As we board two speed boats to Isabela island for the next chapter we have the chance to reflect on our second week...
Conservation project
This week has been a serious challenge for the team. For most of the girls in the group this was their first experience of manual labour, let alone the shock of the 6:30 alarms and a workforce who speak a completely different language to them. All of them attacked this project with enthusiasm and energy and the results speak for themselves. We created a beautiful pathway for a local high school with endemic and native plants which will be enjoyed by the students, their parents and generations to come. We cannot begin to describe how proud we are of them all. They worked hard with no complaint and completed the school project faster than anticipated. They lifted lava rock and carried gravel and dug holes with determination, proving to all present that women really can do anything. We moved on from the pathway to help a endemic species of Mangrove which is suffering with invasive bugs. The Mangrove clearance was dirty work but it was a pleasure to be involved in something that would benefit the whole community, and do our part to help preserve a part of the Galápagos. It also gave us some time for reflection after a hectic week. Many friends were made as the team worked alongside 16 students from the school aged between 15 and 18 and we have finished our week knowing that we have definitely made a lasting impression in Puerto Ayora.
Book Bus project
Arturo - our local Book Bus co ordinator - had never met volunteers quite like our group before. He was used to 1 or 2 people turning up with the best intentions, but needing a lot of guidance and support. It didn't take long on the first morning for our girls to prove to him what we were capable of. He quickly saw that, as we were suggesting, we did not need to all be in one classroom with him, the girls split into pairs and 3's to maximise the impact in every school we visited. A lot of hard work and effort has been put into the project this week. Busy active mornings and then late nights preparing lesson plans and resources for the next day, we are incredibly proud of the group, everyone learnt something, whether it was their first teaching experience or not. Each school we visited was very different, the group did a great job of adapting and gave their full effort each day at the project. Friendships were formed and the schools, as well as our group, were all sad to say goodbye, I'm sure everyone involved will remember the experience for a long time to come.
Our CEO's were initially confused with us making our own packed lunch each day to take with us to the projects but soon realised why: it was usually eaten about 11am due to the hard work and energy being consumed! Both groups returned to our hotel between 12 and 1pm to shower and change and get ready for the afternoon activity which usually started at 2pm. Having been split into two teams all morning for the projects it was always nice to come back together again to go out and explore the Santa Cruz Island. We crammed so much into this week, visiting Lava tunnels, hanging out with Giant Tortoises and Sea lions, sea kayaking and learning about the work of the Charles Darwin conservation project. We also spent a lot of time in the water. We swam in crystal clear waters at Las Grietas and snorkelled off our sea kayaks in Tortuga Bay. For lots of the girls this trip has been their first experience of snorkelling, a challenge in itself and then to see a Shark on your maiden voyage is something quite special.
Kathy, Sharon, Katie, Steph
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