Experience the Ecuadorian Andes While Helping To Make Impactful Projects Happen Ecuador
Description
Be a part of creating something meaningful: helping to create vibrant, prosperous and regenerative communities in the Ecuadorian Andes, so that migration can be a choice, not a necessity.
We're looking for:
- Cultural Exchange Centre Volunteers (2 weeks minimum)
- Volunteer Coordinators (12 weeks minimum)
- NGO Fundraising Specialists (12 weeks minimum)
- Social Enterprise Marketing Specialists (12 weeks minimum)
- Social Enterprise Finance and Admin Specialists (12 weeks minimum)
- Business Development Specialists (12 weeks minimum)
- Building and Maintenance Specialists (12 weeks minimum)
- Permaculture and Gardening Specialists (12 weeks minimum)
In our free volunteering programme, you'll help with cooking, cleaning, and some manual labour at our cultural exchange centre, to support the daily running of our socio-environmental programmes between international interns and indigenous communities. If you are able to stay for 12 weeks, and have special skills in marketing, finance, business development, maintenance, or gardening, we will have you help with growing our social enterprise and maintaining our centre! So if you're looking for the opportunity to immerse yourself in new cultures, contribute to a meaningful cause, and live alongside a community of change-makers, read on!
About us and the project
Hi, my name's Joshua (UK) and I first came backpacking to Ecuador in 2013 and fell in love with the culture, landscapes and people. I returned in 2017 on a mission to create a space to help low-income, rural communities whilst creating a meaningful experience for travellers to experience new cultures and ways of life. In 2021, Karina (my partner from Quito) and I founded our project, just outside Guaranda, in the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes. Our mission is to develop volunteering, tourism and community programmes that preserve local culture and create a meaningful exchange of ideas, worldviews and traditions. Since July, 2021 we've received over 100 volunteers and interns to regenerate local ecosystems, build pride in indigenous culture, provide dignified employment opportunities, offer a wide variety of unique experiences.
The region
The project is on a hillside in the village of Atandahua, just outside of the quaint colonial town of Guaranda in central Ecuador. We're nestled in a valley surrounded by rolling farmland and indigenous communities, with a spectacular view of the majestic Chimborazo Volcano (the point on earth closest to the sun!). Although stunningly beautiful, Bolivar is one of Ecuador’s poorest provinces. There is a high rate social issues such as child malnutrition (48%), teenage pregnancy (26%) and poverty (40%). With few opportunities, illegal migration to the US has become a huge problem; leading to brain-drain, abandoned older generation and the indigenous culture is at risk of being lost.
The team
Aside from myself, Karina and our son, Liam (2 years old), we have a range of local employees who work with us in administration, the kitchen and on construction projects. We also have a wide range of professional mentors who work on our internship programme with skills in agroecology, anthropology, architecture and more! We’re delighted to receive your valued contribution to our mission of creating a more prosperous and meaningful world, while trying to make your stay as warm and welcoming as possible.
Professional skills
Our 2 week minimum programme does not require professional skills, though you must value living in a clean space and feel comfortable helping to cook for a group. Our 12 week minimum associate programme requires you to have some experience or education in one of the following: coordination; fundraising; marketing; finance; administration; business development; construction; maintenance; Permaculture; and gardening.
Details
Organisation:
El Terreno
Location:
Guaranda
Qualifications/Skills:
No qualifications required, just a great attitude and hard work!
Dates of program:
Year round
Duration of program:
2 weeks minimum
Age requirement:
Adults of both sexes 18+
Cost:
This programme is free, which covers the costs of meals, accommodation, utilities and volunteer coordination.
Other information:
None
Reviews
A wonderful moment in Atandahua."We passed a wonderful moment in Atandahua. This place is very special, but in the good way. Joshua created this place, the life in community is well organised. We met great people here. We passed 3 weeks as volunteers. Our tasks were: help Karina in the kitchen to cook for all the other volunteers/interns, do the dishes, reorganise the shed: storage, building of furniture, make compost, move earth, make adobe. It is very varied and interesting. We were hosted by an Ecuadorian family, who was very welcoming. The place is well situated, not far from the city, but enough to discover the countryside of the Sierra. The Chimborazo is very beautiful, and accessible, and the sunset is incredible. We wish the best to Joshua and his family for the future and the application of their beautiful project."- Eléonore Vibert
Beautiful experience in the Ecuadorian Andes!"As a “digital nomad”, I have worked remotely and traveled around. But I had a desire to try something different and use my professional skills to help a local organization, while also getting the opportunity to immerse myself in a local community. El Terreno was the perfect spot for volunteering my professional skills. I enjoyed the beautiful settings of Ecuador and meeting new people from around the world who came to intern and volunteer. The team at El Terreno was great to work with and made me feel like a valuable member and contributor. They also had amazing WiFi that I was able to use to work on projects for my remote job during my free time!"- Angela Mahoney
Patient, fantastic host, and inspiring project!"Joshua was a great host, with an inspiring vision for El Terreno and making a difference in the community. It’s such a unique project that introduced me to so many concepts like permaculture, I’ve come away with a massively widened worldview. As for Josh itself, I was absolutely blown away by his incredible patience- after filming for hours and hours to produce the video, he never lost it at all. If anything, he only became more invested and passionate about the video project, generating tons of ideas and suggestion, and being incredibly cooperative and flexible in the process of giving time to complete it. The area is also very interesting - I was looking to get away from the touristy parts of Ecuador and in the countryside, you are absolutely getting a true taste of Ecuador! From hitchhiking on the camioneta pick up trucks into town to buying food on the side of the road in the village of Guanujo, to shopping in the nearby provincial capital of Guaranda, you can get a piece of all types of life. One thing though - if you come in the winter, beware, as it does get pretty cold! (50F) but other than that, it’s totally worth it!"- Jeffrey Yu
Wonderful Experience at El Terreno Project, Atandahua, Ecuador"Our stay with Joshua and Karina was so far beyond my expectations. They - and their entire community in Atandahua - embraced us and shared their music, dancing, food, stories, adventures, and work. It is a truly special place and Joshua is kind, organized, communicative, and inspiring. The work is fun and very fair, the accommodations are comfortable, the community and the group of volunteers is lovely and easy to build friendships within. I highly recommend this project to anyone looking to experience this region in a real way, and to become immersed in a small, hard-working community with a beautiful vision for the future. I will be thinking about all that I learned here for a long time."- Kenzie W
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