Well here we are in the Amazon, the Ecuador Team has lost two of our 6 weekers Alison and Rupert (you will be missed guys!), but 10 of us remain and just as well because there is so much work to be done here..

Getting into the spirit of the Amazon- in style!

Getting into the spirit of the Amazon- in style!

Will the Quichua museum in the Ecuadorian Amazon ever be completed?! Maybe one day, but it will not be this month. After a year and a half of work, the museum in Chichico Rumi, a Quichua community in the Amazon Basin, is up and running… but still has loads for the Leapers to do.

The bottom floor of the museum has finished two of the three rooms and they have filled them with models of traps, weapons, tools, canoes and costumes to teach the many school groups and tourists that come through about traditional Quechua culture. Some of the past Leapers even got to paint the walls with awesome pictures of traditional life, which the kids absolutely love (at times too much… some of the kids thought they would make some personal contributions to some of the paintings).

Making traditional costumes for display in the Museum

Making traditional costumes for display in the Museum

In June, the Leapers got to add a clay floor to the third room, which hopefully will also be up and running soon, and we started the work on the new toilet and shower on the second floor. The second floor is going to be a volunteer dormitory and so far it looks ace and has a great view (sooo lucky for the next Leapers). Just watch out for Lucas the monkey who thinks the new building is his personal climbing frame.

Fran (Team Leader, June 2009)

Monkey magic in Chichicorumi!

Monkey magic in Chichicorumi!