El Terreno

I had the best three weeks of my life in Atandahua. The other volunteers were awesome and the vibe was productive, kind and joyful. It was also easy to interact and learn from the super friendly local community. It's a rural life but comfortable (but beware of the cold nights!), and there's a big town (Guaranda) nearby for all your civilisation needs. The organisers are super attentive to your needs. I couldn't recommend it more, or think of a better way to end my stay in Ecuador. I miss it every day!

Last May, I spent two very memorable, rewarding and sometimes challenging but also very enjoyable weeks in Atandahua. What I will especially carry with me from my two weeks is the amazing people I got the chance to met. Coordinators as well as other volunteers, and of course the locals of Atandahua, not at least the children. I would especially recommend this project for those who, unlike myself, are already Spanish speakers or have a basic Spanish knowledge and are eager to learn. This to be able to even further connect with the Ecuadorians, since their level of English is often limited. I’ve few other times in my life felt so appreciated walking on the street, as I did during this two weeks. The gratitude from the locals is a great reward for the work, which can sometimes be a bit challenging. The challenge is what makes it fun though, and there is also plenty of free time. This is a community built on trust and helping each other. When leaving El Terreno, my bus never showed up, something which one of the projects neighbours noticed and offered me a ride. Lessons from this: many of the locals are extremely kind, and the system of public transport is in Ecuador is not the same as in Europe… Lastly, I would recommend a lot of warm clothes and good shoes. Speaking from experience, coming straight from Costa Rica with a suitcase full of beach clothes is not ideal. Despite this I had a wonderful time! Even though only had two weeks, it was possible to create some routines and a sort of everyday life which I often think back and miss.

Joshua is a great guy with an ambitious vision. He takes care of the volunteers and is opened to discussion. He is the leader everyone whished to have. The project is meaningful and made me feel useful and part of the community. I enjoyed organising cooking classes for the locals and helping building the house in the mindle of the mountains was a breathtaking experience (in both senses, don't forget you are at 2700m of altitude). I will definitely recommend this experience!