Yachana: Geotourism Lodge and School

Yachana is TRUE eco-tourism. The indigenous naturalists share their immense knowledge about the natural and the cultural aspects of this Amazon jungle area in Ecuador. The high school students develop skills and knowledge that can help them rise out of the poverty that is so prevalent in the area. They learn more about their own culture and how to help preserve this culture while at the same time improve the health and economy of their own peoples. For example, they manufacture water purification systems that are then distributed to the local community - access to pure water is all-important to prevention of dysentery and other illnesses; they learn to grow crops organically - this is a sustainable agricultural practice and does not deplete natural resources; they learn English so they have more opportunities to make a living; they are engaged in microenterprise and learn food preparation and hotel management skills when working at the lodge. Our stay at Yachana Lodge was a truly enriching experience and the work done at the lodge and high school is commendable and deserves the highest recognition.

I visted Yachana last year on a site visit evaluation for a global competition, and was extremely impressed. Yachana High School is transforming a generation of indigenous young people in the Amazon rainforest into skilled, competent social leaders capable of negotiating with the external world. One of the most important characteristics of the school is that students are held responsible for themselves and their work, required to explain and to teach to both each other and to tourists visiting regularly from Yachana Lodge. Yachana places an emphasis on learning English; students are obliged to practice with tourists and correspondents. The difference between students in their first year at the school and students in their third (and last) year is remarkable: they go from timid, quiet children to confident, articulate young adults.

The school effectively transfers knowledge to indigenous, rural young people, and teaches them to pro-actively organize themselves around that knowledge for the betterment of their families, communities, rainforest environment, and themselves. In the context of the indigenous cultures and environment of the Amazon, neither of these parts is easy to accomplish. Yet Yachana High School does both with an extraordinary level of quality, teaching young people to speak English, interact confidently with outsiders, develop job, life, and computer skills, and value their own knowledge and diversity.

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Stephanie Savell
Global Venture
Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
ssavell@ashoka.org

I visited Yachana Lodge as part of their Youth to Youth program from February 9th, 2007 through February 15th, 2007. Being welcomed into the Amazon Jungle by the Yachana Lodge made me realize the beauty of the South American Rainforest and its people. Every one of the tourists that I spoke with was impressed by each and every aspect of the Geotourism program which has been established. I myself got to pick peanuts, carve beads for jewelry, and dig pools for fish farms with the Ecuadorian natives who were close to my age. That week that I was in the deep in jungle I was made to feel right at home as students invited me to social and sporting gatherings where we laughed and played. I realized that the sustainability that Yachana is accomplishing in that community along the Napo River is precisely what will protect the rainforest as well as the humble village and it’s of compassionate, knowledgeable, and gracious people. As I departed on the canoe with my group, it was clear to me that in the mighty jungle lions, as well as fellow humans, would sleep there that night.

My wife and I visited there in 1997. We were very impressed with the activities, training and organizing of the local people. I helped erect an antenna to allow communication with other villages up and down the river. The food was great, the guides knowledgeable and friendly. At that time the accommodations were perhaps a bit rustic but ever since our visit I encourage others to visit and support there operations. If you would like to see pictures from 1997 go here. Pictures of our 1997 trip to Yachana.

I had the opportunity of visiting the Yachana Lodge towards the end of 2006. What a tremendous opportunity. I found a world class facility that not only educates tourists, but teaches life skills to the indigenous rural young people through their hands on high school curriculum.

In your invitation to: "Join the global search for innovations in tourism that sustain enhance and preserve local culture and place", you need look no further. During my visit to the Yachana lodge I found precisely THAT!

Yachana is beautiful. It's also the real deal. The world abounds in pie-in-the-sky ecotourism projects, some well-meaning, some plainly exploitative. Yachana stands out as a carefully thought-out model for sustainable ecotourism that offers real hope for the region's future (and a truly great experience for visitors.)

education is about exchange and visitors can learn from the students at the lodge as we learn from them. This invoves exchange of ideas and a growing understanding for the students of how they depend on the rain forests. this goes hand in hand with western visitors seeing the rain forest that we hear so much about in action and being part of it as we are part of the whole ecology of the world.
Our visit there in 2007 was with the galapagos the highlight of our trip to ecuador. we are from a scuba diving club in ireland and range in age from 40 to 65. the food cooked and prepared by the students was the best we had on the trip and their dedication to learning is to be admired.this project deserves accolade and the opportunity to train ecuadors own students to teach, develop computer skills and international recognition.
Best wishes Ann McAvoy. Bray Divers. Bray . Ireland

I have been volunteering for Yachana since January this year (2008), and what an amazing experience it has been so far.

