Trip to Jipijapa

Jipijapa is not a tourist town but it is an important trade center for products such as cocoa, cotton, kapok and coffee around the region.  We went to Jipijapa to look for a school and clinic that we could work with.  It is about an hour drive inland from Manta.

Many Ceiba trees on the road to Jipijapa.  Remind me of the whomping willow.

Homes are constructed of bamboo on stilts.   I don't know why because they are built this way even on the tops of the hills!

Homes are built out of bamboo.  It probably helps with ventilation.  Manabi is a pretty warm province.

Welcome to Jipihapa!  They grow a lot of corn here.

Visiting a hospital in Jipijapa.

Entrance to the local ministry of education.  We had to talk to them before we were allowed to visit a school.

Happy children hard at work at their desks!

A very neat notebook. Look at what they are learning in first grade!!

Toys ready for play time!  This is all they had for 24 children!

Visiting a school in Joa. 

The teachers in their cute pink uniforms.  All the students in Ecuador wear uniforms to school.

View of the playground from the classroom!  There was NOTHING to play with!

Back to work! The children were in first grade and learning cursive!

Typical home in the community!

Home by the side of the road. In this area the homes were made out of brick.

Saying goodbye to Joa!