UT Austin’s project in Ecuador is coming together
Members of the University of Texas chapter are busy getting ready for their project.
Under the leadership of International Projects Director Suchi Pahi, the chapter has developed an innovative curriculum which will prepare the team technically, culturally and linguistically for this summer’s trip.
About five chapter members plan to go to Ecuador to work with members of the Kichwa tribe through CIMA, an organization in Mushuk Llacta de Chipaota. They will likely teach marketing classes and hold workshops to help women in the tribe generate a steady income from their production of handicrafts.
To help develop a culture-specific curriculum, the chapter is working with a professor who specializes in development projects.
Although many of those who will go on the project already speak Spanish, the committee is preparing flash cards for the technical terms. And, in two weeks the committee meetings will switch entirely to Spanish.
The chapter found CIMA by contacting Rainforest Partnership, which has an office in Austin. The Partnership will meet with the project team about six times before the project to give cultural training and help familiarize the students with the area to which they will go.
To help with group cohesion, the team will take a camping trip to an isolated part of Texas.
All of this in order to see a great, sustainable project this summer.
To learn more about the project, visit the chapter Web site (http://www.nourishinternationalaustin.org/international-project/rainforest-partnership) and Global Giving page (http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/rainforestkichwaperu/)
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