Besides running an eco-lodge for tourists and a chocolate company to help Ecuadorian farmers, it also opened a High School in 2005 and educates 130 students year round. Now try to visualize this school in the middle of the rainforest - away from any power grid, road, or Shoprite for that matter. You can only get to the school by canoe. This is a boarding school- the students not only go to class, but sleep, eat, and shower at the school. In terms of the classes, they learn everything from Calculus, a foreign language (English, but also a little bit a French thanks to one of the volunteers - Roman!), and hands-on agricultural courses on the school's own farm. The farm contains chickens, ducks, pigs, and fish stocked in their own ponds.

In terms of learning experiences for volunteers, their endless. Besides learning Spanish, and interacting with the students (some incredible stories); I've learned about composting, taking care of grey and black water issues, and the Biodigestor - an enclosed area on the farm containing pig waste, which when mixed with a little water produces butane, methane, propane - which they use for heating baby chicks. This is only a small fraction of the projects here...

The school is also very progressive harnessing the education of computers and the internet, as well as using solar power and hydro-electric energy. Thanks to a recent donation, the school was able to install 20 computers running Ubuntu Linux off 8GB CompactFlash cards. The computers are specially designed to withstand the region's elements (humidity and bugs), and only use 8 watts each (not counting the monitor which uses another 17). Still, in total, we need about 600 watts to power these things...where? __Running out of space, will continue in another comment...

I have followed the development of the Lodge and the model for alternative and sustainable development that Yachana Foundation has demonstrated, and it should be recognized as a success story. The long-term plan for sustainability and the shorter-term objectives of income generation and skills development through education and entrepreneurship combines with outreach and education to people outside the community. Eco-friendly tourism and micro-small business development must be encouraged as proven drivers for improving the lives of local people in the developing world and elsewhere.

Dear Yachana,
I visited Yachana in March of this year with the Phils group (Williams and McDonnell). I would just like to say thank you, it was an amazing experience, everyone was incredibly kind and knowledgable.I learned so much while I was with you, the incredible devotion, hard work and genuine care and determination. I have taken this knowledge and passed it on to my children, my family and the school I work at.

When I need a peaceful moment in the hustle of the western world, I just close my eyes and watch the sun set over the Napo.

I am sure I have taken a small part of Yachana with me in spirit and hope fully I will have an opportunity to be able to visit again.

Thank you and God bless.

If Juan remembers Barnaby Bear, he is still wearing his headress he made for him!

Lisa saunders X

Hi Doug,

Great to see that complete write-up of the innovative, significant work you are doing! To other readers, let me say that I have known Doug for many decades, our both living in Ecuador and working here. His work, as often opposed to so many other nominees, really exists. It's phenomenal what he has been able to accomplish and the students are really learning something significant.

If something were to happen to you, could this school and the Lodge continue? You know, even you aren't immortal. I saw the school is approved by the Ministry of Education and Cultures, do and will they fund it? Of course, the funding from the students´production/participation is even better..

Love,
Michelle

I visited Yachana Lodge several years ago and was most impressed with the sincerity and idealism of its founder-director, Douglas McMeekin. He speaks quietly about the work he has done in the Ecuadorian Amazon region,setting up various inter-related nonprofit humanitarian ventures to preserve the region and the way of life of its indigenous people. Yachana eco-lodge and tours is only one of these activities. He hires and trains only local people as guides and staff,teaching them how to operate an environmentally friendly local tourism business. The most recent accomplishment is the creation of a nearby high school in the jungle to educate the young people of the area so they can contribute to a sustainable economy of the region.

On May 28, 2008, the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge” and would like to pass on this feedback for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of sustainable tourism innovators. We wish you continued luck with your sustainable, innovative, and socially impactful initiatives.

All the best, The Changemakers Team

“Many international schools attempt this approach, but I can see this innovation exported and replicated across the world. There is a granular aspect to this program. The rotation of kids from school to their family is really creative. Students share knowledge and contribute to clear community building.”

“Schools are a crucial aspect of our society. The government, however, is the largest provider of schools and we would like to learn about how this program is working with the government. Are they looking at replicating this model to other regions of the country?”

-Changemakers Geotourism Judges: National Geographic Society, Past President the Ford Foundation, whl.travel - World Hotel Link, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth.