returns home, she hopes to pursue a career in non-profit and international development

Thats just a quick bio on the three of us who will running the blog and if you'd like to meet the rest of the PDs this year just follow the link below and read up on us all. And I think I speak for everyone when I say I am deeply sorry for how we all look in our pictures. 

http://mannaproject.org/ecuador-team

Cheers,
Jefferson 



Ecuador... you will be missed


This has been a week of lasts as the 2011-2012 Program Directors hand over our lives and programs to the new group. As my last blog post I compiled a list of things we “old PDs” are going to miss about Ecuador as we had back to the US. It is unbelievable how fast the time passed, and how quickly this foreign country became our home and these Ecuadorians became our family and friends. August snuck up on us, and while I do miss friends and family at home as of right now there is no part of me that is ready to leave Ecuador. Well, asi es la vida… Here are the things that made this year incredible and we are really going to miss:

The food! cevichocho, hornado, seco de pollo, humitas, encocado, encebollado

The music - especially the constant salsa and reggaeton mixes on the public buses 

Hugging kids in the library

Riding the Capelo

Being the tallest person in a 50mi radius

The community members who constantly make us feel appreciated and welcome

Reading with Matias

Crepes and Waffles ice cream

Fresh fruit juices

Playing rapido

The adventure! We woke up everyday not really knowing what to expect and in Ecuador, the unexpected usually occurred  

Family dinners in the Manna House

The Choclo

Doing work that is fulfilling

Gandalf

The weather in the valley

Speaking Spanish

Teaching exercise classes

Being called “vecina” and “mi hija” but mostly being called “profe”

Living in the same house with some of our best friends

Our English students and the Adult English parties

Being constantly surrounded by the Spanish language

The amazing hospitality of Ecuadorians

Living in the mountains, there is nothing like waking up to the Andes every morning

The natural beauty of Ecuador


This year’s blog will be managed by Sara, Jefferson, and Pete. One reassuring thought about leaving Manna, the new group is awesome. MPI Ecuador is in good hands.