Workshops
QuininÃ
Founders
Chantelle du Plessis
SieChitá Guesthouse Manager and Program Director at Interchange Colombia
Chantelle was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. At the age of 15 she moved to the United States to finish high school and continue her studies. She has a BS in Hospitality Management from the University of Houston and an MA in International Development from Eastern University. Chantelle is also a photographer and co-author of the book Wild and Wonderful: Tourism, Faith & Communities.
Andrés Umaña
Andes EcoTours Director and Project Advisor to Interchange Colombia
Born and raised in the thriving metropolis of Bogotá, Andrés developed an early curiosity for the living world that took him across the ocean to the US to pursue his degree in Natural Sciences. Years later, after having been a teacher, a chemist and even a banker, Andrés felt the need for a change and flew back home to complete his Masters in Environmental Management at Los Andes university.
SieChitá Guesthouse
Andes
EcoTours
In July of 2012, we made the decision to move back to Bogotá (we were living in the US at the time) with one goal in mind - to create a socially and environmentally responsible business for sustainable development in the High Andes region. Searching for an office space in la Candelaria (the city's historic center) proved to be a difficult task, so we settled on renting an entire 5 bedroom house with an attached office space. Although it wasn't part of the original plan, this is how SieChitá Guesthouse was born.
While Andrés was completing his Master's we spent a significant amount of time traveling throughout the region. It was during this time that we realized how amazingly diverse and unexplored the area was. Tourism to the country was rapidly on the rise, and yet it seemed as though Bogotá was still just a short stop on the way to something 'better'. This is how Andes EcoTours was born. It was a project that aimed to give both locals & foreigners an opportunity to explore the cultural & ecological diversity of the region while encouraging responsible tourism practices.
Background Story
Interchange
Colombia
The Next Step
Through the work of Andes EcoTours, we have been able to affect change in a number of different ways. We have created positive economic impact in the communities we have worked with through the hiring of local guides, eating of local lunches and purchasing of local products. We have documented the destruction of fragile ecosystems in order to get the attention of local governments and environmental organizations. We have written letters on behalf of community organizations that have resulted in grants for home improvements and further project development. We have worked with coffee farmers to develop a common brand and improve the presentation of their packaging, and are currently looking for ways to secure funding for a project that aims to protect 14 acres of land rich in cultural & ecological diversity. Since Andes EcoTours was founded, we have learned a great deal about committment, trust-building, and of course, sustainability. We have also discovered that in order to have a greater social impact, there is a need to go the extra mile - this is where Interchange Colombia comes in.
Interchange Colombia at Present
We chose the name ‘Interchange Colombia’ as a reflection of our belief that mutual learning and exchange processes are necessary in order for alternative, sustainable and ecologically sound solutions to be found. Through our work, we aim to establish and strengthen partnerships between international volunteers, local communities, NGOs and other organizations, for collaboration on a variety of projects relating to education, innovation & sustainability.
We are currently working with two different communities in the rural areas surrounding Bogotá. Activities include English classes, educational workshops and community murals.
Looking Ahead
As Interchange Colombia continues to grow we believe the possibilities are endless. We continue to search for ways to deepen our relationship with neighboring communities through interchange processes.
We hope to develop educational "Exchange Trips" for visiting groups that will move us closer to our vision, while providing a means for us to become a more self-sustainable organization. Through an increase in funds, we hope to be able to contribute significantly more to the projects we are working on, as well as to be able to provide scholarships for experienced interns, long-term volunteers, and eventually, full-time staff. Other projects in the works include those relating to sustainable agriculture, bioconstruction and biocommerce.