Fiona Watkinson

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Northeastern Ecuador Spring Break 2015

Fiona's Message

This spring break I am going on an alternative spring break through the Global Student Embassy and with fellow classmates. Rather than the traditional Florida party trip, I will be volunteering with a group of about 20 other students in the reforestation efforts throughout Ecuador!

The Global Student Embassy’s mission is to empower young leaders to become environmental stewards, social innovators, and community leaders. In collaboration with international peers, students generate and implement powerful community-based solutions to shared ecological concerns.

Western Ecuador as a region has suffered some the world’s worst rates of deforestation. Bahia de Caraquez is a coastal community that was gravely affected by El Niño in 1997 and a devastating earthquake in 1998. Following these natural disasters, local environmental groups re-envisioned Bahia as an ‘Eco-City’ and the populace has since placed a growing emphasis to manage the city and surrounding areas in a sustainable manner.

Starting in Bahia de Caraquez we stay in a bamboo house over looking the bay town with a host family. During our time there we work with a local high school in their greenhouse and work on the early stages of reforesting. Also in the area we boat down a river and plant mangroves, which is said to be an amazing unique experience!

Next we travel to la Punta Gorda, a beach reservation where we camp for three days. We are responsible for going throughout the rainforest and planting trees from the greenhouse we previously worked in. At night we are able to observe the bioluminescent waters along the beach!

I am asking you, my family, friends, and mentors, to help in the cost of getting me to Ecuador and helping me help others! All donations are tax deductible through this incredible foundation and any little bit helps me get one step closer to giving back!

The link to donate is below:

https://www.empowered.org/Northeastern-Ecuador-Spring-Break/Fiona-Watkinson/donate

For more information below on the GSE and to hear about others experiences, click the link below for a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hJLQyzMYy8#t=64

Thanks for your support,
Fiona

Volunteer Activity Description

TRAVEL.
Traveling with GSE involves everything from visiting a native bird sanctuary to hiking along Ecuador’s beautiful coastline. Students enjoy authentic Ecuadorian cuisine and collaborate on local projects with their international peers.

LEARN.
Develop ecological literacy and participate in grassroots international relations while building crucial 21st century skills such as communication and collaboration.

IMPACT.
Each year during exchange programs, students plant 5,000 native trees in La Punta Gorda Preserve. Students also work along side their Ecuadorian peers at Fanny de Baird High School to further develop their school garden. The garden provides produce for the school community and offers an interactive education on local food systems and organic farming.

$650.00

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	Ellen E. Fanning donated $50.0000 to Fiona	4063 days ago
	Edward Watkinson donated $400.0000 to Fiona	4067 days ago
	Fiona Watkinson joined Northeastern Ecuador Spring Break 2015	4117 days ago
	Fiona Watkinson donated $200.00 to Fiona Watkinson	4117 days ago
	Fiona Watkinson joined Empowered.org	4117 days ago

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