1. What were the main tasks you undertook with the organisation? Did you have any prior experience or knowledge that helped you with these?

The main task I did was fire watching, which I had no experience or knowledge prior to. However it is not needed for that task.

1. Was the information and support you received from the organisation adequate to ensure you could carry out your work successfully? If not, please explain why.

Yes it was.

1. What skills or interests would other volunteers need for this work? Would you recommend working with this organisation to other volunteers? Please explain.

For the work I did, no specific skills are required. I would recommend working with this organisation to other volunteers because there are a variety of activities you can do depending on your Spanish, interests or anything else.

1. Was the information, communication and support you received from Yanapuma, both before and during your volunteer placement, adequate? If not, please explain why and offer suggestions on how it could be improved.

Yes, the information, communication and support received from Yanapuma was more than enough for me to start my volunteer work.

1. How would you rate your overall experience?

On a scale of one to ten, I would give it a nine.

1. If you would like, please write a short paragraph summing up your volunteer placement to help Yanapuma, our partner organisations and future volunteers learn from your experience.

Everything was smooth except for Monday, when work had to first be assigned for me. I wasn't really sure what I could do, due to my limited Spanish. However after assigning me to the fire watch group, it worked out really well.

1. Any additional comments?

Not really.

1. Do you authorise Yanapuma to share the information contained in this evaluation with other volunteers and partner organisations?                   YES __x___                  NO _____

Volunteer Ecuador Evaluation

Name:

Email address:

Partner organisation (Volunteer Site): Parque Itchimbiá

Start date: 13 February 2009

End date: 5 March 2009

1. What were the main tasks you undertook at the project? Did you have any prior experience or knowledge that helped you with these?

Planting trees, weeding, making compost heaps. I didn’t have prior experience or knowledge in that helped me with these tasks.

1. Was the explanation and support you received from the organisation adequate to ensure you could carry out your work successfully? If not please explain why.

The supports as well as the explanations were sufficient to carry out the work successfully.

1. Would you recommend working with this organisation to other volunteers? What are the main areas of skills and interests that volunteers need for this work? Please give reasons.

If they like to work outside and not mind getting dirty, this is a very nice place to volunteer. It is useful to speak an intermediate level of Spanish to understand the explanations. There are no other specific skills required.

1. Was the communication and support you received from Yanapuma, before and during your time volunteering adequate? Please comment specifically on the powerpoint orientation session, being taken and introduced to your site, and all contact throughout. If no please specify why and how it could be improved.

The communication was good. Without the introduction I wasn’t able to find the park and the office , so it was nice that I didn’t had to go alone. The powerpoint presentation gave very good information about: the Ecuadorian culture, sites to visit and background information.  Only Yanapuma could have better pointed out the possibility of requiring a certificate after the volunteering time.

1. How would rate your overall experience at this project?

In a scale from 1 till 10:  9!  This has been a great experience. I learned a lot of ecologic gardening and it has been a good opportunity to practices the Spanish I learned at the school.

1. Any other comments?

Recommendations for other volunteers:  use sunburn, wear old cloths and talk to your colleagues cause now you have the opportunity.

Muchas gracias!!!

Volunteer Ecuador Evaluation

Name:
Email address:
***(please provide email only if it is ok for other volunteers to email you about project)
Partner organisation: Parque Itchimbia           
Start date:
End date:

1. What were the main tasks you undertook at the project? Did you have any prior experience or knowledge that helped you with these? Composting and in the tree nursery which I had helped with on the farm before

1. Was the explanation and support you received from the organisation adequate to ensure you could carry out your work successfully? If not please explain why. Yes, examples were provided and the workers spoke clearly enough and made sure I understood.

1. Would you recommend working with this organisation to other volunteers? What are the main areas of skills and interests that volunteers need for this work? Please give reasons. I would recommend work with this organization. Interest in the environment and out doors, helping kids, and no problem getting dirty.

1. Was the communication and support you received from Yanapuma, before and during your time volunteering adequate? Please comment on the initial orientation session, showing you to your site and communication throughout.  If not, please specify why and how it could be improved. All communication was clear and very helpful and follow up help was appreciated.

1. How would rate your overall experience at this project? 8

1. Any other comments?

1. If you would like, please write a short paragraph summing up your project and experience volunteering, as well as if and why you might recommend this volunteer site to others in the future. We will put this information on our Volunteer Ecuador website, as a direct quote from you to help others learn about your experience.

Muchas gracias!!!
Volunteer Ecuador Evaluation

Name:
Email address:

Partner organisation: Parque Itchimbia

Start date: 25/09/2008

End date: 29/10/2008

1. What were the main tasks you undertook at the project? Did you have any prior experience or knowledge that helped you with these?

I was caring the plants by cutting them, nourishing the ground, fertilizing, weeding, etc.  I also worked few days in the compost area.

I do have little knowledge about agriculture and gardening but I think that anybody can do what I did simply listening to the advertisers of the people that are working over there.

1. Was the explanation and support you received from the organisation adequate to ensure you could carry out your work successfully? If not please explain why.

Yes! Everyone in the park in very nice and helpful.

1. Would you recommend working with this organisation to other volunteers? What are the main areas of skills and interests that volunteers need for this work? Please give reasons.

I highly recommend working in the Itchimbia for people that like working outside with plants, far from pollution, and in a good atmosphere. But, it is important to know that sometimes the work can be a bit physical.

1. Was the communication and support you received from Yanapuma, before and during your time volunteering adequate? If no please specify why and how it could be improved.

Yes. I have been introduced in the Park very well.

1. How would rate your overall experience at this project?

Now, I know more about plants and a bit about medicinal plants. The volunteers that are going to work there will also learn how to care plants.

1. Any other comments?