International Student Volunteers in Ecuador

  Ecuador

• Galapagos Islands: 
Galapagos Islands
• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Programs run between May 18 and September 20, 2007

Description: The Standard ISV Ecuador Program is four weeks in length and consists of a two-week Volunteer Work Project and a two-week Adventure Tour within Ecuador.

Participants traveling to Ecuador may also choose a Customized ISV Program and select an additional Volunteer Work Project within Ecuador, extending their Program to a total of six weeks.

Spanish lessons: ISV is pleased to provide participants with a wonderful opportunity to extend and enhance their experience in Ecuador with Spanish language and Latin dance lessons while living with a local host family prior to the beginning of their ISV program.

Conservation or Community Development Volunteer Work Projects

Each project is two weeks in length and is run in collaboration with well-established local organizations (government and private). Each work project team will be supervised and directed by professional staff from the host organization. The size of the work team will consist of 10-15 student volunteers, depending on the project.

No prior experience in environmentally related fields of study is required in order to participate. Accommodations vary with projects, ranging from national park huts, dormitory style accommodations to home-stays with local families. Meals (3 per day) will be provided during the work project and will reflect the local cuisine.

**Conservation and Sustainable Community Projects: Galapagos, San Cristobal Island Project: The Biological Station-Private Reserve was established on the island of San Cristobal of the Galapagos archipelago, on April 15, 2003. The reserve site is located in the highlands of the island, on a 200 hectare site, where there is still native vegetation.

Among the primary objectives of this new station is to develop the methodology to reconstruct native habitat in the highlands on San Cristobal and to serve as a center for similar projects in the highlands of other populated islands in the Galapagos chain. The remaining native highland forests on the populated islands is quite limited due to farming activities in general, and the introduction of useful, but very invasive species from the mainland such as tropical Cedar and Cinchona.

Volunteers will work in such tasks as:
- Planting a 16 hectare corridor of trees and shrubs
- Reforestation in El Junco and with the National Parks Service
- Research within the biological station
- Teaching English to people from surrounding communities
- Informing and educating visiting school groups

In addition Station staff will lead volunteers on various destination hikes throughout the reserve and nearby locations such as the Interpretative Station Giant Tortoise breeding program and explain the biological importance of preserving Galapagos ecosystems.

**Alto Choco Reserve : The reserve is located in the Intag Zone of the Imbabura Province in Northern Ecuador, which is part of one of the ten Biologically Most Important Zones (Hotspots) In The World, according to the WorldWildlife Fund and the World Bank. Projects at the reserve include:
- Monitoring of the Andean spectacled bear
- Creation of a 100,000 plant nursery.
- Environmental education programs that place local youth in reserves as guides
- Teaching basic conservation principles to elementary school children and communities.

**Jatun Sacha Biological Station : The Jatun Sacha biological station was established in Amazonian Ecuador in 1985 and is dedicated to the conservation, investigation, and management of ecologically important habitats, as well as environmental education and community development. The principal goals of the organization are the conservation of biological and cultural diversity, environmental education and sustainable development of native products to improve the lives of people and influence their choice of activities in this important Ecosystem. Projects include:

- Reforestation initiatives involving local farmers, communities, and local city governments
- Construction of rural schools with internet connections available to school children
- Development of sustainable agriculture projects with indigenous people of the Amazon
- Development of a cultural craft center as and alternative to logging of the Rainforest

**Rio Muchacho Organic Farm: Rio Muchacho Organic farm has worked since 1992 to create sustainable land use methods. It is the first farm on the Ecuadorian Coast to have been certified as an organic farm, producing food without the use of chemicals since 1992. It demonstrates models of: permaculture, organic farming, reforestation, environmental education and alternative energy, and it promotes seed saving, food security and heritage crops. The Farm has become an education centre dedicated to teaching these principles to local teachers, farmers and students as well as foreign students, volunteers and tourists.

The extent of the work is not limited to the farm, it is echoed in the community environmental school and in a series of programs in nearby Bahia ecocity.

The community environmental school has been supported and coordinated by the farm for 12 years. Children receive a more creative practical education and are taught about sustainable land use, better nutrition and human values.

The farm has been instrumental in the creation of the ecocity and for the last 10 years has coordinated a paper recycling initiative, the ecoschools program, involving 12 schools and has been an important force in the citywide organics recycling program and other ecocity matters.

Highlights: Participants will travel throughout Ecuador. The five Included Activities (included in the Program Cost) will be determined by ISV, and will be included in the ISV Participant Travel Manual sent to participants 30 days prior to their departure date. The adventure will include such optional activities as:

* 'Puenting'
* Rock climbing in the Andes
* Waterfall rappelling
* Whale watching and snorkeling in Isla de la Plata
* Horseback riding through the cloud forest

Cost in US$: Please visit our website.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad

International Student Volunteers's Mission Statement: To create an environment that combines conservation, education and recreation into the ultimate adventure travel program for students who desire to make a difference by volunteering in local communities abroad.

Year Founded: 1981