Ecuador, Don Juan
Facts
Training center with study area, rooms for educators, sanitary facilities, and a warehouse
180 per year min
$36,000
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.
Gallery
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
