Equipo Verde

Final Week Review

2008-08-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

Not surprisingly, the last day, the fiesta, the planting, playing, joking, laughing day was amazing and will not be forgotten for the rest of our lives.

We started out with just a handful of the participants (as per usual) who were all eager to help set up. They immediately got to work helping the volunteers prepare the pinatas, food, and planting materials. They then set to work planting flowers and veggies in the planters that they made on Tuesday, running to water them as fast as they could.

When we thought just about everyone had arrived we ate brownies and fruit and then set to work on the pinatas, forming two big circles of children foaming at the mouth for the candy. We didn't anticipate that the kids would be so zealous at going after that candy and a few conflicts broke out. Of course, they had been waiting for the fruits of their hard work on those beauties for a couple of weeks. We then sat the kids in a circle and talked with them about what it means to be a member of Equipo Verde and why it is important that we work together as that is our one hope at making a real difference.

At the end of the fiesta, all of the participants got their own Equipo Verde t-shirt. We had just enough for everyone there(50). Not ready for it to end, we all decided to go to the cancha and play a couple of games of capture the flag which turned into a giant futbol game with some of the community members.

The kids were literally dragging us back to the field when we were going to leave. It was an emotional goodbye.

They all signed, drew, and wrote messages on our t-shirts and we returned the favor feeling like unlikely and undeserving celebrities.

This week's volunteers were:

Tuesday: Maria (Guapulo), Anita (Guapulo), Nelly (Guapulo) Mark (England), and Charley (England)

Thursday: Maria (Guapulo), Anita (Guapulo), Nelly (Guapulo), Mark (England), Charley (England), Mina (U.S.), Rianne (Canada), Marten(England) and Dan (U.S.)

Actividades: Semana Doce

2008-07-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

No podemos creer que esta es la semana última! Estamos encantado con este programa y muy triste porque está casi terminada.

El martes de esta semana, vamos a decorar botellas plásticas con papel de color y lápices de colores. Después vamos por la cancha para jugar captura la bandera!

El jueves, vamos a tener una fiesta con nuestras piñatas, juegos, y pasteles. Además, vamos a plantar flores y legumbres en nuestras botellas con tierra que los gusanos hicieron!

Review Week Eleven

2008-07-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

What a successful week. On Tuesday it was sunny and windy and the kids were patient and diligent in making their homemade kites. They flew beautifully, albeit for only a short time before ripping. But thats half the fun. We will be passing out the instructions for all of the kids so that they can make them again in their homes.

On Thursday, we painted the remaining piñatas and made god´s-eyes in the plaza next to the police station. The kids were fanatics for the god´s-eyes and continued to work on them well after the session ended. We had a lot of new faces. We are always psyched and overwhelmed by all of the energy the kids bring with them. We would like to thank the community for allowing us to use this space for the activities.

This weeks volunteers were:
Tuesday - Nelly (Guápulo), Marten (England), Charlotte (England), and Maria (Guápulo)
Thursday - Anita (Guápulo), Nelly (Guápulo), Maria (Guápulo), Mark (England), Rianne (Canada), and many other Guápuleño community members who joined in on the fun.

Thanks for all of your hard work, smiles, and ideas!

Actividades: Semana Once

2008-07-21T11:50:00.000-07:00

Esta Semana vamos a hacer cometas y ojos de dios en la cancha.

Para las cometas, vamos a usar palos y periódicos para ver que mas podemos hacer con cosas recicladas. Esperamos que habrá viento!

Los ojos de dios son signos religiosas de personas indíginas de Mexico y Bolivia. Están hecho con lana envuelve palos. Los ojos de dios representan ojos de dios mirando las vidas de todos con cariño y son para ver las cosas inconocibles. Cada esquina represente un elemento aire, agua, viento, y fuego.

Review: Week Ten

2008-07-21T11:42:00.001-07:00

This week we held Equipo Verde in La Casa Comunal in our neighborhood. We would like to give a big thanks to the community for allowing us to use this space for making the piñatas.

We made around 30 piñatas this week for the big party we will be having on the last day of Equipo Verde. The kids got pretty creative with their designs, using balloons, newspaper, and cardboard to make them. We´ve got a lot of big grinning faces, spiders, stars, clouds, and many others.

Thankfully, we had a warm indoor space for Tuesday when it rained almost the whole two hours.

This week our volunteers included Maria (Guápulo), Nelly (Guápulo), Mark (England), Mina( U.S.), Charlotte (England), and Rianne (Canada). Thanks so much for helping out! We couldn´t do this without your participation!

Actividades: Semana Diez

2008-07-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

Esta semana, vamos a hacer piñatas con materiales reciclados como periódicos, cartón, y papel brillante y cualquier que los niños traen!

Review: Week Nine

2008-07-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

It happened. We jinxed it. It rained on and off all of Tuesday's EQ session. The kids refused to leave so we toughed it out, sharing umbrellas and playing soccer to stay warm and have fun until the melcocha was ready. The language barrier had its most dramatic effect on the results of an activity to date when I (Gretchen) stirred the sugar and water mixture when I shouldn't have and ruined the first batch! This was, of course, after waiting two hours for the syrup to reach the perfect consistency. It was still yummy delicious, just NOT melcocha.

On Thursday the weather was much better AND we had Rianne come and play expression games while the melcocha was brewing. The kids were very shy when we started but slowly climbed out of their shells as we moved from game to game, culminating with "La Selva," in which the kids produced a chorus of jungle sounds into the sky like a seasoned theatre troupe. It was beautiful!

The melcocha was more successful this time around. We learned a valuable lesson though: It's hard to make melcocha over a bon-fire in the middle of a field with a large group of sugar-fiending children running around.

All things considered, it was another great week.

