Our Sustainable Development Vision and Mission

Yanapuma Foundation is a non-profit foundation in Ecuador, driven by the enthusiasm of its national and international staff and volunteers to work towards the realization of its vision of marginalized communities achieving equity and well-being, ecological, social and economic sustainability, and developing a sense of the uniqueness of their culture and place in the global context.

Yanapuma Foundation works to alleviate poverty and implement sustainable development through capacity building in marginalized populations, by balancing income generation with environmental stewardship, education and well-being in accordance with the Milennium Development Goals and Ecuador's national development policy.

In addition we seek ways to connect members of developed and developing countries in ways that foster an understanding of our inter-relationship and interdependence within our globalized world.

We run a Spanish school in Quito and offer volunteer work opportunities in a variety of projects around Ecuador. These activities provide core funding for our foundation. On this basis we seek additional financing and resources to carry out our sustainable development work.

Our Objectives:
Our objectives are to design and implement successful and well-integrated development projects that improve the lives of poor and marginalized indigenous and rural populations of Ecuador. We seek to raise the indices of development through strengthening social capital and promoting self-sufficiency in client communties.

Our Values:
At Yanapuma we believe in modelling the change we want to create. Our collaborative and egalitarian structure as a foundation reflects our values of cooperation and constructive engagement with the problems we aim to solve. Our projects are partnerships with communities in which we work to empower community members and to encourage ownership of change processes. Only in this way will our work yield sustainable results.

Our Approach and Methodology:
At Yanapuma we are developing an integrated strategy for sustainable development, that is based upon encouraging participation and collaboration and avoiding paternalism. As a new foundation we are developing methods of helping communities to help themselves, offering our expertise, technical support, and connections both national and international in the process of defining a sustainable path for their future (click here for more).

Volunteer Ecuador:

Our "Volunteer Ecuador" program connects willing volunteers with worthwhile programs and communities in Ecuador, creating a win-win situation. We have accords with around 40 organizations to provide volunteers a rewarding and memorable experience. Our services include airport pickup, accommodation, orientation, organization and accompaniment to the volunteer work project, and follow up to see that everything is working out OK.

Volunteers can work with children, teach English and computing, work with animals in rescue shelters, work in hospitals or clinics, or on environmental projects. You can also study Spanish and volunteer at the same time in Quito with Yanapuma Spanish School.

Click on the "Volunteer" link above to learn about some of our options.