Sustainable Roots

Nonprofit or community organization

Last modified: April 29, 2013, 8:10 PM

Sustainable Roots is a group of Biologists, Artists, Teachers, and Friends who met in Cosanga, Ecuador in 2005 and shared the vision to empower and educate the local community on the importance of sustainable living.

Sustainable Roots is dedicated to environmental preservation and sustainable development in communities of Latin America. We strive to enable communities to develop a healthy, sustainable, local economy and environment, all while maintaining their cultural pride and heritage. We work hand in hand with communities and see our role as facilitators of projects born from the communities ideas and needs.

We are currently working in the community of Cosanga, Ecuador. In the Fall of 2010 we started our work on the ground and have structured English classes for all age levels (the community's number one desire), an informal after-school program and have built two organic greenhouses!

Education Volunteer - Volunteer Opportunity

Last updated:

April 30, 2013

Location:

Cosanga, N, EC

Description:

We are seeking volunteers to work in the education branch of our program. Volunteers teach English in the primary school four days a week, run an afterschool p...

Sustainable Roots posted Education Volunteer
April 30, 2013, 12:21 PM
Toni created a page for Sustainable Roots
April 29, 2013, 8:10 PM

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Toni Walters

Location:

Cosanga, N, EC

Sustainable Mobile

Sustainable Roots is dedicated to environmental preservation and sustainable development in communities of Latin America. We strive to enable communities to develop a healthy, sustainable, local economy and environment, all while maintaining their cultural pride and heritage. We work hand in hand with communities and see our role as facilitators of projects born from the communities ideas and needs. We are currently working in the community of Cosanga, Ecuador. In the Fall of 2010 we will be hosting a series of workshops for adults, and an after school program for children to begin working together towards our common goals. var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push([‘_setAccount’, ‘UA-22328871-1’]); _gaq.push([‘_trackPageview’]); (function() { var ga = document.createElement(‘script’); ga.type = ‘text/javascript’; ga.async = true; ga.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://ssl’ : ‘http://www’) + ‘.google-analytics.com/ga.js’; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();

Fercho and Vale

I arrived in Cosanga yesterday after a month away. Zo and I sat chatting for a couple of hours when a knock sounded on our door. Fernando was here to see me. ”MOM!!” he said, and we hugged until I thought his head might pop off. About 15 minutes later Valeria come to the door, “MAMITA!!” and again more hugging. . We sat talking till it was time for class, and after class sat talking until about midnight. These two kids reward me with more love than I ever dreamed possible. I’m so blessed to have these kids consider me their second mother, and have them come to me for advice and with problems and stories. I think I can work my whole life and never repay this kindness. - Toni

What's really important

Zo’s parents came for a visit last week and it was amazing! I will let him tell you that story, the story I have is about remembering why I’m here in the first place.

Yesterday, Zo went to see his parents off, students hadn’t shown up to the after school program all week (its a holiday week) so we figured we were probably safe canceling for one day. According to the law that rules all things, Murphy’s Law, we were wrong of course. Several students came by the house asking where Zo was and when curso would be. I told them Zo would be back at four and said I was busy doing other work so they would have to wait for Zo.

Not thirty seconds passed before I was out the door rounding up the kids who came by the house, telling them they were more important than any other work I had to do. We headed for the classroom and got to work.

First thing fractions! I love fractions! We ripped up construction paper and talked about how no mater how many pieces we ripped it into we still had 1 sheet of construction paper. The number 1, so versatile, so amazing!

Next thing verbs. ”What is a verb” I asked. They didn’t know so I gave them examples, run, jump, sing, eat. Johan Quipo shouted “Action words!” Then we found the verbs in the legend of Cantuño (a fascinating tale about the city of Quito). I kept repeating “What is a verb?” they would chime in with “An action word!”

Class ended and I came home to my boring paperwork refreshed and remembering why I really do this work.

-Toni

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