Work on Urcu Puyujunda Organic Farm

  Ecuador

• Quito: 
Quito
• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Ambato,  Nanegalito,  Intag,  Mindo,  Nanegal

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks

Description: Eco-Volunteer UP has a range of a volunteer programmes located in Ecuador - South America. It provides volunteer work placements in Quito, the capital of Ecuador and disappearing Cloud Forest. Eco-Volunteer UP has voluntary work with orphanages, disabled children Institutes, day care centers and is also involved in conservation of "mother-earth" (pacha-mama) and saving the planet one step at a time. The earth has been slowly contaminated and endangered for hundreds of years by the humans inhabitation, and for that reason we wish to give people an incentive to conserve the forest so that our children will have a place to play and breathe in safety.

Work on Urcu Puyujunda Organic Farm
Rising health problems and the idea of sustainable development makes organic farming a popular agricultural practice in Ecuador. Work on the Urcu Puyujunda Organic farm in Ecuador offers volunteers opportunities to live and work on an organic farm located in a beautiful village in Ecuador. Volunteers support an ongoing organic farming programme aimed at developing socially and ecologically sound organic farming practices. They also learn more about areas of organic farming, reforestation, and environmental issues in Ecuador.

About Ecuador

The smallest country in the jagged Andean highlands, Ecuador is among the most amazing travel destinations in South America. With its array of effervescent indigenous cultures, well preserved colonial architecture, striking volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest, Ecuador offers a perfect destination for students, explorers, and volunteers. The Galapagos Islands are lauded as one of the world's greatest natural history treasures, their unique diversity of plant and animal life providing a living textbook for ecologists and ogles alike.

The flora of Ecuador counts between 20,000 and 25,000 vascular plants (plants with flowers, ferns and coniferous) - 10% of the world's total amount. There are many orchids, about 2,700 species - 11% of the world's total amount. The fauna is also huge, 706 species of fish, more than 400 species of amphibians - occupying the 4th place in the world; 400 species of reptiles - 4% of the world's total amount; 320 species of mammals - 8% of the world's total amount; more than 1,550 species of birds - 8% of the world's total amount.

In Ecuador, our volunteer projects are located in the cultural city of Quito and Urcu Puyujunda Cloud Forest Eco-Lodge, a beautiful mountain range of the Choco Andean. If you are planning to explore the real cultural and natural beauty of Ecuador, why not start your adventure by joining one of our voluntary positions, Spanish courses, village hiking expeditions, or sightseeing of some of the cultural wonders of Ecuador. Eco-Volunteer UP offers you unique opportunities to explore the great land of Ecuador while working for children and people in teaching, orphanage projects, health, forest placements with its flora, fauna and other community development projects.

Highlights: The volunteer programme in the Cloud Forest is located in Urcu Puyujunda Eco-Lodge, 3km from Las Tolas village and close to Mindo, with 350 species of birds. Urcu Puyujunda Cloud Forest Eco-Lodge area also offers the worlds richest bird bio-diversity, unexplored wilderness, natural and archaeological remains, and vibrant landscapes with 80% native forest and 20% organic farmland for the milking of the cows. It is a small place with 200 inhabitants; they came from other towns to this area for better conditions of life. The community was dedicated to cultivating sugar cane, raising cattle, to craft and to exploitation of woods. People of the town are very friendly and helpful. They have a little school, a communal meeting and a church; most of the community is Catholic.

The Yumbos culture lived in the northwestern from 13th to 16th centuries. One of the archaeological remnants of this culture are the "Yumbos" pool (located in Tulipe town at 9km of Urcu Puyujunda Cloud Forest Eco-Lodge).

Some people worry about exploitation of the woods and the waste contamination in the forest of Ecuador, especially in the Cloud Forest and this problem has many ecological disasters. Other people think that they cannot do anything about it or the problems are so big that they are out of their hands, therefore, we need people to worry in order to save the Cloud Forest and to teach English to the children community of Las Tolas town. Volunteers or Scientists are very welcome.

Program Fee in Cloud Forest
Included: Registration fee, orientation and supporting during the volunteering, transfer from Quito to the Eco-Lodge or host family in Las Tolas town, three meals per day, lodging in the Eco-Lodge or host family.

Salary / Pay: The volunteers of the project can benefit from the experience of and learn about a different ecosystem and culture (local life) They can improve their Spanish language and also play traditional sport with the community, two days of the week you can camp, hike, fish and explore the Cloud Forest and play. The volunteers will receive a certificate at the end of the programme. Overall it's a great experience.

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants.

Eco-Volunteer Urcu Puyujunda's Mission Statement: Urcu Puyujunda is an organization designed to help people and disappearing Cloud Forest near Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Our main objective is to help the children, who are the future of the country, especially those with the fewest economic resources. Urcu Puyujunda is also involved in conservation of 'mother-earth' (pacha-mama), and is working to save the planet one step at a time. There are many orphanages, special Institute for disabled children, they need help, so the volunteers who are interested in these projects are very welcome.

Year Founded: 1999