The Tandana Foundation is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote and provide opportunities for cross-cultural educational experiences and service projects. Operating primarily in highland Ecuador and Mali's Dogon Country, the foundation offers scholarships to rural students to continue their secondary education as well as to participate in experiential education programs. It also offers small grants to support local educational initiatives. Tandana coordinates service projects and volunteer vacations for groups of all kinds, families, and individuals. These experiences offer visitors to Ecuador or Mali the unique opportunity to be guests rather than tourists, to form cross-cultural friendships, to experience a rich indigenous culture, and to make a difference in the lives of new friends. We can tailor an experience to suit the needs and goals of your group, family, or individual desire to volunteer.
The Tandana Foundation is not about "helping the poor unfortunates" or imposing a developmentalist worldview or any particular religion. Rather, our goal is to create and nurture real and responsible relationships among people of different cultures. Giving and receiving are inherent parts of those relationships, and contributing to community projects is a great way to make friends. Any foreigner who has worked in an Ecuadorian minga (community work day) knows how that works on the ground! We come to learn and to share.
Tandana is a Quichua word meaning "to gather together" or "to unite" and represents the spirit of our work.
