At Yanapuma Foundation we believe that what makes our organization thrive is the people who work with us on a daily basis. Without our energetic and dedicated team of Ecuadorian and International professionals, interns and volunteers, Yanapuma would not be what it is today.
GIOVANNI
MARCELO TOAPANTA PAUTA, Agricultural Program Director
Professional Experience: He has worked on a variety of development projects in Ecuador with several national organizations.
Education: Giovanni holds a degree in
agriculture from the Colegio Nacional Tecnico Agropecuario Luz de
America.
Responsibilities: He supervises and coordinates Yanapuma's agricultural projects with the community of
Bua de los Tsachila, as well as starting to create a more regional program for sustainable agriculture in collaboration with other organizations and individuals on the western side of the Andes.
Other Interests:
GUADELUPE PERALTA, Community/Social Worker
Professional Experience:
Education: Masters in International Environmental Rights and a Bachelors in Social Communication
Responsibilities: Social/community development - working on social processes within indigenous and marginalized communities, promoting self-esteem, leadership skills and organizational ability among families and social groups.
Other Interests:
SILVIA PERUGACHI, Projects Coordinator
Professional Experience: Silvia has worked with the International Rescue Committee in New York and the East African Center on various projects in Kenya. She has also taught in the Social Work department of the Catholic University in Quito, and been an web translator intern for UN in New York, as well as being a Project Associate for the Palms for Life Fund. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Education: Masters in International Affairs from the New School, New York, with a concentration in Socio-Economic Development.
Responsibilities: Silvia combines project coordination with other practical tasks, working in the communities that we are invovled with to teach practical skills, gather information, and prepare funding proposals.
Other Interests: Personal interests include
ANDY KIRBY,
Founder and Executive Director
Professional Experience: Previously employed as Projects Director for an Ecuadorian NGO. Over 20 years of experience in self-employment and small business development in the fields cabinet-making, furniture production and timber milling in Scotland.
Education: Bachelors’ degree in Psychology from Hawaii Pacific University and Ph.D in Environmental Psychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
Responsibilities: Ovesight, planning, developmet and financial control of Yanapuma Foundation. Website design and maintenance, promotion and publicity, development of external relations.
Other Interests: Cultural and evolutionary psychology, vegetarian, indigenous music and culture, yoga,
GEORGE FLETCHER, Consultant and Local Director
Professional Experience: George has lived and worked in conservation projects in the Caimito area for 11 years. He is currently working with USAID on the Costas y Bosques Sostenibles, is the Secretary of ECOCACAO, and the Vice President of Asociación de Desarrollo Galera San Francisco.
Education: George studied Biological Sciences at PUCE university in Quito
Responsibilities: Coordinate Yanapuma's activities in the Cabo San Francisco area, organize volunteer projects, liaise with local authorities and actors, project planning.
Other Interests:
JONNY CRABB, Project Developer
Professional Experience: Jonny is a Prince2 certified project manager with over 6 years of international project management experience working for a world top 5 IT company. He has worked previously for Friends of Mali and Tourism Concern in a voluntary capacity.
Education: Bacelor degree in Physics from Imperial College, London.
Responsibilities: Managing the design and implementation of a strategy for forest conservation in the Cabo San Francisco region of Esmeraldas province.
Other Interests: Jonny is a keen independent traveller. He loves playing, listening, and dancing to music from all over the world.
KELLY SCHUSSLER, Volunteer and Intern Coordinator
Professional Experience: Kelly has worked with Yanapuma as a group leader and volunteer coordinator since September 2010.
Education: Bachelor's degree in International Relations and Spanish from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, USA.
Responsibilities: Volunteer coordinator, arranging and providing support to individual volunteers and volunteer groups in their projects around Ecuador.
Other Interests: Music, cooking, making jewelry
JAMIE San Andrés, Intern
Professional Experience:
Education:
Responsibilities: Jamie works with the youth of Estero de Plátano, giving workshops on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and encouraging them generally.
Other Interests:
VINICIO QUINCHIGUANGO, Founder and School Social Director
Professional Experience: An indigenous
Quichua, he also speaks and teaches this native language. Vinicio has
taught Spanish to foreigners for 6 years, while also teaching language
at a Quito high school.
Education: Vinicio holds a degree in languages
and linguistics from the Universidad Central de Ecuador
Responsibilities: He is responsible for organizing the social activities of the Spanish school, travel programs, and student evaluations.
Other Interests: Salsa, travel, socializing and working with indigenous communities
ELIZABETH GAROFALO, Founder and Treasurer
Professional Experience: Elizabeth has worked in various aspects of tourism around Ecuador with foreigners, with responsibilities as guide, financial management of tours, translator, and logistics.
Education: Bachelors' degree in accounting for tourism enterprises, and teaching of Spanish to foreigners
Responsibilities: Elizabeth's responsibilities include organizing and overseeing the accounts of both the Spanish school and foundation. In addition she is regularly involved in training workshops for community members in basic accounting, financing and organizational skills and in program monitoring.
Other Interests: She enjoys camping and the outdoors,
walking around Quito,salsa, and discussing subjects such as politics, economics, tourism, and culture.
MARIA CABRERA, Founder and Administrator
Professional Experience: She has
worked in several different positions, in the Ministry of
Tourism in the Human Resources department and in various travel
agencies, besides teaching Spanish to foreigners.
Education: degree in
Administration of Travel Agencies from the Univerisdad Tecnológica
Equinoccial, a diploma in Chemistry and Biology, a diploma in Teaching Spanish for Foreigners and is currently completing a Masters in Education and Social Development from the Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial.
Responsibilities: Maria is responsible for the administration of both the Spanish school and the foundation, organizing the day-to-day running of both.
Other Interests: She loves to explore different ecological zones, hike, spend
time at the beach, and most anything that puts her in contact with the
natural world.
DAVID DE LA HOUSSAYE, Founder
Professional Experience:
Education: He is currently a Master's candidate in Urban and
Regional Planning, with a BA in International Studies from Portland
State University.
Responsibilities: David is mostly involved with the IT systems.
Other Interests: His active
interests include hiking, camping and travel. He is also
interested in politics, economics, and how policy impacts people's
lives.
Copyright Yanapuma Foundation 2006-2011