Mitad del Mundo is an extraordinary land of contrasts where wood-burning stoves, thatched roof dwellings and cell phones co-exist. Where the planet's most fascinating fauna, living on an isolate of islands 600 miles off the coast, draw tourists and scientists from around the globe while fishing and other activities of growing numbers of Ecuadorians living there threaten the existence of this unique bio- / eco-system. VISIONS Ecuador is a month of discovery in this beautiful country of contrasts, an opportunity to live and work on a Galapagos Island and in a traditional Andean village. We fly into Quito, the capital city (whose colonial section is a World Heritage Site). From there, we will divide our time between these two environs.

With VISIONS's host partner Nuevos Horizontes paving the way, work on the Galapagos will take place in either Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island or in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island. Projects will include interior and exterior renovations to local schools and working with the children in the classrooms, including organizing campamento activities. We also will lend our labors to the organic farm program starting up in a nearby community. We'll either live together in a family-run hostel or in pairs in a close cluster of homes. Exploring the wonders of the Galapagos is the past-time priority, with boat trips to other islands and tortoise reserves, hiking, snorkeling and swimming off white sand beaches.

After ten days on the Galapagos, we'll fly back to the mainland and make our way to Chaupiloma, an idyllic farming village situated on one of the many agricultural hillsides of the Andes. Like so many Andean villages, Chaupiloma is a tranquil magical place with breathtaking views of the clouds rolling in and out and genuinely kind and open people. We'll live in a large community center, the well-used gathering place for residents of Chaupiloma and surrounding villages who hold weekend workshops and fiestas there.

Our service in Chaupiloma promises to be richly engaging. We will work at the community's organic farm and on other agricultural projects. We will help expand and improve the community center through construction work. We'll assist a reforestation project near the headwaters of the spring that supplies water for the area, and we will organize another campamento and teach English to children. In the spirit of minga (everyone helps in the gathering of materials and in construction) our hosts will work side-by-side with us.

The Andean explorations planned will lead us to the markets of Otavalo, on hiking expeditions to lakes and waterfalls. And we will participate in workshops to learn weaving and embroidery, music and traditional dance.

Ecuador extends greater independence to participants to interact, one-on-one, with local people in all manner of their lives and to integrate into the life of the community. Your service will engage you in agricultural, environmental, economic, artistic and social fronts in our host communities.

VISIONS Ecuador is for the student who wants to push beyond the classroom where learning is a fully dynamic process. Participants must come with a pioneer spirit, willing to actively own their exploration, to speak Spanish, and to fully invest in this unique experience.