Galapagos ICE

SODIS Water Project

December 9, 2008

Barbara Rothengass of the USA volunteered September 1-30, 2008 to perform a variety of Public Health assessments with schools and public and private medical facilities in order to help Galapagos ICE plan for priority future programming. Initially interested in conducting a needs assessment for sexual risk behavior, Barbara soon learned that safe drinking water was a more pressing concern for community members, so she shifted her focus to testing and promoting Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) as a low-cost, sustainable solution. Basically, SODIS utilizes sanitized, re-used plastic bottles to collect water, and the bottles are then exposed to sunlight to kill bacteria. The method has proven highly effective in at least 20 developing nations. (For more detailed information, see www.sodis.ch.) Galapagos ICE and current volunteers are continuing to work on this project with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Galapagos National Park, to educate local residents about SODIS and the health benefits of consuming cleaner water.

Leave a Comment » | Education, Environment, Health, Schools, Water | Tagged: drinking water, environment, school, SODIS, water | Permalink
Posted by Galapagos ICE (Immerse Connect Evolve)

Ecological “Playground for All” at Oswaldo Guyasamin Elementary School

December 9, 2008

October 10 – November 15, 2008: To help increase awareness of disability issues and provide a safe environment for local children with and without disabilities to play, Greg Mahood (Occupational Therapist, Canada) and Lorna Anderson (Recreational Therapist, Canada) designed a “Playground for All” that was built at Oswaldo Guyasamin Elementary School, using approximately 80% recycled materials. The equipment includes a giant tortoise climbing structure made of 118 tires, a tether-ball, see-saw, miniature (stationary) automobile, obstacle course, and a tire swing. Special attention was given to offering equipment that would be accessible to children with physical disabilities, such as see-saws with wide seats and hip supports.

Work was completed with the generous donations of the Municipality of Santa Cruz and parents of students. Construction was organized by Galapagos ICE, but much of the work was performed by teachers and parents on two coordinated build days. The completed playground now provides a much-needed environment for children to expend their physical energies and can be used by teachers to help disabled students develop essential physical skills (strength, balance, co-ordination). Galapagos ICE plans to promote the playground as a model for others throughout the Islands.

Leave a Comment » | Disability, Playground, Recycling | Tagged: physical disability, playground, recreational therapist, recycling | Permalink
Posted by Galapagos ICE (Immerse Connect Evolve)

Galapagos ICE Founder & President Featured on “Dan Rather Reports” December 9

December 8, 2008

Galapagos ICE Founder and President Emily K. Pozo will be featured in an upcoming episode of HDNet’s “Dan Rather Reports” in an interview about the ecological and economic challenges threatening the Islands, and the efforts of Galapagos ICE to address them. Emmy^TM-nominated “Dan Rather Reports” brings distinguished newsman Dan Rather’s hard-hitting style of journalism to bear on vital world issues, and viewers can expect an especially vivid and moving depiction of the crises facing the Galapagos today. The episode, entitled “Pollution in Paradise,” premiers on Tuesday, December 9, at 8 p.m. Eastern, and will be rebroadcast several times during the following days. Complete schedule information available at www.hd.net/danrather.html. The program may also be downloaded from iTunes and purchased on DVD after the premier.

Pollution in Paradise: “One of the most valuable and pristine natural habitats in the world, the Galapagos Islands are now threatened due in part to a flood of tourists. Dan Rather travels to the islands to examine the rapidly changing environment there….”

Leave a Comment » | Environment, Pollution | Tagged: Dan Rather, galapagos, pollution | Permalink
Posted by Galapagos ICE (Immerse Connect Evolve)

Tennessee Missionary Group Volunteers at Delia Ibarra Elementary

October 1, 2008

July 26-August 3, 2008: Making his third trip to the Islands to help Galapagos ICE, Paul Gunn of Tennessee led a group of seven volunteers who accomplished repairs and improvements to Delia Ibarra Elementary School in the highland town of Santa Rosa, Isla Santa Cruz, in addition to performing work on the Santa Rosa Community Center.

“Galapagos ICE gave us great opportunities to make a difference in a remote part of the world,” says Paul. “It is a privilege to serve with the organization.”

Among the volunteers in this group were five University of Tennessee – Knoxville students: John David Carver, David Flowers, Ashley Bowman, Molly Choate and Daniel Shedd. Also in the group were Molly’s father, Bill Choate, and Callie Palmer of Texas.

Daniel arrived in the Islands one month before the rest of the group, to teach English as a Second Language and accomplish school repairs. “The students taught me more than I could ever teach them,” he said of the experience. “I’m not done yet,” he added, expressing a wish to return next summer for more volunteer work.

During their stay, the volunteers constructed tables for the school, installed a large Spanish-language world map in the cafeteria, distributed donations of school bags filled with supplies, and conducted music lessons for students using donated musical instruments: 2 guitars, several recorders, and a large set of shakers and hand bells.

Callie and Molly are Special Education student teachers and both spent time visiting with special needs children during their visit. On Callie’s first trip volunteering with Galapagos ICE in 2007, she met a young girl with Down Syndrome named Genesis. On her return trip, she brought donations of books especially suited for Genesis’ developmental needs.

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Posted by Galapagos ICE (Immerse Connect Evolve)

US Couple Provides Medical Check-Ups in Puerto Ayora and Santa Cruz

October 1, 2008

July 27-August 8, 2008: Nancy Palmer, a nurse and educator from the US, and her husband Tom, a physician, spent two weeks in the Galapagos, volunteering their services as medical professionals. Part of their trip was spent visiting the hospital in Puerto Ayora to learn more about medical services available in the Islands. They also volunteered at the local Elderly Center in Puerto Ayora, where they gave free check ups to senior citizens and to children with disabilities. Then, they spent five days in the highland village of Santa Rosa, where they provided free check-ups for children at Delia Ibarra elementary, as well as the general community. In total, they saw about 200 patients, and distributed $1200 worth of donated medicine from Blessings International: Medicines for Missions.

“We really enjoyed our two weeks invested in the ICE organization,” said Nancy and Tom, of their experience volunteering with Galapagos ICE. “We appreciate the mission, methods, and professionalism of this organization. ICE is committed to preserving the unique environment of the Galalpagos while improving the lives of its people. We have seen a number of positive results of the work of ICE!”