Community
I have chosen our Huayrapungo community for your teaching experience. The school has 20 children over 7 grades and is run by a really kind and helpful local teacher, Zoila. Huayrapungo is a very rural community, situated high in the mountains well away from any other communities. The children are quiet spoken, hardworking and friendly. The scenery around the school and the view across the mountains is simply breathtaking and it is hard not to have an awe-inspired smile on your face on the drive up to the school in the mornings!
Project timetable and directions when working up in the communities
We leave Otavalo by minibus at 6.45am from the Petrol Station in Imbaya (where you will meet) Monday to Friday. We arrive at the track leading to Muenala School at 7.30am and then it is a further 25 minutes on to your school in Huayrapungo. There are breaks during the school day to allow for lunch and play. We return to Otavalo at around 2.30pm.
I haven't been able to find much on the internet on Huayrapunga, but did find this previous intern's photo album! Kind of cool, 'cause I get to see what the school and village and surrounding area look like in advance! http://blogs.statravel.co.uk/patrickandkat/albums/huayrapungo-kats-school
It is expected that volunteers spend some time in the afternoons or evenings lesson planning for school and helping with shopping and colegio classes when needed. Other than that, generally the rest of the day is yours to spend as you please, unless you have Spanish classes!
About your class
You will be working with the local teacher, but it is anticipated that after the first few days, you will be allocated a young grade to plan for and teach. You will be our only volunteer at the school, but I will be up there regularly, so you won’t be alone! It will be challenging, but it is a vital role for us to keep a presence at the school and help out Zoila who is on her own – I think you will find it a rewarding experience and great as part of your intern trainee programme.
Adventure Weekend to Mindo
We have provisionally scheduled your trip to the picturesque town of Mindo in the cloud forest on the western slope of the Andes Mountains for the weekend of 28th / 29th November. Mindo is a peaceful little town famous for its orchids and humming birds with endless options of adventure activities (such as tubing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, etc.) or plenty of chances just to lay back and relax in a hammock.
Off to study my spanish! Yikes - hope it starts getting a little easier to remember things!!!
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