Building Bridges With Ecuador

For the past 12 years, the Trandel-Korenchuk family has lead this annual humanitarian service trip to serve the indigenous communities surrounding Otavalo, Ecuador.  The consistency of returning to the same location each year allows for continuity in the service the team provides to the community.  In addition, the teams have the privilege of watching the communities grow and change and the opportunity to bond with the community members to form lasting relationships and build trust.

Keith, Darlene and their 4 children, Michael, John, Thomas and Sarah, lead this trip with a team of approximately 50 people each year.  Keith Korenchuk, JD, MPH, is an attorney for Arnold & Porter in Washington, DC.  Darlene Trandel, PhD, RN/FNP is a family nurse practitioner and serves as the Co-President of the Building Bridges in Ecuador project as well as a consultant & health coach in chronic disease prevention & management.  Keith & Darlene have 4 children and live in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC.  Their son John, a senior at Georgetown University, serves as the Co-President and Director of Finances for the Building Bridges with Ecuador effort.  This trip has been a family endeavor for the past 11 years with the entire family planning, organizing and leading this project.  This humanitarian effort has changed how Trandel-Korenchuk family members see the world – they believe this service trip experience will likely have a big impact on those who choose to join them.

The supplies for the trip are financially supported by the Myers Park Baptist Church, an ecumenical, open to all congregation in Charlotte, NC and other mid-Atlantic & Southeastern donors.