We'd like to give a big special thanks to our two volunteer facilitators:

Thank you Anita (Guapulo) for making the melcocha on Tuesday and Thursday & Rianne (Canada) for facilitating the games!

Also big thanks go to Mark (England), Mina (U.S.), and Charlotte (England) for being big-time troopers and so helpful this week!

Juegos de Expresiòn

2008-07-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

The Expression activities that we used this week were drawn from Theatre of the Oppressed, developed by Augusto Boal, and taken from the Joker´s Guide, developed by David Diamond. Thank you Rianne for sharing them with us!

Actividades: Semana Nueve

2008-07-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

Melcocha

Esta semana, Anita va a enseñar los niños como a hacer un postre típico se llama melcocha, encima de una fogata. No podemos esperar para aprender. Yum!

Ejercicios de Expresión
En jueves, Rianne va a facilitar algunas actividades para mejorar expresión personal:

Juego de Nombres

Contraimagen
Vamos a formar equipos de dos personas. Los dos van a imitar las acciones del uno al otro mientras mantienen contacto visual.

Hipnotizador
Otra vez, vamos a formar equipos de dos personas. En este juego, una es el hipnotizador y la otra está hipnotizada. Cual quiere el hipnotizador hace con su mano la otra debe hacer con su cuerpo.

Miedo y Protector

Cada persona elije dos personas en silencio. Una representa "miedo" y la orta representa "el protector." Cuando el jeugo empeza, todos tienen que andar para mantener el protector entre sí mismo y el miedo.

Vampiro
En este juego, todos tienen que cerrar los ojos y caminar con los brazos cruzados. Cuando la facilitatora se pellizca el hombro de una participante, el/ella tiene que chillar con voz muy alta. Siguiente, el/ella extende los brazos y continuar caminando con los ojos cerrados. Ahora, el/ella es un vampiro. Cuando los vampiros se chocan con alguien, ellos tienen que pellizar los hombros de la otra persona. Esta persona es un vampiro también. Si la facilitadora se pellizca un vampiro, el/ella tiene que se aliviado con voz alta y cruzar los brazos otra vez. El ciclo continua con gritos y suspiros al azar por todas partes de la cancha.

Máquina

Los participantes construyen una máquina con sus cuerpos y sonidos. Nosotros eligimos un tema, cual quiere. Por ejemplo, el tema es "paz," entonces, esta machina hace paz. Una persona empeza y otras se unen uno por uno con acciónes y sonidas repetitivas.

Selva

Todos se hacen en el suelo en un círculo con los cabezas juntos como una estrella. Ojos cerrados. Hacen sonidos! Cual quiere sonidos!

Dar un Paso Adelante Entre el Círculo

Todos forman un círculo y alguien dice algo verdadero sobre sí mismo. Por ejemplo, "el medio ambiente es importante para mi." Si esta afirmación es la verdad para otras, ellos tienen que dar un paso adelante hacia el círculo y dar un paso atrás. Ellos pueden dar pasos muy grandes o pequeños para expresar como verdadadera es la afirmación para ellos.

Activites: Week Nine

2008-07-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

Melcocha

This week, Anita is going to teach the kids how to make Melcocha, a typical Ecuadorian treat, over a bon-fire. We can´t wait to learn how to do it ourselves! Yum!

Expression Exercises

Rianne is going to facilitate several activities on Thursday that are used to encourage expression:

Mirror Image

For this activity teams of two will pair off. The children then face one another and experiment with mimicking each others´ movements while maintaining eye-contact.

Hypnotist

Again, teams of two are formed. One child is the hypnotist and the other is the hypnotized. Whatever the hypnotist does with his/her hand the other must do with his/her body.

Vampire

All of the participants close their eyes and walk around with their arms crossed. When they bump into each other they must let out blood curdling screams and then put their arms straight out in front of them. These people are now vampires. They continue to walk around with their eyes closed but when the vampires bump into people they let out a loud sigh of relief and recross their arms. The cycle continues with random screams and sighs from the transformations taking place all over the field.

Week Eight Review

2008-07-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

Again, we have been blessed by good weather. It seems like summer might finally be taking hold here in Quito!

The children were great this week. Since we were working on team-building activities it was essential that they work together patiently and respectfully. Despite the immense amount of energy the kids have in them, they were very patient and thoughtful. This could be seen especially during the mine-field exercise. We were really impressed by their communication and listening skills as well as their tenacity.

The rope activities demonstrated just how bright the Equipo Verde kids are. We expected them to take 30 minutes, at the very least, but they were done in under 5! We had to adjust it just to make it more challenging for them.

We can't wait to do more activities that challenge their individual and group mentalities because they have certainly impressed us so-far.

We like to send out some special thanks to our volunteers this week.

Tuesday: Nelly & Anita (Guápulo) and Mark (England)

Thursday: Nelly (Guápulo), Mark (England), and Rianne (Canada)

Thank you all so much! This project wouldn't be what it is without you!

Actividades: Semana Ocho

2008-06-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Actividades para mejorar trabajo de equipo

Palo helio

Pone un palo largo en los dedos índices de 5-10 niños. La única instrucción es que ellos tienen que bajar el palo al suelo con los dedos tocando el palo todo del tiempo. En la verdad, el palo va a levantar. Los niños necesitan trabajar juntos hasta el palo es en el suelo.

Nudo de humanos y cuerda

Tres cuerdas de un metro y media están dando a equipos de cuatro personas. Los equipos forman una configuración como persona-cuerda-persona-cuerda-persona-cuerda-persona. Ellos tienen que considerar si mismos una cuerda grande y completa. Siguiente, los equipos tienen que hacer un nudo en la sección centra de la cuerda sin sueltan sus manos de la cuerda. Este es un tarea muy difícil y puede tomar mucho tiempo. Vamos a animar mucha mucha paciencia y asignar lideres para dar estimulo y ideas.

