Alumni Blog

Ecuador and the Flower Industry

The town of Cayambe is the hub of the flower industry in Ecuador.  Lining the mountains surrounding the town are rows upon rows of the white-roofed greenhouses.  The presence of these flower farms in Cayambe is a relatively recent development.  During the past ten to twenty years the flower industry expanded into Ecuador, converting farmland into space for greenhouses.  Today, Ecuador is the world’s largest exporter of roses, but the impact of this industry has not been positive for many Ecuadorian workers involved.

Failing When Giving

Ali Manek is an Intercordia 2005 Alumnus from Kings College at the University of Western Ontario.  This was a reflection he wrote for his prof, Wendy Russell on reflecting about his 3 month placement in Ecuador in 2005.

Going Green on Valentine’s Day

Many people in my Ecuadorian community, San Luis, work in flower plantations. Fair-trade flowers are a small step towards ensuring that flower plantations improve their conditions and provide equitable wages.

Youth and International Development - an interview with Jessica Vorstermans, Intercordia Alumna

Jessica Vorstermans is a smart, dynamic young woman who has a passion to change the world for the better. We felt that readers would enjoy a glimpse into her journey and some of her very timely thoughts. They might be interested also to know that Jessica is a child of L’Arche. With parents who were both L’Arche assistants, she grew up in a family that often shared their meal table with people with intellectual disabilities and young assistants from around the world. 

For the remainder of the interview, please see: PDF