Work Areas

Agriculture

Ecuador is a nation with abundant natural resources that are endangered by agricultural practices that deplete soil and water resources. In addition, rural communities face a serious economic crisis that has eroded their incomes and access to credit. Volunteers address these critical needs by training farmers to adopt land use practices that are more environmentally sound, and by training farm families in small animal husbandry practices to meet their nutritional and economic needs. To address the eroding incomes of rural families, Volunteers assist farmers and cooperatives in improving their business and marketing skills.

Last year, Volunteers helped over 200 small farmers improve soil conservation practices by identifying soil problems and constructing ditches, furrows, and terraces. Peace Corps Volunteers also encouraged improved soil quality by emphasizing the benefits of organic fertilizers and helped implement adequate systems for safe pesticide management. Volunteers worked with over 4,000 family members in 153 communities to improve nutrition and increase the income of rural families by helping them to diversify their agricultural production and identify markets. Collective marketing techniques, such as farmers' cooperatives, have proven successful. Crop diversification and improved agribusiness techniques create options for income generation and yield more nutritional foods for local consumption.

Animal Production

Most of Peace Corps/Ecuador's animal production Volunteers work with small farmers, particularly women, to improve the management of their resources, focusing on a variety of animals such as sheep, pigs, goats, llamas, fish, poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs and bees. Volunteers are currently assigned to work with community-based cooperatives, non-governmental organizations or local groups. Volunteers help farm families improve their nutritional status and incomes by providing training and technical assistance in small animal production and husbandry techniques.

Natural Resources Conservation and Agricultural Production

Because of its location on the equator and its tremendous variation in topography, Ecuador is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. Unfortunately, Ecuador is losing its primary forests at a rate of 200,000 hectares per year, resulting in changes in climates, soil degradation, and the loss of biodiversity. In areas being logged near protected areas, some new species are discovered as they become extinct. The Natural Resources project of Peace Corps/Ecuador, in conjunction with several non-governmental organizations, is aimed at the restoration and conservation of natural resources. Collaboratively, the groups are implementing activities such as agroforestry, conservation of protected areas, and urban forestry. Environmental education is an important tool that they incorporate throughout the projects to educate communities about their natural resources as well as to promote the implementation of sustainable land use activities.

Health

In Ecuador, 15 percent of children under the age of five suffer from Vitamin A deficiency. In addition, unofficial estimates reported between 15,000-25,000 cases of HIV infection and AIDS-related illnesses. Volunteers focus their work in these two critical areas.

Last year Volunteers trained 1,000 mothers of children under the age of five in improved nutritional and health practices so that they can provide their children with better diets and mitigate the causes and effects of diarrhea and dehydration at home. One Volunteer, in collaboration with several organizations, implemented a pilot "Healthy Schools" project in 22 schools. To date, 266 teachers have been trained and are incorporating non-formal health education techniques into their curricula.

In an effort to enhance health care and produce income, Volunteers are working with indigenous communities to identify and harvest medicinal plants which have been used as traditional health remedies. These products are currently being sold in Ecuador, with market research being done to explore the option of exporting their products to the United States.

Youth Development

The situation of low-income urban youth is one of increasing concern in Ecuador. This growing portion of the population is experiencing such problems as high school dropout rates, illiteracy, and unemployment. Growing urban poverty has also caused a rise in the formation of youth gangs, delinquency, drug abuse, and child prostitution. Volunteers in Ecuador work with youth and families at risk to mitigate these issues and support healthy family lifestyles.

During 2000, Volunteers contributed to a range of activities to address the needs of almost 3,000 at-risk youth and their parents. Volunteers sponsored youth workshops to build leadership skills and self-esteem and to train young people in first aid, healthy nutrition, and AIDS prevention. To empower youth in a time of economic crisis, Volunteers helped young people develop and strengthen their own micro-enterprises and encouraged them to participate with their families in community banking projects.

One Volunteer organized recreational activities and educated the community on their importance for girls' development. Workshops were conducted on themes of gender communication, self-esteem and sex education.

The Women in Development/Gender in Development committee works together with a local Kiwanis Club on a scholarship program that allows girls to remain in high school.

Last updated Sep 27 2008