Campo de minas

Equipos de dos personas deben que trabajar juntos para que guiar una para atravesar un campo de "minas" que en la verdad esta conos dispersados por la cancha. El miembro de que va a pasar esta con los ojos vendados y tiene que depender en las instrucciones de su compañero para pasar sin incidentes. Si una toca una mina esta persona tiene que reempezar. Cuando esta persona esta en la otro lado sin contratiempos los miembros cambian las posiciones. Antes de empezar los miembros tienen que hablar sobre como ellos van a comunicar en este juego para dos o tres minutos.

Activities: Week Eight

2008-06-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

Team Building Activities

Helium stick

A long stick is place on the index fingers of 5-10 children. The only instruction is that they have to put move the stick to the ground without anyone removing their index finger from the stick. The stick will move upward instead of downward. The kids must then continue until they can work as a team to put the stick on the ground.

Human Overhand

Three four-foot lengths of rope are handed out to teams of four. The team then forms a configuration of person-rope-person-rope-person-rope-person. They are to consider themselves as one long length of rope. The teams are then asked to tie an overhand knot in the middle rope without anyone letting go. This is a very challenging activity and will require a lot of patience and critical thinking by the children.

Minefield

Two-person teams must work together to get one of the participants across a minefield (cones set out randomly in a small space). The team member crossing the field is blindfolded and must rely on the instructions of his or her partner to get across safely. If the walker hits a mine he or she must start over. Once the walker is safely across the team members switch roles. This is a good exercise of communication, teamwork, and trust.

Week Seven Review

2008-06-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

We have been incredible lucky and blessed with the weather (knock on wood!!!!!). It always seems to rain on Mondays and Wednesdays during the afternoon but miraculously we get rain only in the mornings of Tuesdays and Thursdays! We hope that whatever forces may be that seem to be favoring us continue to do so!

This week's activities were full-on. Full-on energy, full-on competition, full-on confusion, and full-on fun. These extremely alternative Olympic games were very well received by the children and it was a great sight to see all participating, big and small.

An important evolution that has occurred is that our age-group has extended from 9-12 to 3-13. We are pleased to welcome all of these age-groups and feel like we are reaching them all, though at times this adds more challenges. Still, we seek to incorporate everyone and facilitate thought and growth in each dynamic individual at his or her own level.

We like to send a big thanks to our volunteers this week!
Tuesday: Mark (England), Rachel (U.S.), Nelly (Guápulo)
Thursday: Mark (England), Nelly & Anita (Guápulo), Julie (Denmark)

Also, a special thanks to a couple of our previous volunteers who were there in spirit after "donating" their shoes for one of the competitions. Thanks Caroline and Guillermo (France)!!!

Actividades: Semana Siete

2008-06-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

¡Los Juegos Olímpicos!

Vamos a dividir los niños en 4 diferentes países; Japón, Egipto, Italia y India. Cada grupo va a recibir una bandera de sus países y una cosa típica de este país.

Después, cuando los grupos están listos ellos van a marchar en la cancha y un comité va a acogerlos, por supuesto está cogiendo la antorcha de Olímpico. El comité va a explicar las reglas y los diferentes juegos hoy en Los Juegos Olímpicos en Guápulo.

Los niños van a competir en estas disciplinas:

Carrera de globos en platos; tirar de la cuerda; carrera de saltar en grandes bolsas; quien pueden comer lo más grande cantidad de galletas en dos minutos; carrera de traer huevos en cucharas; memorar 10 cosas que los grupos pueden ver de 30 segundos y después vamos a cubrirlos; carrera donde los participantes necesitan poner extra ropa cuando es de turno de él o ella a correr; el grupo puede recoger más basura en 3 minutos; carrera de transportación de agua a un lugar a otro; el grupo puede arrojar una bota de agua lo más grande distancia.

Un juez va a controlar los puntos de cada grupo durante las competencias para buscar los triunfantes de Juegos de Olímpicos. Las medallas especiales concederían en el final de este evento.

Activities: Week Seven

2008-06-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Olympic Games!

The children will be divided into 4 different countries; Japan, Egypt, Italy and India. Each group will have the flag of the country and something else that symbolizes their nationality.

After the groups are made they are going to march in to the field in their groups and they will be welcomed by a committee, of course holding the burning Olympic torch, who explains the rules and so on for the Olympic Games this year in Guápulo!

The children will then compete in the different disciplines below:

Race with a balloon on a plate; pull rope (tug-of-war); race jumping in big bags; who can eat the largest amount of very dry biscuits in two minutes; race with egg on a spoon; memorize 10 things that will be uncovered for 30 seconds and covered again with a blanket; relay-race where the running participant needs to wear an extra set of clothes and pass it to the next runner; who can collect the biggest amount of garbage in 3 minutes; race transporting water from one end to another; who can throw a rubber boot the longest distance.

A judge will be keeping the score during the competitions, so we can find the winning country when the games are over. Naturally medals will be awarded to the teams in the closing of this event!

Week Six Review

2008-06-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

Energy all over the place this week - the children gave it all they had in this week's activities!

We were really excited to see how well they received all the different games that both Gretchen and I know from our childhood. Some of the games were meant as an opportunity to burn off energy and others demanded hardcore teamwork! It is a pleasure to see how the children of Equipo Verde work together and give room for everybody no matter age, background and gender.

This week has been an awesome exchange of good energy!

This week Equipo Verde will like to thank the volunteers on:
Tuesday: Julie (Denmark), Mark (England), Anita (Guápulo)
Thursday: Julie (Denmark), Mark (England), Rachel (U.S.A.), Anca (U.S.A.), Anita (Guápulo)
Administration: Che (Argentina), Cecibel (Ecuador)

El texto para las pinturas en el hospital "Baca Ortiz"!

