Carry out environmental health activities in collaboration with community youth.
Partner with local youth to run camps for 5-12 year old children.
Collaborate with community members on 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, however most of
the AMIGOS communities will be in the canton of Salcedo. 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. Most people in this region speak a
mix of Quichua, an indigenous language of Ecuador, and Spanish.
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 2010, AMIGOS will return to Ecuador with programs in the provinces of Cotopaxi and Pichincha.
“Luego de tres veranos con AMIGOS, me enamoré de Latinoamérica y pasé la mayor parte de mi carrera profesional vinculada a la comunidad hispánica en los Estados Unidos o directamente en Latinoamérica. AMIGOS encendió la mecha para que yo deseara experimentar el mundo de otras culturas.”
