Birds of a feather…
Volunteers & Volunteering
We have the wonderful privilege to volunteer along side blogger, adventurer and world traveler Alisha Roberston. And what an honor it has been. Alisha finds herself on a one year around the globe volunteering journey and Miro and I are so grateful to intersect on even a small part. We urge you to follow along on her journey at her blog, links you will find below. Ever wonder what a volunteer’s first week is like? Well, keep reading….
By Guest blogger Alisha Robertson of Small World Pursuits
Welcome to Ecuador!
A country that is small, beautiful, with diverse landscape from the Galapagos Islands to the Amazon Jungle. It is also home to my first volunteer project as I begin my round the world volunteer journey.
I arrived in Ecuador at the very end of April to begin my work with Fundacion Arte Del Mundo in May. I arrived after a very challenging border crossing and many hours on a bus, and was greeted with warm hellos, smiles, and waves out the window followed by a pot luck dinner for two new volunteer arrivals (including myself), and one volunteer farewell. What a great start!!
I am towards the end of a month volunteering here at the foundation, and it has been an amazing experience so far! From working with the children to outings with the volunteer team. Mazz and Karl, the volunteer leaders, not only ensure that you are having a good volunteer experience, but that you are also experiencing the community and the surrounding countryside.
About the Volunteer Project!
Fundacion Arte Del Mundo was founded by a group of individuals that wanted to share their love of literature and arts in the Andean Community of Baños, Ecuador. It is a center for the arts, literature, and language. We do creative activities with children, teach English classes, host a community intercambio, and have open air movie nights. You can read details about the organization, volunteer opportunities, and specifics on all the initiatives on the permanent page I have created about Fundacion Arte Del Mundo.
A Day in the Life of a Volunteer!
A great aspect of this volunteer project is that it really allows you to balance volunteering and having time to explore the area. We start our days around 3:30pm and volunteer until around 6:00pm with the children. On nights we have English classes, Intercambio, or Movie night we volunteer until around 8:00pm.
The kids arrive promptly everyday at 3:30 to create a line outside of the library. They are always rushing to get in, and would do anything to stay later! For the first 20 minutes or so, all children are required to enter the library and read. The volunteers spend time reading with them – which is good Spanish practice as well.
According to Literacy.Org, “Over the last 40 years, there has been a 76.7% decrease in the illiteracy rate in Ecuador leaving the current literacy rate at about 90%. The majority of the remaining 1.2 million individuals needing literacy instruction in Ecuador are concentrated in rural areas, where an insufficient number of formal schools means that many children do not have access to education.”
Due to the lack of literacy instruction in the rural areas of Ecuador, we also do rural outreach days where we travel to work with the children of a nearby rural community. There will be a rural outreach approaching in the next couple of weekends in the rural village of Rio Verde.
After the children have spent their time reading in the library, we move on to our children’s art activity program for the day. The entire program is referred to as LA BIBLIOTECA INTERACTIVA DE BAÑOS (LA BIB). The activities vary from day to day from craft projects, arts, theatre, music, yoga, game days in the park, to music depending on the talents of the volunteers. The focus with the children is always art-related activities where they are encouraged to create, imagine, and experiment. We even have an imagination corner! This has also brought back my inner child, which I am very thankful for! And, the best part of the program is that LA BIB is completely free for the children of the community!
How could you help?
One of my missions with my various projects is to create awareness where there are needs in the communities and efforts where I am volunteering. We all want to help right? We’re just never sure about the projects, where the money is going, or if it is a legitimate cause? I am witnessing the positive impacts creative individuals are making in the lives of children in the community here in Baños. If you would like to contribute a small amount to help support the children’s foundation in Ecuador, please click here to donate. Please place LA BIB in the subject line of the paypal donation. 100% of the donations will go directly to the foundation. If you are interested in possibly volunteering, click here to learn more.
Thank you for being a part of supporting creativity just by taking time to read this post and spreading the word about efforts volunteers are making all over the world.
Alisha Robertson of Small World PursuitsAlisha and Daana
Alisha is currently on an around the world volunteer trip that will take her to South America, Africa, Europe, India, Indonesia, and New Zealand. She loves pineapples and to wander aimlessly in no apparent direction experiencing the beauty of this world and meeting new people.
Lainie Liberti is a recovering branding expert, who’s career once focused on creating campaigns for green – eco business, non-profits and conscious business. Dazzling clients with her high-energy designs for over 18 years, Lainie lent her artistic talents to businesses that matter. But that was then.
In 2008, after the economy took a turn, Lainie decided to be the change (instead of a victim) and began the process of “lifestyle redesign,” a joint decision between both her and her 11-year-old son, Miro. They sold or gave away all of of their possessions in 2009 and began a life of travel, service, and exploration. Lainie and her son Miro began their open-ended adventure backpacking through Central and South America. They are slow traveling around the globe allowing inspiration to be their compass. The pair is most interested in exploring different cultures, contributing by serving, and connecting with humanity as ‘global citizens.’
Today Lainie considers herself a digital nomad who is living a location independent life. She and her son write and podcast their experiences from the road at Raising Miro on the Road of Life.
