Volunteer review of Yanacocha

Name:
Email address:
***(please provide email only if it is ok for other volunteers to email you about project)
Partner organisation: Yana Cocha Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre
Start date: January 5, 2010
End date: January 29, 2010

1. What were the main tasks you undertook at the project? Did you have any prior experience or knowledge that helped you with these?
   The main part of my volunteer work with Yana Cocha involved every day feeding and care of the animals.  We had two feedings, one in the morning and one at night, but also in the morning we cleaned all of the cages (including nocturnal animals).  Besides the every day preparation of the food and cleaning I also helped with enrichment of the cages which involved adding new branches or toys to enclosures or even using a flower or bamboo to make the animal think in order to retrieve the food.  We complicated eating in order to break the easy cycle of animals just receiving food from people and if they are to survive in the wild they need to be able to determine how to acquire food.  I also helped in determining what foods the animals did and did not eat so that the Centre can have a better picture of each animal’s dietary needs and likes.  One of the dogs had to be spayed as well so I helped with the surgery by taking care of Dalma and observing the surgery to make sure she was doing okay with anaesthetic and pain.

I have not previously worked with the animals like those at Yana Cocha but I have always had pets and had the responsibility of taking care of them. 

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 support was fine, I very much felt like I was on my own but that Yanapuma was there as a backup if I needed the help.  It was nice to know that even though I was independent at my site, there were people I could contact if I needed help or had questions I would like to ask.

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 highly recommend volunteering at Yana Cocha to anyone that is interested in working with animals and learning about their behavior.  Volunteers need to be self-driven because the atmosphere can be so relaxed at times that chores should be getting done even if no one explicitly states it.  I suppose a better way to say it would be taking initiative because Inge and the volunteer vet that is here are often too busy to find the volunteers to tell them exactly when to start preparing the food so the volunteer needs to be able to take some authority.  Volunteers also need to be patient, time works in a different way here and based upon Yana Cocha’s tight money projects don’t always get done as planned.  Volunteers also need to be patient with the animals because even though everything can seem so overwhelming in the beginning and some practices bizarre, in time the animals will warm up to you and you will begin to understand them and tasks better.  Oh and be able to communicate, not necessarily in a fantastic way but communicate nonetheless in Spanish.  The Flores family does not speak english and volunteers will converse with various members of the family on a regular basis.  I would say that volunteers need to expect an adventure and they cannot be afraid of being dirty!  They will find there is hardly a moment when they are clean.

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.
   Everything was fine.  The orientation session was really helpful because we learned some history of Ecuador and also received an overview of what the other volunteer projects would be.  Showing me to my sight was an extremely long bus ride for Shanti but it was nice to talk to her during the ride and she didn’t leave me at Yana Cocha until I felt comfortable.  Honestly I felt safe during the transport and upon being dropped off at Yana Cocha so I think support was good.  Also, I had Shanti’s email and phone number if I needed assistance so I also had a way to contact her.

1. How would rate your overall experience at this project?
   I would rate my overall experience very high.  Yana Cocha is still a young Centre so there are many things that need work but most improvements will come with time.  Right now what is needed is funding, which we partly received from Super Tia because they are now giving us their bad/old food every day, and volunteers.  We are working on some publicity with flyers that I helped edit and we are distributing them to hostals in Puyo and elsewhere.  Yana Cocha has been an adventure but I have learned a lot about my interests in animals and begun to discover what careers I may be interested in pursuing.  Plus given all of the situations I have been in here, I have learned to be more independent and comfortable with myself.

1. Any other comments?
   Volunteers may never look at fruit and vegetables in the same way just because of the different stages of maturity at which we serve the fruit to the animals.  Also they cannot be squeamish whether it is with feces, vomit, or rotten fruits.  Eventually everything gets dirty including you.  Plus, stitches really aren’t all that bad but don’t overestimate knives.

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.
   Poop, puke, and pee, you can expect to find everything at Yana Cocha.  Plus a huge variety of animals!  Every day is an adrenaline rush because you never know what will happen and with all of the animals there are so many possibilities.  Interacting with the animals on a daily basis is fantastic for those interested in working with animals because you develop a relationship with each animal and intimately know its habits including diet and behavior.  The family is great though knowing some Spanish is a definite bonus, the volunteer accommodations are adequate, and one last piece of advice, something you cannot live without here: rubber boots!   
   

Muchas gracias!!!

Volunteer Ecuador Evaluation

Name:

Email address:

Partner organisation (Volunteer Site): Yanacocha

Start date: February 16 2009

End date: February 20 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?

Food preparation for the animals, feeding the aminals and cleaning their cages. Assisted in building new enclosures and maintenance of the pathways.

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.

 It was very good. we mainly were instructed by current volunteers who had already learned the routine.

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.

Animal lovers would love volunteering here. It is very hands on. You get to interact with all the animals. It is a lot of fun, though very dirty at times.

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.

Yanapuma helped us get to the organization. We were given enough information. there was no powerpoint presentation. we simply signed up and off we went.

