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Posted by Galapagos ICE (Immerse Connect Evolve)
| Evolve | Santa Rosa |
Santa Rosa is a small and relatively poor community set in the highlands of Isla Santa Cruz, and has been selected by a number of local, national, and international groups (including Galapagos National Park, the Charles Darwin Foundation, the United Nations Millennium Project, FUNDAR Galapagos, and the Galapagos Provincial Government and Ministry of Tourism) to be a “test case” for sustainable development projects. Galapagos ICE supplies volunteers to aid in this international endeavor.
April 5 – May 7, 2008: David Stern-Gottfried, a muralist who has produced art for such companies as Lucas Studios, worked with local students to transform Santa Rosa’s coliseum into a semblance of Lonesome George, the famous Galapagos tortoise at the Charles Darwin Station that is the last of his species.
February 25 – March 3, 2007: Daniel Kelly, Christopher Parris, Greg Larson-all environmental architectural students from Clemson University-worked with Angel Arias (President of Santa Rosa) and Nuria Estrealla (representative of the UN Millennium Project) to lay out plans for a new botanical garden in Santa Rosa. They hope that the new garden will attract tourists to the area, and encourage local residents to view ecological efforts as an economic draw.
Spring 2007: Jill Blythe and Emma Ross taught English to Santa Rosa residents. Galapagos ICE seeks to empower local residents to take advantage of increased tourism by furthering their English language skills.
September 1-26, 2007: Michal Brosh and Erik Broekhuizen worked with Ivan Aldez of the Charles Darwin Station to gather native and endemic plants for the new community center. They also gathered seedlings for the Santa Rosa Botanical Garden.
May 6 – June 6, 2008: Max Reid and Jeremy Gredkiewicz of Engineers without Borders, worked to incorporate energy-saving devices in the watering of the Santa Rosa Botanical Garden, and the lighting of Santa Rosa municipality buildings and school.
April 2008: Galapagos ICE coordinated an effort with Ecology Project International (EPI) for 32 volunteers — 16 students and teachers from the United States and 16 Galapagos high school students — to paint the exteriors of Santa Rosa’s municipal buildings and perform lawn and landscaping maintenance on their grounds. EPI is an educational non-profit that works through FUNDAR, a Galapagos foundation focused on conservation, to offer international and local students the opportunity to learn ecological field research techniques in the Islands. Participants are required to fulfill community service and this group generously volunteered their time to help with the Galapagos ICE Santa Rosa campaign.
July 2008: Nineteen volunteers from the coeducational Ecuadoran Scouting organization (Asociación de Scouts del Ecuador) in Quito spent 2 days painting 5 houses surrounding the main square of Santa Rosa, and touching up the town’s main office and coliseum interior. Seventeen of the volunteers were children, ages 6-17, accompanied by 2 adult leaders. Their efforts help the citizens of Santa Rosa fulfill their goals for improvement and beautification of their village, particularly to attract ecologically minded tourists.
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Posted by webmaster
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006/2005 |
September 2007: To help address the high rate of teen pregnancy on Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos ICE presented an innovative sexual education program offered within the Galapagos school system. Volunteers Jessica Kahan and Andrew Hemphill worked with a representative from the Peace Corp to prepare and deliver a series of sexual education presentations for both high school students and elementary school students. Under the supervision of the Directorates of Education and Health, Mr. Hemphill successfully presented the program to over 950 students.
July-August, 2007: Julianne Secko taught new classroom activities, homework assignments, and pedagogical theories to Galapagos mathematics teachers at San Francisco High School. Kerrie Littlejohn, another Galapagos ICE volunteer, translated.
December 12-19, 2007: Thirty-seven students and teachers from Rollins College in Florida, USA, volunteered a week of instruction in English as a Second Language and Computer Literacy to Miguel Cazares High School students. With the help of the high school students, Rollins volunteers set up a computer lab of fourteen PCs with internet connections. Miguel Cazares students were then taught how to browse the web for information, and how to use such programs as Microsoft Word, Excel, Photoshop, and Premiere. Rollins College also gave the school digital cameras and video cameras.