2008-06-18T17:23:00.000-07:00

Estas pinturas son un regalo de los niños de la comunidad de Guápulo que están participando en un programa de protección del medio ambiente organizado por "Equipo Verde".

Las pinturas representan lo que podría suceder si la humanidad dormiría durante 100 años. Este es un ejercicio que hace reflexionar sobre cómo afectan las costumbres de la humanidad a la naturaleza y al medio ambiente.

¡Los niños de Guápulo les envían muchos saludos a los niños del hospital Baca Ortiz!

The paintings, the children of Equipo Verde have painted, that will be displayed in a children's hospital in Quito!

2008-06-16T21:09:00.000-07:00

Equipo Verde will like to thank Marten Sims from England, who took pictures of the four-meter-long paintings in parts and gathered it all, so it is now possible for everyone to see the paintings close up!

Actividades: Semana Seis

2008-06-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

Tarjetas abajo del cono

Vamos a poner 13 conos en la cancha de fútbol. Debajo de cada uno están cuatro tarjetas (una de cada símbolo). Hay cuatro equipos (uno de cada símbolo). La tarea de cada equipo es recoger todas las tarjetas en su símbolo, desde la tarjeta numero dos hasta de tarjeta el as, por orden cronológico. Las personas de los equipos van a sucederse en la cancha, cada vez que él o ella hicieron una inspección de las tarjetas abajo del cono. El participante que revisa la tarjeta debajo del cono, debe recordar que tarjeta es y compartirlo con sus compañeros de equipo. Tal vez ellos no necesitan la tarjeta que vieron en este momento, pero es muy importante recordarlo, pues en otro momento la necesitaran. Si la tarjeta bajo el cono es lo que buscan (número dos por ejemplo), el equipo puede recoger la tarjeta y traerlo a su equipo. El primer equipo que recoja todas las 13 tarjetas, va a ganar.

Gigantes, Magos y Ángeles

Este juego es muy parecido a “pierda, papel y tijera”. Gigante (brazos arriba, rugido) gana al angel (agitar los brazos como alas); el angel angel supera al mago (agitar los manos y va a decir “kazaam”); el mago gana al gigante.

Dar un golpe al bote

Una persona cuida el bote mientras los demás participantes se esconden al derredor. Quien cuida el bote debe contar hasta 30 con los ojos vendados para dar tiempo a los participantes de esconderse. Cuando la cuenta se acaba, quien cuida el bote debe salir a descubrir a quienes se escondieron, cuando encuentra a uno, debe correr hasta el bote y tocarlo, gritando “tal persona esta en el bote”, dejando a esa persona temporalmente fuera del juego. Pero también puede suceder que uno de los participantes corra hasta el bote sin que el cuidador se de cuenta y si llega hasta él antes que el cuidador puede gritar “yo estoy salvado” y salvarse a si mismo, o también puede gritar “todos están salvados” y con ello liberar a las otras personas que habían sido descubiertas. El cuidador del bote sólo cambiará cuando pueda descubrir y “poner en el bote” a todos los jugadores participantes. Si alguno de ellos logra liberar a sus compaæeros, el cuidador del bote necesita volver a contar para que los demás se escondan.

Todos a bordo

Un ejercicio clásico para construir un equipo fuerte. El juego consiste en que todo el equipo debe pararse al mismo tiempo sobre un pedazo de plástico extendido en el suelo. Todos los equipos tienen que poder lograrlo, pues quien no lo haga se quedará fuera del juego. Si todos los equipos lo han logrado, el plástico se doblará por la mitad y nuevamente todo el equipo debe caber dentro de él. Debe repetirse esta operación hasta que sólo quede un equipo que pueda caber dentro del plástico.

Activities: Week Six

2008-06-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

Cone Tag

There are 13 cones placed randomly in a field. Under each one are four cards (one from each suit). There are four teams (one for each suit). The task for each team is to collect all of the cards, the Two through the Ace, in order. The teammates take turns running out into the field and checking under a cone. This gives them a chance to see what card is underneath that cone and report it back to the team. If the card under a cone happens to be the one they need (a Two, for example), the team picks it up and brings it back to the starting point. The first team to collect all 13 cards in order wins.

Giants, Wizards, and Elves

Fun chasing game with suspense, laughter and exercise. Giant (arms up, roars) beats elf (hands to ears); elf beats wizard (waves wand & "kazaam"); wizard zaps giant.

Kick-the-Can

The person who is it has a can sitting on the ground nearby. He/she must get everyone in the can. This is done by yelling, for example, ‘Mia behind the bush is in the can!’ then Mia is trapped. But if someone else gets the chance, he/she can run over and kick the can, setting everyone free and the game starts again.

All Aboard

A classic teambuilding activity in which a group is challenged to physically support one another in an endeavor to occupy an ever diminishing space.

Week five review!

2008-06-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

Bread over fire was a very popular activity among the children. We had around 25 children on Tuesday and Thursday we reached around 40 children, so the word spread fast!

We were incredibly lucky with the weather this week, the sun was almost shining from a cloudless blue sky, which was a very important factor in our activity becoming as successful as it was.

Our volunteer Julie, who has been a scout in her earlier years, made the perfect bonfire for the bread we were cooked on sticks over the fire.
Before we started baking the bread we talked with the children about how to bake them and how the bread bakes better over the ember and not directly in the flames. But it still took some practice before the bread was moved out from the flames and over the embers instead. Therefore, the second bread they made, with its golden brown color, indicated very clearly that they learned how to use the bonfire in the best possible way.
It was great to see the happiness in the children's faces after they accomplished the task of making their own bread and several children expressed that it was some of the best bread they have ever tasted.

