We'd like to start a project in a small Kichwa Indian village in the central highlands, a poor and generally neglected area of the country which we think we can really help. This is the same area where we worked on the water project back in April.
We're trying to build a small cabana for tourists, charity workers, and volunteers in order to kick-start a community tourism program they’re trying to get off the ground. More importantly, we’re going to (1) use the cabana as a showcase for lots of interesting low-tech environmental gadgets (bottle wall, solar shower, clean stove, solar bottle lights, etc.) and (2) reintroduce native adobe + straw building techniques. We’ve got the land already, and whatever rent money earned (through tourists, etc.) would go right back to the community fund, which will make a big difference in terms of securing economic sustainability.
While a group of us will be working hands-on on this project over the coming months, my friends George and Julie are our fearless leaders. Here's their project summary:
The Kichwa/Peace Corps Sustainable House Project, to be built in the rural mountain parish of Guangaje, Ecuador will serve as an environmentally sustainable model home for the local Kichwa Indian residents of the region. Through a partnership of Peace Corps Volunteers and indigenous leaders, we hope to both instruct local builders on the practical benefits of green construction, and help kick-start the wider community tourism that could lead to economically sustainable development in the area.
Kichwa Indians are among the poorest and least educated groups within Ecuador's multi-national society, and those residing in the central highlands often live in shocking poverty. The scattered towns of Guangaje parish-- hidden in the mountains and clouds, at an elevation of over 10,000 feet -- receive even less in the way of government or charity aid. Ignorance and indifference has led to environmental degradation of the unique and beautiful paramo ecosystem.
We aim to build a small tourist cabana that will: 1) Showcase various low-tech green building features (rain catchment, bottle wall, solar shower, etc.) features that people in the area can adopt in their own homes, 2) Re-teach traditional Kichwa adobe and straw building techniques, which are in danger of being lost as younger generations increasingly prefer to build with low quality, poorly insulated concrete block 3) Provide a sustainable income source for the town.
Our model home will be used to provide tourist lodging, encouraging the growth of the nascent local community tourism efforts in this spectacular but little-visited area of Ecuadorian highlands. It will also increase knowledge in easy, cheap and environmentally friendly building techniques -- improving quality of life through safer and more comfortable homes, and paying long term environmental dividends to the local ecosystem.
The full description plus photos are on the Global Giving website, which we're using to raise funds.
Here is a breakdown of how donations will be used for this project:
$10 will pay for seeds for a green garden patio
$15 will pay for a reusable dishwater cycling system
$20 will pay for a bottle wall for passive solar heating
$50 will pay for a roof rain catchment system
$100 will pay for a solar shower
$250 will pay for a composting toilet
Should your conscience dictate, click on the Global Giving website to make a donation. Or pass the information along to someone who may be interested in supporting our project. Or, if you're feeling hungry, waltz on over to the kitchen and make yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Whatever floats your boat!
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