Friends of Ecuador

08/21/2026

Another PCV project worth supporting. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HSRtNjATH/

Send a message to learn more

08/20/2026

Peace Corps Ecuador volunteer tells her story of ill-fated whitewater rafting trip. She suggests Peace Corps has rules against whitewater rafting. They didn't 20 years ago (or we didn't know about them!)

When Theresa Okokon was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador, she decided to go on a whitewater rafting trip. It broke all the rules of the Corps and didn’t end up well. She shared her experience with GBH’s Stories From The Stage.

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

Support a Community-Led Arts Center in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Peace Corps Volunteer Liliana Valdez is partnering with her community in the Ecuadorian Amazon to restore a community dance, music, and art center—a space where children and youth can learn, express themselves, celebrate their culture, and build confidence in a safe and supportive environment.

This project is a true community effort. Local residents have already raised a significant portion of the funding and are contributing their own time and resources to make this vision a reality. Now they’re asking for a little extra support to help reach the finish line.

Every donation, no matter the amount, will help create lasting opportunities for young people and provide a space that will continue serving the community for years to come.

If you’re able to donate or simply share this project with your network, you’ll be helping Liliana and her community create a lasting impact in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Donate here:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/donate/projects/pp-26-518-014/

Thank you for supporting grassroots, community-led initiatives that empower youth and strengthen communities across Ecuador. 💙💛❤️

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07/20/2026

Did you miss our July newsletter with several projects to support and news about Conciencia Amazonica and the Ecuadorian soccer team?

07/08/2026

PCV Jack Mosey is fundraising to support an English lab in his community and has raised $12k of $14k to support the project which is listed on the Peace Corps site. Donate today at the link! See below for a further description.

Students and residents in rural areas of Ecuador have identified English as a priority for expanding access to tourism jobs, higher education, and international opportunities. The region ranks low in English proficiency, and teachers face limited access to training that is either too expensive or requires missing work. A survey and interview process with local teachers, students, and the parent association revealed four urgent needs: shifting from textbook-focused instruction to communicative, interactive methods; creating lessons that use audiovisual tools effectively; strengthening student confidence in spoken English; and connecting language learning to real-life opportunities in tourism, petroleum, and mining fields.

In response, this project introduces four structured teacher workshops: Communicative Language Teaching in Practice; Designing Interactive Lesson Plans with Audiovisual Aids; Building Student Confidence Through Speaking Activities; and Engaging English for Real Life — Tourism, Employment, and Beyond. These sessions will strengthen teachers’ skills and provide practical tools to transform English instruction. Grant funds will also support a dedicated English audiovisual lab equipped with essential multimedia resources such as a projector, computers, headphones, and educational subscriptions, ensuring teachers can apply the new methods consistently.

The community has actively shaped this initiative from the start. Teachers, administrators, parents, and students jointly identified the need through ongoing discussions, and the parent committee has already invested labor and funds to renovate the learning space. After the grant period, the lab will be fully integrated into weekly classes, benefiting more than eight hundred students ages twelve to nineteen through speaking practice, an English club, and monthly cultural activities that sustain long-term learning gains.

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07/05/2026

PCV Ecuador Michael Joseph has a project that is currently fundraising through the Peace Corps site. It is about $3000 short of its fundraising goal to support digital learning of students.

Here is the description from the site. Please donate and help Michael get this project off the ground.
https://www.peacecorps.gov/donate/projects/pp-26-518-010/?fbclid=IwY2xjawS3VehleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFUY0ZOVW9DWEtmTVVuMjdGc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEenfNw9H05_C9Ij2UbDx9bGPCMl3mMePxEcIwSGyRH1omxIt4SrNQQm-WPV_s_aem_Igmv3j6Hi7DrXCA7h-m9YQ

The goal of this project is to strengthen digital learning by improving both student access to technology and teacher ability to use digital tools in the classroom. A central objective is skills transfer: teachers will participate in scheduled training sessions held at least twice per year, along with ongoing support, to strengthen their confidence in integrating technology into daily instruction. Community members and school staff identified the modernization of the existing computer lab as a priority to ensure students gain practical digital skills needed for their education and future opportunities.

To address this need, the project will replace outdated and nonfunctional computers with 13 new devices and install a projector for instructional demonstrations. These resources will allow teachers to guide students through interactive lessons and model the use of digital tools. Regularly scheduled Information and Communication Technology sessions already exist at the school, with each class assigned designated time in the computer lab. The upgraded equipment will allow students to practice skills such as basic computer use, word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, internet research, and responsible digital citizenship without overcrowding or equipment sharing.

With improved access and structured hands-on learning, more than 280 students will strengthen foundational digital competencies that support academic success and future employment. At the same time, teacher training will help ensure that technology-based learning continues beyond the grant period. By responding to a community-determined priority and expanding both student and teacher skills, the project supports long-term, sustainable improvements in digital education.

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04/23/2026

Impromptu Omnibus 77 reunion here in Austin for Josh Busby and Larry Clement. Let's get more of the gang together. Maybe next year? I hear Maine is lovely in summer or near DC?