Volunteer Work in the Amazon Jungle

  Ecuador

• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Puyo

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks and 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: All throughout the year.

Description: Five Puerto Santa Ana is a multiethnic indigenous community with members of the Achuar, Kichwa, Shuar, and Zapara ethnicities, but it is predominantly Kichwa. This community obtains their income from fishing, agriculture, hunting, and horticulture, combined with handicrafts, communitarian tourism, conservation and reforestation.

It is located next to the Pastaza River, approximately 20 km. from the biggest and most important city in the province, Puyo. (one hour and a half away in a bus that comes and goes four times a day) The weather is subtropical with a lot of rain most of the year, except in the month of August when it rains less frequently. The temperature is very enjoyable, although there will be a few very hot days, and it can also be rather humid.
On a clear day, Santa Ana has a view of the snow-capped mountains and volcanoes surrounding the area. The community is very affable and kind with the volunteers. To be able to work in a project like this the main thing the volunteer should possess is initiative. Volunteers should not to wait for the community or somebody else to organize and schedule activities.

* Services Near The Community of Santa Ana
Internet: There is a small town called Palora 30 minutes away by bus from the community with two internet cafes. Puyo, a larger city with lots of internet cafes, is an hour an a half away from the community.
Shell Mera Hospital (Vozandes): It is located about 2 hours from the community.

* Project Opportunities for Volunteers
Some of theses projects are already in progress, and others are ideas for projects that an interested volunteer could start working on with the community.

1. Trash and Recycling: The community has arranged with the municipality of Mera for a truck to come and pick up the recyclables in the community and bring them to Puyo. Volunteers can work with families to encourage more participation in the recycling program, work to start a composting program, to get trash cans for the community, etc.

2. Work with Women: The construction of the women's house is still in the planning stage, and it will serve as a place to have regular meetings with the association Sinchi Warmi and as a location to sell ceramics and native jewelry. The work with the women could be improved with a strategy to sell their handicrafts. Other areas that need improvement are the nutrition and health of the people, as well as better techniques to grow vegetables. Sharing knowledge/techniques in how to obtain and to handle a chacra can also be done.

3. English: The community is also interested in learning English, and the school teachers are prepared to give one or several volunteers some time to teach in the school. There have been some classes already, but the community's knowledge of the English language is far from complete.

4. School: There is also other opportunities to teach members of the community. Volunteers can teach the children of the community games and extracurricular activities which promote the love for learning. Another alternative is to work in the gardens with different types of plants that can be used as tools to educate the kids. In addition, volunteers can work with the childcare center helping to take care of the little kids.

5. Water System / Water Usage: Santa Ana is in the final stages of getting a new potable water system, and it is one of the few indigenous communities that will have this sort of system. To ensure the future of this water system, the community needs to manage the technical and administrative aspects of the water system. Volunteers can work to help the community's water board and operators to administer and operate the water system, and also continue building on the education of the community as a whole.

6. Health and Hygiene Habits: A program to develop good hygiene habits has been started as a part of the potable water project, and volunteers can continue the process with reinforcement and education about personal hygiene. Additionally, the community is interested in creating a pharmacy in the community to acquire common medicines and treatments. If someone is interested in picking up this project, it would be a great help for the health of the community. Finally, work can be done making nutrition, health, and hygiene habits workshops with the community.

7. General Work: Volunteers can help to put doors in the already constructed latrines, improve the information feedback about the community, and give new ideas for the improvement of the coordination of the volunteers and the projects.

8. Other Topics: If the volunteer has knowledge and experience in another topic apart from the ones mentioned above, he or she can plan and execute a project to improve the condition of life in the community using their skills and knowledge.

Highlights: In addition if the volunteer does not speak Spanish,she has the alternative to study Spanish with Equinoctial Spanish school, during two weeks in Quito under the method one to one.

Qualifications: An advanced level of Spanish is required. Without an advanced level of Spanish as a tool to work within the community a volunteer cannot make a significant contribution to the projects because the people in the community only speak Spanish and their indigenous languages. Volunteers must be able to comfortably carry out conversations and discussions in Spanish, and volunteers will have to pass a Spanish Language test upon arrival in Quito before going to the project. If the volunteer is not at this level, Ecuador Volunteer could help him/her to find the best program to improve his abilities in Spanish before starting the project.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: up 360 USD

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: An adventurous person, with desire to work and love of nature.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Ecuador Volunteer Foundation's Mission Statement: We are Ecuador Volunteer, an international nonprofit organization founded in 1999 committed to the provision of volunteering opportunities in social, educational and community development in Ecuador. Voluntary work opportunities based around Quito and main programs offer experiences of cultural exchanges, work and help with local people. We arrange voluntary placements in the environmental or community area. The environmental involves working in nature on a wide variety of projects, the community works are about helping street children, elderly people and educating people. We dedicate ourselves to alternative solutions to these problems, to make a difference and create a better world in Ecuador.

Year Founded: 1999