A magical experience on the weekend in the indigenous Kichwa community of Oyacachi

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Camping in Oyachi $ 15,00 por tienda (carpa). Sàbado, 28 de Noviembre del 2015 7pm Es una actividad para los deportistas, grupos de amigos, jóvenes de intercambio internacional que van a acampar en Oyacachi, previo a la carrera. Una fogata planeada junto con la comunidad indígena como un evento social que se realizará durante un campamento o al aire libre. Les brinda a los atletas la oportunidad de reunirse y disfrutar de la compañía bajo las estrellas. We are invited for a magical experience this weekend in the indigenous Kichwa community of Oyacachi, famous for its hot springs and, with Papallacta, a major source of water for Quito. In addition to the hot springs (day and night), activities include life in the community, group activities with locals families, tours to enjoy the beautiful nature, and participation in a run (2k, 5k, or 10k) through the countryside. A cultural event on Saturday includes music (bring your guitar!), dancing, theatre. The race will be on Sunday. The options available includes: OPTION 1 for $25 (Saturday and Sunday): Includes: run participation fee (t-shirt, a handcrafted wooden spoon, and handcrafted participation medals and souvenirs), entrance to hot-springs (day and night), and sleeping opportunities for people that bring a sleeping bag and group activities Does not include: transportation; $7 (Departures from Naciones Unidas at Parque Carolina on Saturday at 4 p.m., with a return on by 4 pm after the award ceremony); the option of a hostel ranges from $10 to $15 dollars OPTION 2 (Saturday and Sunday): If you do not participate in the run: entrance to hot springs: $5 dollars (one time), transportation (same as for Option 1), hostel (same as for Option 1) OPTION 3 for $25 (Sunday): You would only participate in the run: participation fee is included (t-shirt, handcraft medal, a handcrafted participation medals and souvenir) and entrance to hot-springs Does not include: transportation: $7 (We leave on Sunday morning 6am and we will get back on Sunday at 4 pm following the award ceremony) There are several options for signing up and paying: 1. You can your registration fee ($25 if you run, $5 if you are only going to use the hot springs) at the GOBE office (student government), online at www.chacay.com, or at one of the entrepreneurship booths around the corner from the Banco Bolivariano in the Paseo San Francisco Mall. To see photos of the event, search for MaracachiTon on Facebook. The purpose of the weekend is to help the community recover from a devastating mudslide in June of this year: their annual visits dropped from 45,000 to less then 100 per weekend! Vamos a Oyacachi!! Auspiciantes INSCRIBASE A LA CARRERA RESERVACION DE LA TIENDA   Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend

Oyacachi Community Development Project

Challenge Background

Oyacachi, an indigenous community on the edge of the Ecological Reserve Cayambe Coca, two hours drive from Quito, was devastated by a massive mudslide on the afternoon of June 26, 2015.  One third of the village was destroyed. Three months later, this unique,  colourful, and historic tourist destination offering hot springs, wooden handicrafts, and spectacular views of the Andes, is working hard to recover its previous flow of 45 thousand visitors per year, now down to a trickle each weekend.

Project Mission

Reestablish the progress baseline for the local community to recover its economic, social, cultural and political sustainably based on their strengths such as social capital, natural resources, the cosmovisión of the Kichwa tradition,  and the abilities of the locals.

Overall Objetives

•                Achieve holistically oriented goals working with each segment of the community: Women, children, disabled people, elders, artisans, and the community leaders.

•                Work with the community to rebuild its economy and reconnect people by being part of a sporting event (MaracachiTon,a 5K and 10K run with the participation of 1000 athletes (from Quito, Cayambe, and other parts of the country and from around the world). This event, scheduled for November 29, 2015, will include not only the runners but also their families, creating a significant impact on the economy and, more importantly, reestablishing Oyacachi as an outstanding tourist destination.

Objectives by segment

➢Indigenous Women

o               Offer workshops related to customer service in ecotourism, gastronomy and handicrafts, improving the quality                     of production and service delivery

o               Evaluate mental health as a result of the traumatic effect caused of the mudslide incident and offer workshops    building self efficacy.

➢Children

o               Offer courses focused on core subjects using a playful methodology to stabilise their cognitive and emotional    process

o               Offer classes in English with a family focus

➢Youth

o               Involve them in productive activities related to the sporting event

➢Elderly

o               Working with youth, create oral histories using technology that include their stories, customs, and community     legends to present the day of the event

➢Artisans

o               Provide business training using the Business Model Canvas, focused on their products and services, to  to          promote and sell their products to local tourists and to market outlets in Quito.

➢Quito community

o               Invite Quiteño citizens to get involved in this kind of event while they enjoy nature and get exercise

➢Public, Private, Civic Sectors, Academia, Media (EcoHelix)

o               Invite key stakeholders collaborative in social issues, base on Corporate Social Responsibility

➢Beyond Chacay (Chaca in Kichwa means Bridge) Foundation

o               Conduct research and Community Development using baseline surveys with a pre and post event timeline, identifying and involving Partners (stakeholders) that are the blades of the propeller and achieve building bridges between local tourists and community leaders as agents of transformation.

Product

Marathon 5K- 10K

Target from 18 to 60+

Cost USD $ 25.00

Goal: 500 athletes

Problems-Challenges

* Families hosted by relatives. (up to four families living in one home)

* Fear of the impending of El Niño   Storm

*  Lack of quality, consistent information in the media about the  community and its plight

*  Road Infrastructure neglected

*  Insufficient information about this hidden paradise.

*  Community buildings and school house destroyed

*  Children and young people without access to education .

*  Women without income because of lack of traffic in the craft center .

*  Emotional problems among the inhabitants ( post-trauma stress and anxiety).

Solution

Rebuild the town

Rebuild the Ecotourism Program

The Challenge

Governmental problems,(economy, natural disasters and political instability)  lack of budget for cases like this.

Lack of strong leadership. They are peaceful indigenous group that don't do claim much for their rights.

The Assets

Great community collaboration and trust in all we do

The social media has been a boom.

A lot of people interested in the idea.

An option for tourists to visit instead of Cotopaxi with is in erupting process.

Available Resources

We don't have a budget but we will use the income from the Marathon.

I am looking for big companies sponsorship.

References

Posner Center Hack, International Development Hackthon,

CHALLENGE BRIEF: Comunidades Unidas Peru