June at Clara Luna

JUNE «MONTH OF YELLOW, GREEN AND RED MONSTERS».

We started the month with Caitlin and Peter from the United States, Mateo and Hennie from Germany, Bobbi and Tate from Canada.

The Children’s Club took off from stories of monsters, began with Maurice Sendak’s classic «Where the Wild Things Are», then went to Anna Llenas’s «Monstruo de colores» to address the theme of emotions, «Ñac Ñac el monstruo come libros «by Emma Yarlet,» Montsruo Rosa «by Olga de Dios, and we could not miss the stories of Julia Donaldson,» The Gruffalo»and» The Daughter of the Gruffalo «. For the International Day of the Father «Yo mataré monstruos por ti. (I will kill monsters for you» of Santi Balmes)», to tame the fears of the children.

The children did activities on the subject, like dancing the cumbia of the monster of the Canticuénticos.

In Once Upon a Time, «The Monsters» the children told the monstrous stories and they made a good presentation of the puppet show, «El Grúfalo».

In the Language Exchange, we received a visit from Jipijapa Redemptio students, the students demonstrated their knowledge and command of English in their International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

The program Cuentos en la plaza – Mobile Libraries in the area of ​​the earthquake, made its monthly tour of Chone, in the school Ricardo Abad Solórzano in Mario Loor Neighborhood, and in 30 de Marzo Neighborhood, in María Auxiliadora Neighborhood in Bahía de Caráquez , Mauro Cedeño  Elementary School in Río Muchacho, the school Gabriela Mistral Elemantary School in Tabuchila, and Elías Cedeño Jerves  School in Canoa.

 

 

May at Clara Luna

MAY ANNIVERSARY

In May, Joanna from England, Peter from the United States, Matthew and Hennie from Germany, Bobbi and Tate from Canada were the volunteers who worked with us during the month.

Clara Luna was participated in the «Marathon of the Story, Quito a city that reads». We moved to the Itchimbía Park, in the capital, with the group «Alégrate Puerto López» and we had a weekend full of stories, books, authors, launches of new children’s literature, such as «Matilda» Sozapato, «Luciano worm «of Santiago González, both of whom are Ecuadorian authors and illustrators.

Children’s Club, for International Migratory Bird Day, we read Fr. Eastman’s classic «Are You My Mother?» as well as International Mother’s Day.

We were invited by the National Park to take a tour of Los Frailes, to learn about the diversity of tropical dry forest birds.

Also by the Day of the Tree could not miss «The Giving Tree» by Shel Silverstein, the poetic story that teaches us to value and to respect the nature that surrounds us.

Another book that was in the month’s repertoire was «Into the Sea» by Brenda Z. Guiberson, which deals with sea turtles and their life cycle, a nice story teaching about the importance of our reefs and marine life.

The boys at the Thursday Club, prepared fruit salad and read «The Hungry Caterpillar» by Eric Carle, they also went for a walk on the beach.

In Once Upon a Time, we had simultaneous activities like: Tales in the square with the new collection of books for our library, children and parents read together and enjoyed the new books and, of course, the children read to the audience like every month.

The Puppet Show, for our sixth anniversary was a tribute to the sea turtle, “La Leyenda de la tortuga (The Legend of the Turtle)» presented by the children of the Ecological Club of Equilibrio Azul Foundation.

The program Cuentos en la plaza – Mobile libraries in the area of ​​the earthquake, made its tour of activities to: Chone, at Ricardo Abad Solórzano Elementary School on Mario Loor neighborhood and in 30 de Marzo neighborhood, Ludoteca Nueva Esperanza in San Vicente, Mario Cedeño School in Río Muchacho, Gabriela Mistral School in Tabuchila, the children read the stories, such as: «El árbol generoso (The Giving Tree)», «Igor el pájaro que no sabía cantar» by Satoshi Kitamura and «Perrito panzón y otras historias» of the Ecuadorian author Ana Carlota González.