June 9-20, 2007: At the request of Cesar Lombeida, Director of the Supervision of Education in the Galapagos, Galapagos ICE was asked to evaluate and improve the English language fluency of Galapagos ESL teachers. Elizabeth Smolcic, the Director of the ESL program at Juniata College (Huntingdon, PA), spearheaded the effort, and concluded that English pronunciation, oral fluency, and listening comprehension represented the greatest challenges for Galapagos ESL teachers. She also determined that Galapagos ESL teachers are insufficiently equipped with proper ESL materials.
July 16-29, 2007: Donato Sciacovelli, an engineer at the European Space Agency, offered a series of lectures on satellites, astronomy, and physics to students at Loma Linda High School, Galapagos National High School, and Tomas de Berlanga High School, as well as to the general public at the municipality saloon. Local TV news Channel 9 covered the program in multiple segments as it was unfolding.
July 3, 2007: Galapagos ICE volunteer Kana Imuta gave presentations to two different student-age groups at Loma Linda School, on Japanese geography, culture, and ecology, in an effort to encourage students’ interest in cultures beyond their islands. Over three hundred individuals attended. Ms. Imuta also presented videotapes of Japanese drumming, sang Japanese folksongs with another Japanese musician and shared sushi rolls with the audience members, as sample of Japanese cuisine. Local TV news Channel 9 interviewed Ms. Imuta, as well as the excited groups of students in attendance.
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Posted by webmaster
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006/2005 |
September 4 – 24, 2006: Maria Santos, an epidemiologist from Yellowknife, Canada, gave seminars to local medical doctors, police officers, high school students, and the general community, on the dangers of HIV/AIDS and STDs. The events were tremendously successful, drawing over 700 people to attend. Ms. Santos also performed surveys to assess local public awareness of these and other important health issues. Ms. Santos has promised to make a similar series of seminars on cancer when she returns. This project was coordinated in conjunction with the Galapagos Directorate of Health, and was covered in the media by local TV Channel 9 News, The Municipality News gazette, Radio Santa Cruz, and the El Colono newspaper.
September 19-26, 2006: Yose Cormier taught twenty parents the basics of first aid, which included how to prevent and treat burns, cuts, deep wounds, and shock, and how to react when someone is choking or is unconscious. Mauricio Pozo taught over seventy individuals about the fundamentals of nutrition, meal portions, basic metabolism, the importance of exercise, nutrition issues for women who are pregnant, and issues for infants and small children.
April 2006: Jessica Harvey, a kinesiology professional from Canada, worked on Santa Cruz Island for the one month, volunteering in the emergency room and pediatrics ward at the Puerto Ayora hospital. Additionally, she provided private physical therapy services to two elderly disabled individuals and one little girl with cerebral palsy, and counseled local senior citizens about exercises to improve and sustain their health. This program was accomplished with the assistance of the municipality of Puerto Ayora, the Directorate of Health, and the Patronato de Santa Cruz. Local TV news Channel 9 covered Ms. Harvey’s contributions to the community.
August 14-17, 2006: Galapagos ICE was asked by Loma Linda School and the Municipality of Santa Cruz to help a group of 32 doctors from the World Health Services provide free health screening to over 1000 local residents. For this program, Galapagos ICE helped with organization and offered translation services. Residents were tested for glaucoma, cholesterol, lung fitness, blood sugar, and dental hygiene, and were educated about preventative health measures. The World Health Services also gave talks on high blood pressure and diabetes, two common health issues in the Galapagos. During coverage by local TV Channel 9 News, Puerto Ayora Mayor Leopoldo Buchelli expressed warm thanks to Galapagos ICE President Emily Pozo and the organization for their assistance with the event.
November 8, 2006: Galapagos ICE volunteers Amelia Howitt and Richard Cotter gave a presentation to 75 students and teachers at Delia Ibarra Elementary School on New Zealand and Galapagos culture and ecology. Drawing the children in with performances of New Zealand folk songs and folk dancing, Ms. Howitt and Mr. Cotter emphasized the similarities between the two Island cultures and ecologies. They underscored to the children that New Zealand had also been formed by volcanoes, and had once, like the Galapagos, had been home to many unique endemic plants and animals. But due to overdevelopment and lack of governmental regulation, New Zealand has lost much of that extraordinary habitat. Ms. Howitt and Mr. Cotter underscored that Galapagos residents (like the students, themselves, and their families) have an exciting opportunity to help protect their amazing natural environment. Local TV Channel 9 News, Puerto Ayora, interviewed the students in attendance, who expressed great enthusiasm about the event and the importance of conserving the natural treasures of their Islands.