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

Excellent.

1. Any other comments?

Thank you for setting up the volunteer opportunity for us

Muchas gracias!!!

Volunteer Ecuador Evaluation

Name:
Email address:
Partner organisation: Yanacocha (through Frontier)
Start date: 02/02/09
End date: 02/03/09

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

Mainly, I helped prepare the food (chop up veggies and fruits) and distribute it, and clean the cages. Also, I helped monitor the animals (by observing behaviour/eating habits) so that the right food was given and the animals were kept happy. I once worked at a petting zoo for 1 month but other than that (which didn’t help at all!) I had no experience. However, I found that this didn’t hinder me as I was willing to learn.

2. 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.

Given that it’s a fairly new volunteer program and a set routine wasn’t yet established, I still managed to carry out the work – it was just important to stay flexible. David was my main support and guided the volunteers very well, along with the local workers Manuel and Giovanni. If I ever had a problem or a question, they gladly helped me. We all worked together as equals, so we all ended up helping one another

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 definitely recommend Yanacocha to others, but only those who are willing to work (and not there for a holiday in the jungle). People who are willing to rough it a bit and are comfortable with the animals (and the occasional chaos they can cause) will thrive the most. Organization is another useful skill because maintaining a large number of animals requires order – for example organizing the different diets or keeping notes/observations on the animals. Also, people who are interested in construction/maintenance would be very helpful because the centre still needs a lot of improvement (especially the locks!)

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.

I was honestly impressed with the support from Yanapuma – I didn´t expect to be so cared for, it was definitely very comforting. The orientation session was useful, but I think it was more general than I would have liked – I was a bit apprehensive about what I was actually going to be doing. Stephen was great, coming with me all the way to Puyo and lending me a mosquito net, making sure I was all set. He checked up on me a number of times after, and made sure I was set with my plans at the end. I also really appreciate his perserverance when I was impossible to get hold of!

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

I would give Yanacocha (and my last 4 weeks there) a 9 out of 10. It was actually more rewarding than I imagined because I was one of a few volunteers and got very involved.

1. Any other comments?

This is defineitly an organisation that requires more from its volunteers – only because there are a few and lots of work to be done, and it is not a set program with each day planned out. Volunteers have to be flexible and hardworking.

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.

My last 4 weeks at Yanacocha were amazing! It was definitely a perfect place for someone who enjoys being surrounded by animals everyday. I would recommend this to other volunteers who are comfortable with animals, willing to work hard to keep the animals happy, and to those who want to experience a different culture while doing something that is truly helpful to the centre.

Muchas gracias!!!

Volunteer Ecuador Final Evaluation

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

My main tasks included preparing food for the animals as well as going into the enclosures and feeding the animals in the morning and afternoon. I also had to build and fix chairs and build enrichments for the animal enclosures. I did not have any prior experience or knowledge that helped me with these tasks.

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 the information and support I received from the organisation was adequate to ensure I could carry out my work successfully.

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

A very strong interest in animals is a must. I would definitely recommend working with this organisation to other volunteers because the experience and stories you will get from interacting with the animals is like no other.

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.

The communication and support I received from Yanapuma were adequate.

1. How would you rate your overall experience?

Out of 5, I would rate my overall experience a 5 because I really enjoyed working with the animals.

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.

In the morning we would cut and prepare food for the animals for the morning feed. Once finished preparing the food we would go into the animal enclosures and clean the enclosure and place the food for the animals to eat. For lunch, a volunteer would make lunch for the other volunteers. Lunch duty would change everyday. In the afternoon we would have projects such as fencing in enclosures or building enrichments for certain animals. After the projects we would do the afternoon feed of the animals. After we finished feeding the animals it was free time.

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

Volunteer Ecuador Evaluation

Name:
Email address:
***(please provide email only if it is ok for other volunteers to email you about project)
Partner organisation: Frontier
Start date: 31st August 2009
End date: 27th October 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?

Cleaning and feeding animals. Assisting the veterinarian in administering treatment. Building new cages and dismantling old ones. Enrichment of the life of the animals. Implementing new ideas that ease the running of the rescue center.

Prior knowledge came from my education. A degree in Ecology, Economics and the Environment from the University of York.

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. Everything was explained and all my questions answered. In country transport support was particularly 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 would recommend working with the company in future. The main interest volunteers need is a desire to work with animals, even if it means cleaning up after them most of the time.
Skills needed can be picked up whilst working if they are not previously known. DIY skills are the most useful but not necessary before departure for the project.

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.

There were no problems with the communication between Yanapuma and I. The support was more than adequate and much appreciated. The initial orientation session was very informative and much appreciated.

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

Absolutely fantastic. Experience of a lifetime.

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.

Both projects I worked on (Santa Martha and Yana Cocha) are in need of constant money injections and volunteers help. I would recommend them both equally as the animals and people I worked with at both were absolutely fantastic. An experience I will never forget.

Muchas gracias!!!