April at Clara Luna

April at Clara Luna by Hani Nasser

On Tuesday April 13, a group of us from Clara Luna went to the center of rehabilitation of marine fauna at the National Park of Machalilla. There we took part in releasing a rehabbed sea turtle back into the ocean. The center was so nice and it was wonderful to see turtles that I think are such amazing creatures. As told by the director of the center there, 87 turtles have been rescued, rehabilitated, and been released back into the ocean so far in the last four years since the establishment of this rehabilitation center. Most of the turtles that need rescuing are injured because of human activity in the ocean. Broken shells and cut off limbs from the propellers of boat engines or swallowed fish hooks and plastic bags make up most of the injuries that turtles are subjected to by our actions.  Yulexi, the turtle being released back into the ocean was brought in with a fish hook stuck in her throat. Yulexi was operated on and treated for a period of 8 months. While I was there, I felt like I was a part of something incredibly hopeful which is that there are people out there working to help creatures that we are blindly pushing into extinction. Unfortunately, we were told that this is the only center of rehabilitation for turtles in all of Ecuador, but at least there are some people that care and have saved 87 valuable lives. So please if you are in the Puerto Lopez or Machalilla area dedicates some time to visit the center and volunteer. You will not leave the place feeling disappointed but rather proud and accomplished because you would have been a part of helping, taking care of, and rescuing the incredible sea turtles.

World Book Day

On Friday April 21st, Clara Luna organized an event for the World Book Day. The event consisted of three different readings of books written by Oliver Jeffers. The books were: Perdido y encontrado, De vuelta a casa, and Como atrapar una estrella. There was also a play performed based on the book El incredible nino comelibros, along with a song sung by the kids (Twinkle, twinkle little star). Many parents and kids from Puerto Lopez attended the event, and everything went great. The atmosphere was magical and the kids preformed amazingly. At the end of the event hot chocolate and snacks were offered to all the attendees.

Volunteer Experience: Lucy

Name: Lucy Rogerson
Nationality: GermanIMG_8254
Age: 24

How did you find out about Clara Luna?  

workaway.com

What attracted you to working with Clara Luna?
The opportunities that Clara Luna gives to the kids and the volunteers.

What do you think your best skills are for being a volunteer?
Spontaneity, attentiveness, fluent English and team work skills

What is your current volunteer role with Clara Luna, briefly describe your typical day.
English classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays
Spanish classes in the first couple of weeks
Club de Niños on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Helped with physiotherapy exercises with a little girl, Angie.
Turtle Patrols

How long have you been volunteering with us? (eg. 3 weeks out of 6)
8 weeks

How long did you end up staying with us at Clara Luna?
7 weeks

Describe in 3 words what makes a good volunteer
Creative Spontaneous Open
Did you speak Spanish prior to volunteering with Clara Luna? un poco

If Yes: Do you think it is important? If no:  Did you find it difficult?

It makes it easier to work with the little ones.
 About a 3/10 on a scale of necessity

.

What was your level of Spanish when you began volunteering with us? 2/10


What was your level of Spanish when you left Clara Luna?
 4/10

Describe in 3 words your experience here at Clara Luna
Eye-Opening, Fulfilling, Rewarding

Volunteer Experience: Manuela

Name: Manuela
Nationality: French
Age: 2410983063_10205926380017408_1532364910_o

How did you find out about Clara Luna?  
workaway.com

What attracted you to working with Clara Luna?

– The diversity of the possible activities to wok as a volunteer.
– The flexibility
– The location
– The price

What do you think your best skills are for being a volunteer?

Adaptability and optimism

What is your current volunteer role with Clara Luna, briefly describe your typical day.

I was visiting the home of a 7 year old boy to help with physiotherapy and a teenage girl for support with homework and help with physiotherapy. With the girl, I ended up being more of a social support.
I tutored kids in the community
Helped with Club de Niños
Went to The Foundación to work with people with disabilities

How long have you been volunteering with us? (eg. 3 weeks out of 6)

13 weeks

Describe in 3 words what makes a good volunteer

Open-minded, Motivated, Flexible

Did you speak Spanish prior to volunteering with Clara Luna?
Yes, as I have Spanish nationality

If Yes: Do you think it is important? If no:  Did you find it difficult?
I think it helps a lot to share deeper things with locals. But actually, smiles, sounds and open-mindedness are probably enough.

Has your Spanish improved since volunteering with Clara Luna?

My Spanish didn’t exactly ‘improve’ but the ability to adapt to latin expressions and ways of speaking (no more “z” sound!)

Describe in 3 words your experience here at Clara Luna

Meeting new people Freedom Responsibility

Volunteer Experience: Carolina

Name: Carolina
Nationality: FrenchOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Age: 31

How did you find out about Clara Luna?  
workaway.com

What attracted you to working with Clara Luna?

La fundación: personas con discapacidades

What do you think your best skills are for being a volunteer?

Sonrisa, sociable, comunicar con los demás

What is your current volunteer role with Clara Luna, briefly describe your typical day.

todos los dias no son equal!

