2 Down, 1 More to Go!!

Spring break. Those two words have ruled my life during the past 2.5 months. We've already hosted 2 spring break groups, and this Saturday our third and final group will arrive. Our first 2 groups were here during the same week. The Vanderbilt group stayed at the house and helped us run programs, while the Duke group went with Chet and Erik to work with FEVI.

FEVI is an organization that we partner with that is located in the valley north of us. In Lumbisi, Chet, Erik and the Duke volunteers painted a couple of murals, worked in a community garden, assisted at a feeding program for the elderly, and helped out the local pre-school. I met up with the group on Monday to help out with the feeding program. We also got to spend time with the Duke volunteers when they joined us on Friday at the Centro to see our programs and the communities in which we work. After the library closed, they joined us for dinner at the house. Bibi and I also got the privilege of tagging along when they went on a Saturday trip to Otavalo. Although I didn't get to spend as much time with the Duke group, I could tell they were a great group of enthusiastic and hard-working students. We were sad to see the Duke kids go. Lumbisi was lucky to have them.

Sleepy Maria on the way to Otavalo

Erik is pumped to be working with Duke!

It was a joy to host the Vanderbilt girls (yes, a group of 12 girls...). They lived in the apartment and learned first-hand what it's like to live and work in Manna. Mike and Sarah led the group on morning outings to Quito. They got to experience the city and learn about Ecuadorian culture. In the afternoons, they did program rotations with the PDs. They were split into 3 groups and rotated between the Library/Teen Center, Children's English, and Women's Exercise. When a group would join for Women's Exercise, the girls learned about the program, made inspirational signs for the room, made measurement cards for the women who attend, and helped lead the class. They also had a morning and afternoon of work projects where they painted the entire women's exercise room, cleaned the library, and help weed and till the 6th grade garden at Alinambi. The girls enjoyed learning more about Manna and what it's like to do sustainable development. I'm hoping to meet up with them next time I'm in Nashville (say August? wink...).

Do you like the color?

Painting in progress

Sorry I don't have many pictures to share. I was busy running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I'll try to do better next time.

Tulane, we're ready for you!