In El Pedregal, a small town close to Machachi and the volcano Cotopaxi, the local children have been given the opportunity to learn a second language through the efforts of volunteerteachers.

Phil Moore is a qualified TEFL teacher but this year he has chosen to work voluntarily.

He explains that the concept of learning another language is quite alien to these children,as most of them will never leave Ecuador.

"It might inspire them or help them to get a good job and if just one of them learns some English that is good, although I probably won't see the result of that," hestates.

According to Phil, the pupils he teaches are 'lovely kids' and are very reserved. They are afraid to ask for things unless they are offered, he tells us. Also,something in the culture prevents them from saying 'I don't know'. "Maybe theyare embarrassed to or maybe it is lost in the language somewhere," he says.

Life as a teacher in this small Ecuadorian community is very different to working in acity or in a European school. The day is not strictly structured and thetimetable is not 'regimented'.

With the help of donations and volunteers, the Yanapuma Foundation, a fledging Quito-based organization, is taking an innovative, comprehensive approach to community development. The Foundation was brought into being by Andy Kirby, a native of Scotland, whose experience volunteering in other community development organizations in Ecuador convinced him that a new approach was needed.

The Yanapuma Foundation bases its work on a need to help indigenous communities thrive andpreserve their cultures amidst the pressures of globalization. They are currently accepting volunteers and donations to help with projects in the communities of Bua de los Tsachilla, Wachimak, and La Chimba; as well as others involving street kids in Quito. Among the unique aspects of Yanapuma is its Spanish school, which it uses to train its volunteers as well as cover its administrative costs. "The idea is that one hundred percent of donations go to fund community projects," says Kirby.

Laura Esther Córdova Navia stares straight at me witheyes that burn with passion and a voice that tells me, 'we're serious'.

The Ecuadorian born woman, whom is one of ten children in her family, is director of the volunteer organisation New Horizons in a project that connects all parts of the country: the Costa, Sierra, Oriente and the Galapagos Islands. They aim to tackle problems of under educated children adifferent way

There is no doubting the desire to enable change in a country that desperately needs to break from the past and move into the modern age where children a taught until 16 and mothers don't bear children until their twenties.

As supposed to just putting money into schools and asking volunteers to teach the children, New Horizons educates parents too with them others receiving special attention.

'A woman can be seen by a man as a body or a vessel to carry their children and work the house,' says Navia. 'The trouble of course with that is a woman becomes completely dependent on the male in the house interms of comfort and security. I have spoken to many who have been mistreated by their husbands but who can't leave for they have no where to go.'

When I came to volunteer in Ecuador I had the typical idealistic vision of changing the world one child at a time. I saw myself breezing into a classroom full of needy children ready to hang onto my ever word. In reality the four months I have spent teaching English have been tougher, more demanding, yet more incredible than I ever could have imagined.

I work in Escuela Bergen, an extremely poor school in the south of Quito. To say that the school is struggling would be an understatement. I recently found out that without volunteers Bergen would have been forced to close down last year. As it stands the principle and his wife cannot afford to be paid. There are currently fifty children in the entire school, each paying $20 a month. This classes it as a private school although it is far from a Latin American Eton. Classrooms consist of corrugated iron ceilings, metal desks facing a white board and sparse decoration. One very memorable moment was entering a class to see the floor covered in dog faeces. What surprised me most was the children ignored the mess and the lesson continued. Not only does this emphasises classroom conditions but shows the mentality of the children.