Security for Travelers

News reports seen around the world can be frightening at times as they often sensationalize what is happening and make it sound as if the entire country of Ecuador is unsafe. In actuality, only some isolated areas are dangerous, and we have no plans of visiting these areas which are hundreds of miles away from where we live and work. We have made the tough decision from time to time to suspend our programs in Ecuador when there has been a natural disaster or political unrest that spills over from the major cities. That being said, the vast majority of the time, we find Ecuador to be a safe country full of cheerful people who love sharing their culture with us.

A few important points to consider when planning your trip to Ecuador:

-The US State Department lists its travel advisories for Ecuador as well as general updates on the security of the country. They can be found here. Please note that even at times when the advisory is raised, remember to read the entire update because although the entire country may be listed at a higher level, each update then lists the areas to avoid by province. We have yet to see any travel restriction that mentioned the Imbabura Province where Otavalo is located, even when other parts of the country are considered dangerous.

-It is worth noting that the Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) where our groups arrive is 20 miles northeast of Quito, and Otavalo is around a 2-hour drive north of the airport. Thus, our volunteers never enter the metropolitan area of Quito. Additionally, Ecuador values tourism because of the economic benefits that it brings to the country. Even when things seem bad in some parts of the country, the airport remains safe because Ecuador wants to protect its tourism. We have yet to hear of any incident targeting this airport.

-Tandana volunteers are never taken to the coastal areas in the city of Guayaquil (south) or the province of Esmeraldas (north) where many incidents have been concentrated in the past.

-If after reading all this information you decide that you prefer to not join us in Ecuador, we do offer a variety of remote connection opportunities that can foster intercultural dialogue and learning about Ecuadorian culture from the safety of your home or school.

-Please enjoy this blog that Senior Operations Director Aaron DiMartino wrote about bringing his family to Ecuador in February of 2024.

We absolutely loved hosting volunteer programs in Mali from 2009-2012. Unfortunately, in 2012, security conditions deteriorated significantly, and we have not felt safe bringing volunteers to the region where we work since then. There are risks of violent crime and kidnapping that would make it irresponsible for us to take volunteers to central Mali. We very much hope that the situation will improve and that we can restart these programs, but we will not do so until the security situation allows. Our friends in the villages often ask when the volunteers will return and very much look forward to hosting Tandana groups again in the future. Although it was a tough decision to make, it was the correct one to make to keep our volunteers and community partners safe, and we stand by that decision.

Insecurity in central Mali has also affected our community partners. The vast majority of the villages we partner with are in the Tommoguine region, north of the town of Bandiagara, which has not experienced incidents of violence. However, villages to the south and east of Bandiagara have been attacked by terrorist groups, causing many families to flee their homes and take refuge in the town of Bandiagara. To help these families adjust to their new environment, we started the displaced students and families program. The insecurity in central Mali has made our programs even more urgent. While many NGOs have left the area due to the risks, our strong, long-term local connections, and dedicated Tandana staff, have allowed us to increase and deepen the support we provide. With decreased support from other sources, our partnership has become even more important to local communities.

While central Mali is too insecure for foreign visitors, our Founding Director travels annually to the capital of Bamako, where she meets with our team and community partners. These meetings help us stay closely connected and continue to form strong intercultural relationships. When the State Department's level of travel advisory changes, we hope to organize a meeting in Bamako for donors and volunteers, so they can also meet face to face with our team and partners and gain a deeper understanding of the impact our programs are having in Mali.

While, unfortunately we can't offer travel programs in Mali at this time, we do offer a variety of remote connection opportunities that can foster intercultural dialogue and learning about Malian culture from the safety of your home or school. Check them out and let us know if you are interested in one of them!