Adjusting to a New Reality

My first day visiting the communities

As the calendar creeps closer and closer to October, I am amazed at how fast time has gone by. It seems like just yesterday I was arriving in Riobamba at 3:00 AM after an eternity of traveling, ready to start my internship. When I first arrived, I was not sure what to expect. I just hoped for the chance to make a difference in peoples' lives. Over the past few weeks I have been given several chances to help the people we work with ascend out of poverty and improve their lives. This can be a very tedious and slow process, but I am grateful for the chance to make even a small difference, and I am very excited for opportunities that will arrive in the future.

Drew scoping out the location of our 10K

Here at Ascend, there is never a shortage of work to be done. We are in the midst of preparing a 10K run which will take place on October 24th. This has proven to be a very challenging task due to our small staff. We have to design all the advertisements, posters, t-shirts, product bags, prizes, and other logistics for the run. We also are very busy talking with potential sponsors. In addition to organizing the run, we are also preparing to receive representatives from Kyani, a company based out of Utah that wants to help Ascend build a school for those in need. The village that has been chosen for Kyani to visit is called Galte Pakcha. Ascend has worked with several villages in the Andes and completed many projects to help those in poverty. However, this will be the first time Ascend has worked in Galte Pakcha. This will prove to be a challenging task, because we do not have many contacts to help us work with the people.

Children in the current school in Galte Pakcha

Initially we arrived in Galte Pakcha hoping to begin making contacts with the people and to gain their trust. In addition, we also wanted to begin collecting information about the community to send back to Ascend Headquarters in Salt Lake City. I was not sure what kind of reception we would get from the people. After all, it’s not common for two Americans to show up unannounced willing to help. But the people were great from the moment we pulled up in our truck. Several were there to greet us and welcome us to their home. They also prepared a big meal for us with lots of potatoes and Cuy (Guinea Pig), which actually tastes pretty good once you can get over the fact that you are eating a cute little animal. The people have been very easy to work with and have made our job a lot easier.

Coming face to face with Cuy

An obstacle we face while working in Galte Pakcha is the language barrier. The native language is Quechua, so the people speak Spanish as their second language. Most of the time we can communicate very well, but there are other times when a translator (Quechua to Spanish) is needed in order for us to communicate. In spite of this, we have received plenty of help from the villagers, who help us overcome any difficulties we face. They even have the patience to help us try to learn a few words in Quechua.

Collecting information in Galte Paccha

I feel very fortunate to be a part of this wonderful organization, and for th chance to help those in rural Ecuador. I also feel privileged to work with people who live in such poverty yet constantly have smiles on their faces. I know a problem such as poverty cannot be solved overnight, or even during the four months I will spend down here, but I also know that I can be a part of a special process that helps those in need ascend out of serious poverty.

McLean Smithson

Intern, Ascend Ecuador

www.ascendalliance.org