Covid-19 vaccinations in Ecuador are rolling out, and Walking Palms is humbled to have been chosen by local health officials to lead a province-wide vaccine registration and awareness campaign.

Ecuador’s limited vaccine inventory is being allocated in the order residents register, so our immediate implementation of this program will:

• Reach the estimated 25,000 residents of rural area currently left out of the vaccine rollout process

• Target communities where limited Internet access renders the online registration system inaccessible

• Employ our Covid personal safety protocols that have been adopted by local government and private organizations

Walking Palms is offering this service at no cost to the local government, which helps ensure that vaccines are allocated equally among residents regardless of income level.

So we need your help! Please consider a donation to promote vaccine equality in Ecuador.

The majority of funds raised for this 8-12 week campaign will go to our local team working in the field under demanding, risky conditions, with the balance allocated to training, personal protective equipment and a robust testing regime.

Given the historic nature of the Covid-19 global vaccination effort and the unique challenges of reaching rural communities in the developing world, we will document these efforts and publish a best practices framework for use in future health emergencies.

Developed countries like the United States are well on their way to vaccinating their populations against Covid-19, even as developing countries like Ecuador struggle to distribute a limited amount of vaccine supply. The United States has distributed 30 times more vaccines per capita than Ecuador, and at current vaccination rates, some estimates suggest Ecuador would not achieve full vaccination for more than five years.

Programs like this are essential at not only speeding up vaccination rates in the developing world, but ensuring that those still waiting in line are equipped to handle ongoing Covid-related health risks and economic challenges.

After more than a year of ensuring the immense personal hardships Covid-19 has thrust upon the world, this is your opportunity to help put the pandemic behind us.

The pandemic has made it nearly impossible for many children and families here in Bahía de Caráquez to access basic education.

From December 2020 - March 2021, Walking Palms launched Bahía’s only in-person educational program available to low income families. In the inaugural edition of our Community Learning Pods, which are A class of 16 students aged 6-16 who were in danger of being held back a grade received interventional tutoring and and an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on music, art, botanics, physical education, mediation and emotional wellness.

This program was an extension of Harmony and Health, an immersive, interdisciplinary kids education program, which we launched in response to the devastating 2016 earthquake which struck Ecuador’s Pacific coast. Through music, art and meditation practices, kids came out of their shells and could truly begin the healing process.

In addition to this invaluable experience for the kids, Harmony and Health provides employment for our instructors who represent the diverse cultural fabric of this region.

All instructors not only receive competitive pay and reliable work during these challenging economic times, but professional development that includes leadership training, disaster preparedness workshops, emotional first aid, teaching pedagogy and team-building.

We are gearing up for another session, so pledge your support to allow these local musicians, artists, thespians and educators share their passion and talents with our students.