Three Hours and a Million Miles Away

(A Trip to Ecuador’s Rural Northwest)
To see photos from the trip, visit www.picasaweb.google.com/jvorse.
Last week I (Jen) had the privilege of accompanying Fundación Esquel’s education coordinator, Alejandra, on a three day trip to the rural northwest region of Ecuador (the Noroccidente) to coordinate trainings for teachers at unidocente (one teacher) schools.  As we drove north the [...]

Introducing…Fundación Esquel

As of today, I (Jen) have a new part-time employer. I will be working two days a week with Fundación Esquel, a 24-year-old foundation based in Quito.  Esquel’s work focuses on social and community economic development throughout the country, civic engagement, and corporate social responsibility.  Similar to that of Fe y Alegría, Esquel’s culture [...]

“¡Sí voté – voté sí!”

(Yes, I voted – I voted yes!…girl shouting into her cell phone after voting)
Many of you in the U.S. may be proud to elect a new president, but here in Ecuador we got a whole new constitution.  Last Sunday about 64% of the population approved a referendum that gives President Rafael Correa additional powers and strengthens [...]