Shoe Shine Boys

Title – Shoe Shine Boys
Date – September 2006
Location - Quito - Ecuador

In many developing countries children are forced to work to help supplement the income of the family. Travellers and tourists have different opinions of how to deal with these kids. Does using their services and giving them a few pennies perpetuate the problems of children having to work or does it help the child and his family to eat?

Certainly the situation varies from child to child and from country to country; take a little time to talk to them and find out if they go to school or where they live and you should get all the information you need to make a judgement for yourself.

Beyond The Blue run workshops to help individuals make choices for themselves about where they are going to travel and what they will do when there. Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop helps individuals to understand what they need to plan in advance and what information they can hope to get when they arrive. Our primary goal is to help people make the correct decisions, when they are far away from home.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Image – © Heather Spalton

Transportation by JCB

Title – Transportation by JCB
Date – September 2006
Location - Ecuador

When you are travelling in some parts of the world you have to be prepared to deal with the poor infrastructure and delays that result. Earthquakes and landslides can be a regular occurrence, but you will generally find that the locals are used to these events and have a great ability to use their initiative to resolve them.

In Ecuador this JCB worked alternately at clearing the earth from the site of this road repair and helping those needing to get through this part of the road to span the gap.

Beyond The Blue was established to help you span the gaps in the information you have about your destinations and our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop will help you to get from your home to your dream destination and back again safely.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Image – © Heather Spalton