Community Development
Community
development projects have results beyond the school, community building
or sports facility constructed or renovated, they also strengthen the
community's organisational capacity and social networks.
The members of CRACYP have run or facilitated around 35
projects
in local communities over the last 16 years, usually hosting two groups
a year from Global Routes. Development project outcomes have
included school buildings, packing sheds for processing local crops,
community meeting rooms, health centres, sports facilities and the Piedra
Blanca community ecotourism lodge.
Firstly
the
community must decide what they want from a project, which means that
different groups within the village must work together to decide on
development priorities. Community leaders and representatives
such as teachers, sports captains, producer groups, parish councillors
and youth groups negotiate the relative merits of their suggested
projects to agree on one plan for the village. Then they must
all
present the plan to CRACYP, in competition with other villages, to win
the chance to host volunteers. In this way we aim to select
villages with strong motivation to complete projects which are
supported by all sections of the community.
Development
project preparations starts around a year before our volunteers set out
for Ecuador. Construction plans must be drawn up, in
agreement
with the community and within the proposed budget.
We encourage the use of local materials and
eco-friendly
designs where feasible. Meanwhile, the volunteers are
fundraising
for their trip and studying Spanish so that they will be able to
communicate with their hosts. Nearer the project date,
accommodation must be arranged with families in the village and
construction materials bought.
Volunteers
stay
with local families and work together with them on the construction
project. The cultural exchange of ideas and experiences is
educational for both sides and many of the friendships made last well
beyond the end of the development project. Our young
volunteers
from Global Routes bring funds, energy and enthusiasm which help
motivate the community to complete the project. Knowing that
volunteers will raise funds and travel from so far away to help is a
great boost to the self-esteem of the village.
Overseas
volunteers have played a vital role in our community development
projects in Ecuador. See the Volunteering
section for current individual
volunteer opportunities with CRACYP, either in Ecuador or
online, internships
in rural development, or the Global
Routes
website for opportunities for teenagers from the
United States to participate in a future group project.
Community development - a series of small rural development projects in
small agricultural villages in Ecuador.
A series of Green
Progress sustainable development projects from or facilitated by CRACYP
with help from overseas volunteers.
