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Ecuador, Don Juan
Casa de Oficios
Construction period: Nov 2022 - Jun 2023

Facts

Type of facility

Training center with study area, rooms for educators, sanitary facilities, and a warehouse

Students

180 per year min

Budget

$36,000

NGO partner

A Mano Manaba

Education

Academic year

September to July

Literacy rate (15+ years old)

94.49 %

 

Project implementation

Don Juan is a small village with a population of 1,200. After the COVID-19 lockdown, the educational situation in the village worsened. With the help of a local NGO called A Mano Manaba (FAMM), Acronis built a vocational training center for young people, especially focused on women’s education. FAMM plans to teach at least 15 young girls per each month-long training.

All of FAMM’s educational programs are created in response to the needs of the community. Moreover, six out of the eight members on the board are local residents. FAMM also runs a local library which will is located next to the future training center.

The newly-built vocational center is seismically resistant and includes a training workshop, accommodation for volunteers, two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a warehouse to store machinery and tools. The training is led by international volunteers with the necessary professional skills who stay in Don Juan for three months. FAMM provides food, lodging, and an unique intercultural experience for the volunteers.

The workshop employs the “horizontal dialogue” method to collaborate with beneficiaries and the community in deciding the range of training programs offered at this facility. The initial programs include bicycle mechanics, sewing, and pattern-making.

 

About the country

Country

Republic of Ecuador

Capital city

Quito

Population

17 million people

Currency

USD

Major languages

Spanish, Quechua, Shuar

Travel information

Ecuador has a diverse climate due to its location on the equator, with coastal areas experiencing a tropical climate, the Andean region having a temperate climate, and the Amazonian region having a humid climate.

Dry season

June to September along the coast and from June to November in the Andean highlands

Wet season

December to May along the coast, from October to May in the Andean highlands, and from April to August in the Amazon region

Average annual temperature

Along the coast, the average temperature ranges from 25°C (77°F) to 31°C (88°F) with high humidity, while in the Andean highlands, the temperature is cooler and ranges from 7°C (45°F) to 20°C (68°F) depending on the altitude. In the Amazon region, the average temperature is generally around 26°C (79°F), with high humidity and rainfall throughout the year.

Travel tips

Hotel recommendations

Quito: Hotel La Cartuja, Hostal Belmont Plaza, Hotel Sierra Madre

Puerto López: Hostal Humpback, Hotel Ancora, Hotel Agua Blanca

Places to eat

Quito: Café Mosaico, Zazu, Mercado Central

Puerto López: Restaurante Don Willy, El Faro, Hosteria Mandála

Best souvenirs from the country

Chocolate, Aguardiente, panela, coffee, rondador (panpipes), panama hats, Balsa wood carvings and products, filagra, Andean music instruments

Taxi

Uber, Cabify, Easy Taxi, Yellow taxis, Radio taxis

Travel agencies

Happy Gringo, Latin Adventures, Metropolitan Touring, Andean Adventures, Wanderbus

Interpreting services

Interpreting Ecuador, Andean Language Services, Inlingua, Language Solutions, TransLingua

Proposed one week tour

Day 1: Quito

Day 2: Pailon del Diablo

Day 3: Cotopaxi volcano

Day 4: School visit

Day 5: Cajas National Park

Day 6: Ingapirca

Day 7: Galápagos Islands

Help by donating
If you believe in our mission and want to make an impact, you can support the Acronis Schools Initiative