This Thursday the French/Ecuadorian freelance photographer Natalie Ayala joined us on Equipo Verde. We have been in contact with her for a long time and she has been very interested in covering the project. At the moment she working on a project where she creates a debate about the contamination of petroleum in the Amazon through the pictures she has been taking the past year. We are very honored to have her come by our project and cover it!

From week five we will like to thank our volunteers:
Tuesday: Julie (Denmark) and Armando (Ecuador).
Thursday: Julie (Denmark), Señora Anita (citizen from Guápulo) and Natalie (French/Ecuador).

The Equipo Verde paintings will be displayed in a children's hospital in Quito!

2008-06-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

The children of Equipo Verde painted two large paintings this past week over the theme; "What would the world look like if we all slept for a hundred years". These paintings turned out amazingly beautiful, creative and very colourful.
After Sunday's event, where we displayed the paintings in Guápulo, it was time to find a permanent home for the paintings. So, after considering different options, we decided to approach the director of the children's hospital, Baca Ortiz, with the proposition of displaying the paintings on the walls of the hospital. Director Dr. Milton was very positive to the suggestion and immediately asked to see the paintings. We agreed to bring the paintings to the hospital next week and we feel very confident that we have found a nice and secure home for them.

We thank and congratulate the children of Equipo Verde for their beautiful art, which now will serve to brighten the minds of the children in the Baca Ortiz Hospital.

Testimony from a volunteer - Marten Sims

2008-06-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

Anyway I have been in Quito for just over three weeks now, learning Spanish (es mucho major ahora, atras, ha ha ha: super mal, pero yo abla con toda chaufers adentro taxis’, supermarcados y la calle, tambien, yo abla un poquito con mi nuevo amigos de Equipo Verde y ellos casa: ‘Cultura Commun’ en Guapulo – es una pobre, pero muy bonita logal en del este Quito – es una muy bein casa! Enscribir en Español es mucho mas dificil que ablar!!!), hanging out with the people mentioned above, but to name them (in case they read this and think I wasn’t joking yesterday night about just mentioning their country origin). Firstly I have to thank Mia and Gretchen for allowing me to join the Equipo Verde team for three weeks, we have had a massive amount of fun, playing games, painting masks, making the murial. These two people are very special, starting the project from scratch themselves inspite of several problems, but they did it because they just couldn’t find a volunteering project that was either either managed to their liking, or free. It reminds me of the classic phrase that people say when they are watching some world issues on television: “What can I do?” Well, you can start by getting up from the sofa for starters, finding a project that fixes what you just saw (whether it be local or elsewhere), committing to it and doing it. Mia and Gretchen just came out here and did it, and they are joined by a team of great volunteers, helpers, friends and often different new-commers each week (like myself), volunteers who come along for one or two sessions to not only give up some of their own time for people who need it, but also to visit an area of town that contrasts quit starkly with the central areas of Quito that are more developed, not in danger of mudslides during torrential weather (which you can see happen during one of the days we were mask-painting). It makes me wonder more and more about my own possibilities for starting something, using my skills, perhaps as a designer, perhaps as something else.

2008-06-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

Actividades: Semana Cinco

2008-06-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

Preparando un pan sobre una fogata

Vamos a cavar un hueco en el pasto cerca de la cancha de fútbol para una fogata, y también vamos a guardar los trozos de hierba para restaurar el pasto cuando terminamos. Con la supervisión de los voluntarios, los niños van a construir dos fogatas y preparar sus palos para cocinar sus propios panes sobre la fogata. Van a hacer la masa en forma de una culebra o a una salchicha, y la van a estirarse sobre el palo. Este ejercicio requiere mucha paciencia, porque no es posible que los niños saquen el pan hasta que este listo.

Corre que te pillo, estilo cadena

Para empezar, hay una persona que es “la única”. Cuando él o ella toca a alguien, ellos dos se hacen un grupo de dos—“los únicos”. Eso continua hasta que haya cuatro personas, y ese grupo se divide en dos grupos. Entonces hay dos grupos “únicos” de dos. Esto continúa hasta que todos estén en parejas de “únicos”.

Corre que te pillo, estilo círculo

Hay dos círculos de niños, y una persona es “la única”, y una persona se persigue. La persona quien se persigue puede optar por tomar el lugar de cualquier persona en los dos círculos y estar “segura”. Cuando la persona perseguida escoge un lugar en un círculo, esa persona en el círculo opuesto tiene que salir y la persona en el lugar escogido toma el lugar de esa persona.

Activities: Week Five

2008-06-09T18:10:00.000-07:00

Baking Bread over a Bonfire

We will dig a hole in the grass field near the soccer field for a bonfire, but we will also keep the grass patches to restore the field after use. Under the supervision of volunteers, the children will build two bonfires and prepare their sticks to bake their own bread over the fire. They will roll the dough into a snake or a sausage and wrap it around the stick. This exercise demands patience, as the children cannot remove their bread until it is fully baked.

Chain-Tag

To begin, one person is “it”. When he/she tags someone, they become a two-person ‘it’ unit. This continues until there are four people, and then the unit splits into two. Then there are two ‘it’ units of two. This continues until everyone is in pairs of ‘its’.

Double Circle Tag

There are two circles of kids, one person is “it”, and one person is chased. The person who is chased can choose to take the place of anyone in either circle and be safe. When the chased person picks a spot in a circle, the person in the opposite circle must leave and the person in the spot taken moves over to take that person’s place.

Sunday Art Exposition!

2008-06-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

We woke up Sunday and the sun was shining, and there was no doubt that this was going to be a beautiful day in Guápulo.

At one o'clock, five Equipo Verde volunteers--Mia, Julie, Marielle, Marten and Ryan--headed towards the central community square in Guápulo. There was already a lot of people in the square, enjoying their Sunday. People were eating at the local food stands, children were playing, and everyone was watching as we set up our two four-meter-long murals and sixty masks.

