Category: Ecuador

In El Panecillo, a Kichwa community roughly 20 minutes away from the beautiful city of Otavalo, Ecuador, we learned how important food really is to most Ecuadorian individuals. As Claudia walked us through a delightful process to make an exquisite Ecuadorian meal, every member of the group made some sort of contribution. As Ecuadorians thrive together, it is important for a household to cook with each other. The welcoming environment of an Ecuadorian household brought warmth to our group of North American students from Saline High School even though we were visitors, outsiders of such an amazing community. 

“Welcome, do you want to go to Ecuador with us?”

I have lived in Otavalo all my life, thinking about the best job for me, not like the traditional one of sitting in an office and having the same routine every day. I have always wanted a job where I can meet many people, learn about many cultures, people, create a special bond and put a little piece of my knowledge in their hearts.

We inhabit a curious world. A world that beckons us to understand it, asking only that we appreciate how it tells us its stories, on its terms. Asking that we have the courage to open its various doors, to seek them out, and to sit with whomever we find on the other side. Trips with Tandana serve as a wonderful vehicle to do just that.

Embarking on a journey to teach English at the Summer School organized by The Tandana Foundation in Quinchinche was a life-changing experience for me. From the moment I arrived, I knew this adventure would be full of new challenges and rewarding moments.  

Twelve students and three accompanying adults from Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington recently wrapped up an exciting and productive four-week volunteer trip organized by The Tandana Foundation in Cambugan, Ecuador. During their trip, the Lakeside students were immersed in the Kichwa Otavalo indigenous community, staying with local host families and participating in cultural events and many fun regional activities.

I am Lizzy Tessier, one of the students from Saline High School that had the privilege of working with The Tandana Foundation this March. Getting to travel to Ecuador and encounter the beautiful culture of the local indigenous community in Otavalo was an experience I will never forget.

Saline High School (SHS) senior Michael Moore stood by and smiled as a group of enthusiastic kindergarten students painted golden sand dunes on a beach. The children were energetic helpers and worked quickly to depict a young Ecuadorian boy walking by the sea at sunset as a crab, whale, and fisherman look on.  

I’ll always look back fondly on the time I spent in the community of Muenala with The Tandana Foundation. It was such an overwhelmingly positive experience that even just thinking about it now brings a smile to my face. From the welcoming members of the community, to the beautiful view of the mountains, to the new cultural experiences my team had, this trip was wonderful and I’m eternally grateful for the community of Muenala for hosting us and The Tandana Foundation for facilitating an engaging week of activities and connections.

I came, I saw, and we planted a lot of plants. I am an Antioch College student who was able to take part in the return of The Tandana Foundation’s first in-person volunteer internship since 2020. I arrived on a sunny day to meet  Tandana team members Gaetan, Margarita, and Vero, and my host family. They were more than excited to welcome me to Ecuador. In that first week, I learned a lot about the places I would be staying and working in.