Hola from Caribbean coast of Venezuela (no snow here!),

planting

The views of Caripe...

The Leap team are now into their 5th week Venezuela – our final volunteer Sarah has arrived and team have moved from the beach at Playa Colorada up into the mountains and jungle of Caripe with their leaders Govinda and Harrison. The second half of last week, the group camped at a coffee hacienda just outside Caripe with another group of students, they all went on a mountain hike together (cue some muddy bodies!) and out in the local village for beers and karaoke afterwards.

Muddy bums after hiking around Caripe!

The volunteers had an intro meeting with the rangers of the National Park, before a tour of one of the deepest caves on the South American continent. They have worked at the local primary school giving a presentation on the issues of deforestation and built a tree nursery in the school with the kids. They have gone back a few times since, planting seeds, visiting the children and assisting with the general maintenance of the nursery.

Some of our hard working Venezuela Leapers, Louise, Liv and Eleanor
This week they have volunteered up in the hills, working long days, receiving spanish classes in the evenings and planting trees in the wild. The National Park are shocked, delighted and motivated by the work rate of the girls, which I will congratulate them on when I see them tomorrow!!

We’ll send you another update soon. Ciao for now…

Brendan (Leap Venezuela Project host)

all the best