We hung the paintings between the light poles on the square, just at the right height so that the children could see and explain their work to their families. Marten, our graphic designer, made sure that the masks were presented at their best--in the shape of a giant mask.

We gave out strawberries covered in chocolate, much to the children's delight. During the hour that we were there, we had a lot of great conversations with the children as well as parents. It was also a great opportunity to spread the word about Equipo Verde for families that hadn't known about it.

The children's art created a lot of attention and great energy, and we are all proud of what Equipo Verde has become. The sun wasn't the only thing shining this Sunday. Our children were as well.

Week four review!

2008-06-09T17:03:00.001-07:00

This was the week where the children really could add some color to the world. We painted masks and two four-meter-long paintings -- it was great!

On both Tuesday and Thursday, we started with an environmental talk about what would happen to the world if we all slept for a hundred years. That conversation led to an interesting debate, especially because several children thought that the world was unable to survive without humans??

We also had a talk about colors and how to mix the paint to get different colors.

But finally, then it was time to put all of our thoughts down on the four-meter-long canvas. And the children just went for it! One of the children painted an airplane, which led to a very interesting discussion between the children themselves, because some of them brought up the point that it was impossible for an airplane to fly when everybody was sleeping. They ended up painting a tree underneath it, so it looked like a crashed airplane.

Equipo Verde would like to thank the volunteers on:

Tuesday: Julie (Denmark), Marten (England), Ryan (U.S.A.), Luis (Ecuador), Armando (Ecuador).

And Thursday: Julie (Denmark), Marten (England), Riann (Canada), Ryan (U.S.A.)

¡Este domingo, el 8 de junio! ¡Una exposición de arte!

2008-06-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

¡Bienvenidos a toda la comunidad guapuleña! Se presentarán las obras de arte de los niños de Equipo Verde este domingo, en la parada de buses enfrente de la estación policiaca.

Estas dos semanas pasadas, los niños de Equipo Verde han trabajo muy duro en sus proyectos. Ahora quisieran compartirlos y le invita a la comunidad de Guápulo a su magnificente exposición de arte. Con tema de la creatividad de la juventud y el medio ambiente, los niños construyeron aproximadamente 60 máscaras hechas de material ¡completamente reciclado! Y pintaron un mural pensando en cómo se cambiaría el mundo en 100 años si todos se durmieran.

Aparte de este increíble festín por los ojos, también tendremos algo para la boca.

El evento empezará a las 2 y terminará (más o menos) a las 3.

¡Saludos de Gretchen, Mia y los voluntarios de Equipo Verde!

Abajo es la noticia que vamos a dar a nuestras vicinos y los niños.

Actividades: Semana Cuatro

2008-06-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Cual Va a Pasar si todas personas en el mundo duermen para 100 años

Vamos a pedir que los niños piensen de cual va a pasar si todas personas en el mundo duermen para 100 años. Qué los animales y plantas harían? Es el mundo mejor? Cual cosas humanas quedarían? Cual cosas degradarían? Cual cosas se harían orgánicas? Cual cosas no podría cambiar? Cual cosas no serían absorbidos por la naturaleza? Después de pensar sobre este tema vamos a pintar nuestras ideas y hablar de cual nos enfrentamos cuales dilemas.

Decoraciones de las Máscaras

Vamos a pintar nuestra máscara al mismo tiempo de pintando el cuadro de los 100 años.

Materiales: Pintura, pinceles, lienza gigante, las máscaras

Activities: Week Four

2008-06-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

What if we slept for 100 years?

Art activity- Ask the kids to imagine what the world would look like after 100 years if during that time everybody on earth was asleep. What would the plants and animals do? Have the kids draw what this world would look like and then talk about the pictures. Is the world better? Link this to sustainable practices.

Mask Decoration
While the 100 years painting is being created we will also have space and paint available for decorating the masks from last week.

Materials: Paint, paint brushes, giant roll of paper, masks

Week Three Review

2008-06-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

This week we met in the school after working out an agreement with the director and the groundskeepers. There, we made masks using recycled materials. We were thoroughly impressed with the creations of the children and how resourceful they were using the limited supplies. They worked so enthusiastically that some of them managed to make two masks in two hours. Several of them had a hard time letting go of the masks and wanted to take them home but in order to keep them safe we arranged a storage location for them in the school where they are now drying getting ready for their soon to be applied coats of paint.

We also had some great volunteers come this week. From Tuesday we'd like to thank Marten (England) and Julie (Denmark) and from Thursday we'd like to thank Marten and Julie (what troopers) as well as Ivan (Ecuador), Xavier (Ecuador), and Luis (Ecuador) for their contributions of time and energy to Equipo Verde. You guys are awesome!!!

Actividades: Semana Trés

2008-05-26T10:17:00.001-07:00

Máscaras:
Vamos a hacer máscaras usando periódicos, botellas plásticas, y otras cosas recicladas. Hemos enviado una noticia a los niños pidiendo traer los materiales. Planificamos a divertirnos mientras reforzando la importancia de reciclando.

Además, hicimos acuerdos con nuestros vecinos y negocios para guardar periódicos para Equipo Verde. Gracias a vecinos!!

Para esta actividad vamos a usar la escuela Nicolás Javier Gorivar para espacio para arte. Agradecemos para la generosidad del director, los profesores, y los guardadores para préstanos su tiempo, espacio, y apoyo. Vamos a usar la escuela para cuatro días con la ayuda de los guardadores de la escuela. También, la maestra de inglés va a guardar las mascaras en su clase mientras están secando.

Nosotros esperamos a continuar con otra actividad de arte en la próxima semana y montar una gran inauguración de las obras de los niños por el siguiente Domingo en la plaza común de Guápulo.

