Twenty years ago, my life took an unexpected turn when I had to resign from the position I had longed for in the education department of the Charles Darwin Foundation in Santa Cruz, Galapagos. Family circumstances required my presence elsewhere, and while I knew it was the right decision at the time, a lingering question stayed in my heart: What did I lose by not accepting and staying on the mainland?
That question stayed with me over the years, a persistent shadow that never left my mind. Galapagos was more than just a place; it represented a dream, a passion for conservation and education. But life has its way of coming full circle, and two decades later, it offered me a second chance: to volunteer with the Charles Darwin Foundation at the Community Library on the island of Santa Cruz.
Nancy Tapia
Volunteering became a two-way path. One direction allowed me to deconstruct, dismantle, and challenge ideas and narratives shaped by the library's administrative processes. The other, connected to the first, encouraged me to rebuild, connect, weave, and revitalize how we think and tell life stories, instill ethical, moral, and environmental values, and contribute to the holistic education of children in Galapagos. This approach was grounded in a theoretical and epistemological framework tailored to the community's, the nation's, and the world's needs.
This second path led me to redefine an educational approach that should be integrated into all library activities. Conversations with sponsors and benefactors, observations of activities, and scattered plans helped me reinterpret educational meanings and find inspiration in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the guiding framework for the library's planning through 2030.
Designing a unique curriculum—as unique as the natural paradise for which it was created—became a constant reminder of our world's beauty and fragility. Every theme was a lesson on the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the urgency to protect them. The Charles Darwin Foundation, with its tireless dedication to science and conservation, remained a beacon of hope and effective action.
Volunteering challenged me to break generational and educational boundaries, to explore creative frontiers not anticipated in any plan. It led to new forms of writing, recognizing other territories—even those that seem hidden in shadows, obscuring emotions, experiences, and conflicts—and uncovering realities deeply rooted in the environment where they unfold. Every memory of my time there, every face of the children and individuals I met, remains vivid in my mind.
During this time, I also found the opportunity to reflect and heal. I tucked away the difficult moments—those inevitable in any profession—and focused on savoring every instant. I forgave myself for the decision I made twenty years ago and understood that sometimes life leads us down unexpected paths that ultimately guide us to where we truly need to be.
Today, I can confidently say I have repaid a debt I felt I owed to Galapagos. I feel whole and grateful to God and to life for granting me this second chance. It is proof that dreams have no expiration date and that second chances can mark the beginning of something wonderful, surprising us with the opportunity to return to places that never stopped being our home in our hearts.
Galapagos has taught me that time and distance do not diminish passion or purpose. Instead, they strengthen and transform them into an even greater force for good. A volunteer experience in the Galapagos Islands generates, creates, and transforms opportunities to be, to do, to believe, and to break boundaries—an unlimited journey of self-discovery and a powerful way to defend and protect this marvelous laboratory of humanity.
"Galapagos has taught me that time and distance do not diminish passion or purpose. Instead, they strengthen and transform them into an even greater force for good. "
"Galapagos has taught me that time and distance do not diminish passion or purpose. Instead, they strengthen and transform them into an even greater force for good. "
Nancy Tapia
Nancy Tapia
Nancy Tapia
Nancy Tapia
About Nancy Tapia Paredes
Nancy was a volunteer at the Community Library on the island of Santa Cruz in 2024. She worked together with the ECO-Program team within our Education and Community Outreach Program.
Find out more about our program and volunteering opportunities here:
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