Angie, our Peruvian architect student partner, just returned to Lima after being stranded in Satipo for a few days due to an avalanche. She had spent a few days in the Pampa Hermosa community of Calabaza collecting site information for the future ecolodge. The information is necessary for Architects Without Borders- Austin to begin designing the ecolodge. The current plan is to start construction by June of this year. Angie also informed RP about the communities’ excitement regarding the arrival of our volunteers, Zach and Kaitlin, next month. Community members have readied the hostel for their arrival, even bringing items from their own homes to create a more “home-y” atmosphere in the hostel.

Stay tuned for Angie’s pictures of these new developments!

Thanks to additional financial support from the municipal government, Eusebio and the communities of Pampa Hermosa were able to purchase two wooden doors for the public bathrooms located on the main road from Satipo. The installation of wooden doors marks the completion of the refurbished, modern, and clean restrooms for the town and tourists.

Next month the Pampa Hermosa communities of San Antonio and Calabaza will welcome two volunteers Zach and Kaitlin, who will be assisting them in developing sustainable ecotourism. They will be offering their expertise to the communities for two months. Both Zach and Kaitlin have extensive experience in Latin America; currently they are working a lake beautification and water management program on Lake Titicaca.

Pertaining to the Pampa Hermosa project, Zach is most interested in the deforestation aspect of the project, such as protecting the concession area from illegal logging. He is also interested in working with the community on waste management, including recycling and the dangers of burning plastic. Kaitlin is most interested in the health and sanitation aspect of the project. Kaitlin has previously worked with a nonprofit that installs smokeless kitchens in Central America. Smoky kitchens due to wood burning stoves are serious problems that RP is working to amend in these communities. In addition, Kaitlin is also passionate about community women empowerment and education.

Rainforest Partnership is proud to have such passionate and experienced individuals on staff, and look forward to working with Zach and Kaitlin in creating a community-based ecotourism industry in Pampa Hermosa.