Carry out environmental activities using the arts, in
collaboration with community youth and local music groups.
Partner with local youth to run camps for 5 – 12 year old children.
Collaborate with community members on the planning and implementation of a community-based initiative (CBI).
Take a Photo Tour of Cotopaxi
Project Area:
Ecuador, nestled on the Pacific Coast of South America between Peru
and Colombia, is one of the continent’s smallest nations - about the
size of Colorado. However, the small country offers incredible
diversity in geography, landscapes and ecosystems that scope a wealth of
beautiful beaches, the mountainous Andes and the Amazon Jungle. The
province of Cotopaxi is located in central Ecuador in the Cordillera
Central of the Andes. It offers breath taking views of this mountain
range and people flock from all over the world to summit the 19,388 foot
Cotopaxi Mountain. This mountain is home to more than 90 different
species of birds. Latacunga is the capital Cotopaxi and most of the
AMIGOS communities will be in this region. Cotopaxi is also known for
their famous indigenous market in Sasquisilí, located about 25 minutes
from Latacunga. It is one of the largest indigenous markets to take
place in the Andes Mountains, where agricultural products and
handicrafts are traded.
Project History:
AMIGOS first year in Ecuador was in 1973. During the earlier years, AMIGOS implemented programs including ranging from community sanitation, human and animal vaccinations, and eyeglass distribution to tree-planting and environmental education, and special education for the mentally challenged. It has been a decade since AMIGOS was last in Ecuador. In 1999 AMIGOS worked in the regions of Tungurahua and Imbabura. In summer 2010, AMIGOS will return to Ecuador with programs in the province of Cotopaxi and Pichincha.
“Los jóvenes del mundo deben prepararse para un mundo sin fronteras, y debemos conectar nuestra experiencia de vida con la de otras culturas siempre que se presente la oportunidad de hacerlo. Ésta es la tendencia, y las experiencias como la de AMIGOS harán que esa transición sea mucho más fácil.”