Activities: Week Three

2008-05-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

Face-Masks:
We are going to make face-masks out of newspapers, plastic bottles, and whatever good recyclables we come across. We sent a note home with the children asking them to bring newspapers and plastic bottles. We plan to have a lot of fun while, at the same time, reenforcing the importance of recycling.

We have also made agreements with neighbors and businesses to save newspapers for us. Thanks neighbors!!!

For this activity we are going to use the local school for art-space. We are very gracious for the generosity of the school director, teachers, and employees for lending us their space and time. We will be using the school for four different days with the help of the school's groundskeepers. Also, the English teacher is going to store the masks in her classroom while they dry.

We expect to continue with another art activity in the next week with a grand unveiling on the following Sunday in the public plaza of Guápulo.

Week two review!

2008-05-22T15:11:00.000-07:00

We just got back home from the Thursday activity and are very excited because we can really see this program taking shape. Luz Marina, our guest speaker, came today and talked with the kids about global environmental changes including technonic-plate shifting and global warming. She was among three other volunteers that joined us today. We had one from England named Martin, Luz from Columbia, and Xavier and Ivan from Ecuador.

After the talk we continued our program. The kids were amazing. They put forth so much positive energy and really seemed to have a lot of pride in themselves and each other.

Last week we asked the kids to bring some organic goodies for the worms. We could not believe how much food they brought on Tuesday! The worms are very happy.

Both days we had somewhere between thirty and forty kids, so we are delighted to have so many volunteers participating with us. Besides those from today, Caroline from France, Ryan from the U.S., and Jeff from Canada volunteered on Tuesday.

Guest Speaker

2008-05-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

We are hoping to have a guest speaker, Luz Marina Ferero, on Thursday to talk with the kids about climate change and what we need to think about and plan for in the future.

Actividades: Semana Dos

2008-05-19T16:43:00.000-07:00

Abono para los gusanos
Vamos a comprobar las fundas de basura para ver si hay comidas apropriadas para los gusanos. Las pone en la caja.
Materiales: guantes

Pillo de Hospital
Cuando una había pillado, el/ella está muerto y debe ponerse en la césped y espera para otras a vienen y cargarle a la hospital en el centro de la cancha. Después, el muerto está revivido y puede continuar jugando. Los que cargan una persona muerta no pueden recibir pillos.

Mamá Mezclado
Los niños, excepto que uno, forman un círculo con los manos conectados. Después, ellos hacen un nudo con el círculo sin soltando los manos. La persona otra tiene la responsabilidad para desatar el nudo.

Banga-Banga- Bøf
Todos forman un círculo y una camina alrededor tocando cada persona mientras diciendo “banga,” “banga,” “banga”…y “BØF!” La persona que se llama “bøf” debe correr contra la persona quien fue diciendo banga banga bøf en direcciones opósitos. La una quien llegue a la posición vacía gane y la otra está la persona diciendo "banga, banga, bøf" siguiente.

Pelota redonda
Un juego que aparece como “baseball” pero es más fácil y no con muchas reglas.

Levantarse con los brazos unidos
Dos personas sentarse en el suelo con espalda contra espalda y necesitan conectar los brazos y intentan levantarse de pie.

Week Two Activities

2008-05-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

Worm Bin Goodies
Go through the bags of compostables and see if the kids brought appropriate things. Add them to the worm bin. Talk to the kids more about what is good for the worms and what is not, inclucing how to take care of them and make them thrive.
Materials: gloves, bags of organic waste, worm bins

Hospital Tag
Tag. When someone gets tagged they ‘die’ and must lie down on the ground. In order to be cured, two other players must come and pick them up by the legs and arms and take them to the ‘hospital.’ Once there, the dead person is alive and back in the game. The people carrying the dead person cannot be tagged during the transport.

Mixed-up Mom
The kids form a long line holding hands. Then they are mixed up by twisting and knotting up the line without letting go of hands. The person who is "it" is in charge of untying the knot.

Banga-Banga- Bøf
(Duck-Duck-Goose) The person who is "it" walks around a circle of kids touching each one on the back saying ‘knock,’ ‘knock,’ ‘knock’ until coming to one that he/she decides will be it and says ‘beef!’ when touching that kids back. They then run around the circle in opposite directions and whoever gets back to the empty spot in the circle first wins. The loser is then it.

Round ball

Standing up
Two people sit on the ground facing opposite directions with their backs touching. They then link arms and try to stand up. Hilarious.

Note for the next session: Have kids bring in old newspaper, paper scraps, and large plastic bottles to make paper mache masks.

Week One!!

2008-05-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

Tuesday: The first day of Equipo Verde was a greater success than we ever dared to hope for. Around 30 kids came! It was indescribably satisfying to finally get to do what we've been planning and working toward for so long. The children received the program well, were enthusiastic, and actively participated in the activities.

Thursday: The second day we had a lot of the same participants from Tuesday as well as many new ones with a total of around 20 kids. Because of repeat kids we had some major chaos at points (same activities, less stimulation) however, when we made the worm bin we were delighted to see how much the children had learned on Tuesday. They honestly could have done the presentation themselves. They also had a great time letting the worms roll around in their hands before adding them to their new home.

In General: During the garbage collection competitions the kids were incredibly hard workers. It took no more than 5 minutes each time to fill up 20 bags of garbage resulting in a much healthier environment around the soccer field (what we call the Equipo Verde island). We feel that the kids have a great attitude towards the program and are very interested and excited in what is to come. We can't wait.

Volunteers: We would like to say "thank you" to all of the volunteers that came this week. Jess and Brian from the U.S., Caroline and Guillermo from France, thank you so much, you guys rock!!!

Equipo Verde Actividades!

2008-05-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

Introducciónes

Los Ejercicios de Confianza:

Caer con Ojos Cerrados:
2-3 participantes, una persona se cierre los ojos y se caye con la confianza de que sus compañeros se la van a agarrar.

Correr Ciego en la Dirección de la Pared:
Un grupo de participantes forma una pared humano con sus brazos vinculados aproximadamente 20 metros delante de una persona “ciega” (con los ojos cerrados). Entonces, esta persona empieza a correr en la dirección de la pared humana con confianza de que una cierta persona elegida (que está un metro y medio al lado de la pared) le diga que se pare antes que el ciego se choque con e la pared.

El Guantelete:
Las participantes forman dos líneas paralelas y orientadas frente a frente, con cada uno cortando el aire con las manos. Una participante corre entre las líneas con la confianza de que las participantes se paren con la acción de cortar cuando él o ella se acerca.

El Círculo Regazo:
Todos forman un círculo que es muy apretado y se vuelven a la izquierda. Entonces, todos se sientan a la misma vez en el regazo de la persona atrás. Al fin, todos se están sentando en los regazos, con cada un apoyando al otro.

Una Competencia de Colección de Basura:
Los niños van a salir en la area de la cancha de fútbol con fundas con un límite de tiempo y ver cual equipo puede recoger más basura. Después miramos en la basura y vemos si es possible usar las materiales para el abono.
Los Materiales: Las fundas (de supermercado), unos guantes

Caja de Gusanos
Vamos a mostrar los niños cómo a construir una caja de gusanos. Esta es una fácil manera para hacer un abono en su casa. Los gusanos pueden vivir en una caja plástico con periódicos viejos, basura orgánica, humedad, y aire. Los comen la basura orgánica y crean tierra nueva. No es importante cual parte de año está, la caja es portátil y no hay olor fuerte.
Cuando tenemos bastante tierra nueva vamos a usarlo para tener una actividad para plantar aguacates.

Una anuncio para la semana que viene: Pedir que los niños traigan una fundita con basura orgánica para el abono.

Activites: Week One

2008-05-08T19:37:00.000-07:00

Below are our plans for our first two Equipo Verde meetings:

Introductions

Trust exercises:

Classic Trust Exercise
2-3 participants, One person closes his/her eyes and falls trusting that their partner's will catch them.

Running Blind
A group of people form a human wall with their arms linked and stand 20 meters away from the ‘blind’ person. This person then begins to run at full speed toward the wall trusting that a chosen ‘helper’ will tell him/her to stop before crashing into the wall.

Gauntlet
Two lines of people face each other chopping their hands in the air in front of them. The person who is it must trust that as they run through the line the people closest to them will stop chopping their hands and let them pass un-chopped.

Lap Circle
Everyone stands in a circle very close together and turns to the left. Then everyone must sit down and back at the same time so that everyone is sitting on eachothers laps and supporting one another.

Garbage Collection Competition:
Form teams and have the children go around the soccer field and see which team can collect the most garbage in a limited amount of time. Look at the garbage and see if any of it could be composted.
Materials: Bags (supermarket bags), gloves

Worm Bin
We are going to show the kids how to make a worm bin. This is an easy way to make compost in one’s own home. The worms live in a little habitat made of wet newspaper and organic waste. They eat the organic waste and create new soil! It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, the box is portable, and there is no strong oder. When we have enough new soil we are going to use it to have an activity planting avocado plants.

Note for the next session: Ask kids to bring a small bag of compostables.

The volunteer dinner!

2008-05-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

Last night (Wednesday) the volunteer dinner and information meeting took place. We expected around 15 people to show up, but we ended up being around 20 people.
The meeting was a great success with a lot of good energy from the volunteers and they were full of good ideas for activities for the children.
Gretchen and I are very excited about this upcoming Tuesday where the program will start. There is still a lot of things to prepare and take care of before we are ready, but everything is coming together and it looks very promising.

We will also like to thank all the people all around the world who are supporting Equipo Verde!

Best regards Gretchen and Mia

2008-05-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

Equipo Verde es un programa juvenil en la comunidad de Guápulo en Quito, Ecuador. La idea por este proyecto fue inspirada por los niños de Guápulo y la oportunidad de participación activa en el desarrollo comunitario.

Nuestra misión:

Es fortalecer la juvetud de esta comunidad específica para que se sienta orgullo y responsibilidad por el bienestar general del barrio y sus integrantes comunitarios con una enfasís en el medio ambiente. Buscamos promover el manejo sostenible de basura através de acciones comunitarias con los niños. Estas práticas incluyen el reciclaje, el abonamiento, y algunos proyectos locales de limpieza comunitaria. Además, nuestro proyecto busca promover el autoestima de los participantes y crear conocimiento y respecto por las diferencias culturales e interpersonales através de actividades que animan el trabajo de equipo, el análisis crítico, y el placer de sí mismos en un ambiente positivo. Esperamos que este proyecto facilite el desarrollo de lideres juveniles y que integre la comunidad internacional con la comunidad local.

Equipo Verde

2008-04-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

Equipo Verde is a community based childrens program centered in the neighborhood of Guápulo in Quito, Ecuador. The idea for this project was inspired by the children of Guápulo and the opportunity for active participation in community development.

Our Mission: To empower the youth of this specific community to feel pride and responsibility for the general well-being of the neighborhood and its community members with an emphasis on the environment. We seek to promote sustainable waste management through community building with children. Such practices include recycling, composting, and local clean-up projects. Our project also seeks to build self-esteem in the participants as well as raise awareness and respect for cultural and interpersonal differences through activities that encourage teamwork, critical thinking, and enjoyment of one another in a positive environment. We hope that this project will facilitate the development of youth leaders in the community as well as integrate the international community with the local community.

2008-04-26T18:26:00.000-07:00

Program Announcements

2008-04-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

Equipo Verde is a program that will take place every Tuesday and Thursday for twelve weeks.

It will start the 13th of May and end the 31st of July, and we are actively looking for community volunteers.