Firstly thanks for taking the time to read the first newsletter of 2010 and also my first newsletter since I joined the Project on 4th January.

After more than 7 years living in Valencia I have started a new project working in the charity sector and I hope to bring my experience of teaching and managing to the project to make a difference during my time here with the help of the volunteers and staff. It took a lot of investigating and research and more than 6 months to find a suitable project and already I am very happy with the set up and way of working here and also the work that we do in the schools and helping the community. Just one example was when we arrived at a school to be told by the director that he had to go to a meeting and as he worked alone we had to run the school for the morning. Without us the children would have been sent home and not had any tuition that day so we made a real, tangible impact there. After school the children took us to a local waterfall with a large pool at its foot where volunteers and children jumped in to refresh themselves after classes and football. A great experience.

Well, what a first month! There has been a lot to do as schools get back into swing again after the Christmas break with exams being set and sat for the first trimester of classes. The introduction of a new English teacher for 5 schools in the district meant we have had to change our work and workloads so we now teach in 5 schools as well as supporting the new English teacher in two more. Fortunately the Director for the rural schools here along the Arajuno Road has welcomed our proposals and we look forward to working closely with the new teacher and developing the curriculum and the levels of English in the schools even further. We are also considering a request to work in another school in the district and also to extend our teaching to a further school on the Arajuno Road, just outside the current district. I had my first meeting at the end of the month with the district director and all the teachers from the principal district where everyone was very positive about the work we had done in the district and our plans to move the children’s learning even further forward. Another restart this month were the free adult classes in El Triunfo, our local village, which we are looking to develop and expand as an extra benefit to the local community.

I must say thank you to the first four volunteers who arrived the day after me at the house – Hillary, Beth, Stephanie and Megan – who really made it easy for me to start my new responsibilities here as project coordinator. Also, Dan has returned after a break to see Peru over Christmas and the children were very happy to see him back and he did some great work cutting back the weeds and unwanted plants in the garden so the garden looks a lot clearer now. Dan leaves this week for a training project in Ghana, Africa and we wish him all the best there and when he returns to Norway. Dan and I went on a two night jungle trek, deep into the jungle with a local guide which was extremely tough but also extremely enjoyable.

We also had the chance to meet the mayor of the canton of Pastaza who visited one of our schools under his jurisdiction (km 35). He was very complimentary about our work and after some traditional dancing and singing by the children we were invited to sit at the top table and drink chichi with him, the teachers and presidents of the school and family association. My first experience of traditional costumes, dancing and the fabled chicha (a home made alcoholic drink that is a privilege to be offered and can’t be refused without offence!)

We have made some improvements to the house – I have been busy constructing a welly remover and two shower boards from scrap wood – and Nick, now he is living in Ecuador permanently, has made some sofas and chairs for the lounge and will shortly finish the porch. The car has received some much needed improvements and now runs very well. ¡Poco a poco llegaremos!

So all in all a busy and varied month which has left us with lots to do in terms of school work and planning. Thanks again to all our volunteers this month and I will bring you more news next month.

¡Hasta luego!

Simon Barlow, Arajuno Road Project Coordinator