How long have you been volunteering with us? (eg. 3 weeks out of 6)

3 meses

Have you volunteered before?
No

Describe in 3 words what makes a good volunteer

Ambiente con otros voluntarios
Vivir en una comunidad
Encontrar a gente del pueblo en el trabajo

What difference do you feel you have made so far?

Work to help the city and people
Saber vivir en comunidad (limpiar sue cosas, compartir, etc)
Dar ideas de trabajo
En la fundación: adaptar las actividades a la posibilidades de la personas con discapacidades.

Did you speak Spanish prior to volunteering with Clara Luna? Si

If Yes: Do you think it is important? If no:  Did you find it difficult?

Es major saber hablar espanol para si no hablas espanol esta muy bien a dar class de ingles o estar en Club de Ninos para aprendar y practicar español

Describe in 3 words your experience here at Clara Luna

 

Volunteer Experience: Claudia and Chris

IMG_7548Name: Claudia / Christian
Nationality: German
Age: 29

How did you find out about Clara Luna?  
workaway.com

What attracted you to working with Clara Luna?

A lot of different projects with children

What do you think your best skills are for being a volunteer?

Responsibility, creativity, experience with children and knowledge about social games

What is your current volunteer role with Clara Luna, briefly describe your typical day.

-teaching english (2 classes, twice a week)
– exercises with Ulessis (three times a week)
– help with Club de Ninos (twice a week
– turtle patrols (twice a week in the morning)

How long have you been volunteering with us? (eg. 3 weeks out of 6)

4 weeks

Have you volunteered before?
Where? A horse ranch in Costa Rica
How long? 2.5 weeks
What did you do? taking care of the horses, preparing them for tourists and riding
the horses that require more socialization
What did you like about that program to encourage you to volunteer again?

the variety of work and the amazing kids!
How does Clara Luna differ to the last volunteering program?

Clara Luna was much more work, but didn’t FEEL like work.
Clara Luna provided more contact with the locals in the community

Describe in 3 words what makes a good volunteer

flexibility, creativity, responsibility

What difference do you feel you have made so far?

I learned a lot about Ecuadorian culture, the language and how everything works here. We tried to give our input regarding the structural context and educational objectives of club de Ninos but the time was too short.

Did you speak Spanish prior to volunteering with Clara Luna? No, not really

Has your Spanish improved since volunteering with Clara Luna?

Yes, of course

Describe in 3 words your experience here at Clara Luna

Insightful, diverse, lovely

Volunteer Experience: Phil

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAName: Phil
Nationality: British
Age: 57

How did you find out about Clara Luna?  
Volunteer Latin America website

What attracted you to working with Clara Luna?

Paola!

What do you think your best skills are for being a volunteer?

Patience, willingness to take anything on

What is your current volunteer role with Clara Luna, briefly describe your typical day.

Physio with Ulises 3 times a week. Teaching English to various student 2 days a week, some Saturday mornings

How long have you been volunteering with us? (eg. 3 weeks out of 6)

9 weeks/9 weeks (We leave tomorrow)

Describe in 3 words what makes a good volunteer

Enthusiasm, goodwill, flexibility

What difference do you feel you have made so far?

Giving confidence to a few young people, carrying on physio work with Ulises, hopefully starting some young people on the path of learning English

Did you speak Spanish prior to volunteering with Clara Luna? No

Has your Spanish improved since volunteering with Clara Luna?

It could only improve! – immense progress

Describe in 3 words your experience here at Clara Luna

Fun Humbling wonderful

Volunteer Experience: Jane

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAName: Jane D
Nationality: British
Age: 55

How did you find out about Clara Luna?  
Volunteer Latin America website

What attracted you to working with Clara Luna?

The range of opportunities, Skype call with Paola, the location

What do you think your best skills are for being a volunteer?

Teaching experience, language skills, flexibility, willingness to learn

What is your current volunteer role with Clara Luna, briefly describe your typical day.

Teaching english, physio sessions 3 times a week, club de ninos, intercambio- there is no real typical day!

How long have you been volunteering with us? (eg. 3 weeks out of 6)

2 months

Describe in 3 words what makes a good volunteer

flexibility, openness, empathy

What difference do you feel you have made so far?

providing opportunities for students to progress both in confidence (personal development) and language skills

Did you speak Spanish prior to volunteering with Clara Luna? Yes

If Yes: Do you think it is important? If no:  Did you find it difficult?
It helps with non-english speakers, but it’s not essential

Has your Spanish improved since volunteering with Clara Luna?

Yes

Describe in 3 words your experience here at Clara Luna

Unforgettable Life-affirming Fulfilling