November 2005 to May 2007: Galapagos ICE coordinated a penpal program between junior high, high school and college students in the Galapagos and students of similar ages in the United States. The participating U.S. schools and colleges were: Indian River Middle School, Philadelphia, NY; TE Middle School, PA; South Brandywine Middle School, Brandywine, PA; Meadowridge School, Canada; and Peace College, Raleigh, NC. In this program, students studied each other’s culture and exchanged emails about ordinary life circumstances in two very different parts of the world. E-mails were translated by Emily Pozo and Spanish students at Peace College. While the interaction between Galapagos and U.S. students proved a rich experience for the American students, it perhaps had a more profound effect upon the Galapagos students. By answering questions from their peers half way around the world about the unique character of Galapagos flora, fauna, and ecology, Galapagos students became more aware of the significance of the Islands, and the need for ecological vigilance and care.
November 2005: Joan Klatcho of “Kids Across the World” spent several weeks in the Galapagos making a photo-documentary on the lives of two Galapagos children: the son of a local fisherman (and student of Oswaldo Guayasamin Elementary School), and the son of a local captain (student of Colegio Miguel Cazares). Ms. Klatchco also organized an exchange of letters and questions between Pennsylvania students (of TE Middle School and South Brandywine) and Galapagos students, and posted a daily photo diary of the two students for the students in Pennsylvania. Jim Parker of Riverview Studios (NJ) captured aspects of the project on video. From their materials, Mr. Parker and Ms. Klatcho created a multimedia exhibition that was exhibited at the museum at the University of Pennysylvania. Galapagos ICE selected the Galapagos students, provided transportation, translation services, and cultural information for the project. Patronato de Santa Cruz, Galapatur, and Santa Cruz Municipality all helped organize the project. The students of Brandywine High School (PA) and TE Middle School (PA) also raised money to purchase basic school supplies for the students of Oswaldo Guayasamin Elementary School. The project was covered by local TV Channel 9 News in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, by Channel 6 TV News in Philadelphia, and by the magazine for George Lucas’ education foundation, Edutopia (http://www.edutopia.org/worldwide-rides-one-planet-schoolhouse).
July 17-22, 2006: Kerrigan Kessler, a fine artist from KTK Handmade in New York, and Jon Jerquist, a New York carpenter, surprised a sixth-grade class of an impoverished highland school (Delia Ibarra) with a three-day workshop on silk screening, with materials donated by Standard Screening in New York. Each student designed and screened his or her own T-shirt. Galapagos ICE sold prints of these T-shirts from this project and bought additional art supplies for the school with the proceeds.
July 18-31, 2006: Melissa Timko, an American elementary school teacher (and Teacher of the Year, Victor County, CA), ran a series of teacher workshops on classroom management strategies and proven class activities for ESL teachers at Colegio San Francisco. In addition to running the workshops, Ms. Timko also observed classes and offered pedagogical advice to teachers, and worked with Emily Pozo and the Directorate of Education to develop a stronger ESL curriculum for Galapagos elementary schools. This project was a part of an ongoing response to a request by Cesar Lombeida, Director of the Supervision of Education in the Galapagos, to help improve the struggling ESL program in the Galapagos school system. Local TV Channel 9 News in Puerto Ayora ran multiple segments on Ms. Timko’s workshops and the importance of ESL instruction on the Islands.
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Posted by webmaster
| Galapagos | Volunteers |
Jean-Alex, Voluntario de Salud & Educacion (Canada)
(El programa de voluntariado con Galápagos ICE) era un programa muy independiente que me permitió ayudar en lo que sea el modo en que me gustaba. Me dejaron sola y no tenía que seguir el mismo horario que los demás. También tuve la oportunidad de cambiar del voluntariado del hospital e hice voluntariado en una escuela. No tenía que pagar mucho como muchos otros programas internacionales. En total, he disfrutado Galápagos ICE porque en realidad no se trataba de hacer dinero fuera de los voluntarios, pero en realidad sobre todo en hacer una diferencia en las Islas Galápagos.
Ann, Bellas Artes (EEUU)
A través de la amplitud y profundidad de su red comunitarios, (Emily Pozo) no sólo cumplió la logística de mi proyecto [Galápagos palabras y sonidos], pero también poner en marcha una auténtica oportunidad para el intercambio con la comunidad local en Puerto Ayora. En muchos aspectos, este proyecto no podría haber hecho lo que hemos cumplido si no hubiera sido por usted – no sólo por la conexión con los profesores y estudiantes de la Colegio Nacional de Galápagos, pero también en su voluntad de servir como defensor del proyecto, sino también traductora y chaperón. Nuestro trabajo con los estudiantes fue un ejercicio en la búsqueda de formas de intercambio durante nuestra breve visita. Su parte fue la conexión crítica a través de la lengua y la cultura, lo que nos permitió sumergirnos en la comunidad local en la medida en que no habría sido posible sin su ayuda y experiencia.
Lorna, Terapeuta Ocupacional (Canada)
Galápagos ICE es lo maximo…! Emily es realmente animada de lo que está haciendo y su entusiasmo inspira a cualquier para poner su corazón en cualquier proyecto que podrían estar trabajando. Es evidente que hay muchas áreas en la educación y de atención médica que podría ser mucho mejor para los residentes de las Islas Galápagos, y Emily parece trabajar incansablemente con ese objetivo en mente. Una parte importante del atractivo de esta ONG, es que Emily y los voluntarios intentan impulsar e inspirar a los miembros de la comunidad a través de conocimientos, información, habilidades de aprendizaje, experiencia y proyectos prácticos, para que puedan convertirse en la solución por sí misma para mejorar la salud, la educación, y en última instancia la calidad de vida.
Barbara, Doctora (Australia)
Me gustó la oportunidad de identificar las zonas especiales de necesidad en la comunidad y, responder a esas necesidades con su habilidad de especialidad. También fue grandioso que las horas de trabajo voluntario fueron relativamente flexibles que permita tiempo para explorar la magia de Galápagos.
Ebba, Desarrollo (Sweden)
El hecho de que tuve que enviar dos cartas de recomendación, eso me dio la impresión inmediata que se trataba de una organización seria. De hecho, me agradeció el hecho de que tenía que enviar una copia de mi seguro de viaje, etc pasaporte, me aseguró que yo estaba en buenas manos con alguien que sabía lo que estaba haciendo. Emily era muy servicial y respondió a todas mis mensajes de correo electrónico (con todos mis millones de preguntas ..) al instante que también me hizo sentir muy cómodo ya desde el principio. Mis padres eran bastante sospechosas a la idea de hacer un voluntariado en el extranjero (historias de horror de las tasas enorme para básicamente nada) asi que los dejo leer los correos electrónicos emily me ha enviado y el paquete de voluntarios y también de acuerdo en que esto parecía fiable y manejado profesionalmente. No puedo pensar en otra cosa que necesita mejorar, todo salió realmente bien para mí!
Barbara, Salud Publica (EEUU)
Lo que más me gustaba era de estar involucrado en varios proyectos y conocer muchos aspectos de la vida comunitaria en Santa Cruz. Tuve la oportunidad de experimentar de primera mano tanto las alegrías y las frustraciones asociadas de ser un voluntario extranjero y lo hizo para las 6 mejores semanas de mi vida.
Patrick, Doctor (Escocia)
Como voluntario en Galápagos tuve la oportunidad de vivir con una familia en Santa Cruz, trabajar en la ciudad y sumergirme completamente en el archipiélago. Esto significaba que el ritmo contagioso de la vida de Galápagos se vivió plenamente como podria ‘sumergirme bajo de la piel’ de la isla y se convirtió en «no más que otro gringo ‘- esto fue lo que más me gustaba.
Comparte tus comentarios sobre tu experiencia con el voluntariado con Galápagos ICE por e-mail volunteer@galapagosice.org.
© 2011 Galapagos ICE (Immerse Connect Evolve). All Rights Reserved.
Website: www.galapagosice.org – E-mail: info@galapagosice.org.
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Posted by webmaster
