Feb. 25, 2007 Pacha Feria, Central Park in Vilcabamba, Ecuador
Three fairs ago, there were three tents barely half-filled with craftspeople and one tent for food vendors, and now participation increases to four tents all filled, two tents for food vendors, one tent for the sound equipment and children's eco-art workshop, and one tent for the new ongoing exhibition by the Ministry of Environment.
In the morning of the fair, the Committee of Environmental/Health Education for the Pacha Feria coordinated a radio interview/invitation at Radio Vilcabamba with the 2 representatives from the Ministry and the local priest. The exhibition was highly successful, with locals and national/international tourists of all ages visiting the tent, reading the information, watching nature videos and taking home nature posters and informative brochures.
Children's art workshop: Improvised coloring workshop on recycled large cotton fabric. After it was filled, the fabric was hung in the tent and the children continued to color on large sheets of kraft paper. A volunteer craftsperson held a brief drawing contest and gifted one of her crafts to the winner. (In the Fair, the craftspeople are obligated to collaborate with one hour of volunteer work.)
School service painting project: Because of the constant lack of tables and chairs, the Association is required to borrow from the nearby elementary school, "13 de Abril." In exchange, the Association painted these tables and chairs, with the help of other participating craftspeople from the Fair.
Publicity: Radio Vilcabamba, the most common radio station in Vilcabamba, broadcasted the Pacha Feria 50-second radio spot twice during strategic times on Saturday. Cost: $1 (discounted from $1.80)
Plans for the following fairs:
a. Members of the Ecology Club from the National Vilcabamba High School participate in the Ministry of Environment exhibition, and later, exhibit their own projects, sell ecology-related goods to raise funds and present short presentations on the stage.
b. Invite different public institutions to exhibit information on different days of the Fair (i.e. Domestic violence at one fair, then organic agriculture the following fair, etc.)
c. Publicity: Paint a large 10-meter banner to hang over the main street entrance to Vilcabamba.
d. Publicity: Broadcast the radio spot more often with press announcements to highlight specifics for the upcoming Fair.
