Beach Conservation Project

  Ecuador

• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: all year through

Description: This project allows volunteers to learn more about the Ecuadorian coast and the fishermen livelihood, as well as help to preserve the natural resources of the Ecuador's Pacific Ocean Coast.

Project Description
This project takes place in the fishing communities' environments, in Punta Blanca. It is really important to pay attention at the social aspect there also. We work in activities aimed at the practice and teaching methodologies to achieve sustainable development in an environment of care and conservation of natural resources.

For this program extends in the following branches:
Environment, Research and Conservation.
Education and Recreation.

The volunteer must travel by bus for 8 hours from Quito. This project is located in a beautiful Ecuadorian beach in Don Juan area, which is located in Manabi Province. "Don Juan" community is a small fishermen village; it is located on the Pacific Ocean shores, besides to the river with the same name. It has a population of 400 people. It is surrounded by two forest types: dry forest and rain-forest where live large number of flora and fauna. Most of the year the weather is warm, and on July to November is a bit cooler. The rainy season runs from January to March and is where record the highest temperatures. In Don Juan there is a kindergarten and a school. There are many services like pip water, electricity.

Volunteer Activities
When you start the project once a week there is a meeting to assign the activities of each volunteer and receive your training program. And at the end of the week there is another meeting to analyze and reporting what happened during the week.

Environment, Research and Conservation
In order to compile and update information of vital importance for the development of our projects, the volunteer will support to our technical personnel entrusted to realize these activities, for example:

Marine species inventories
Water temperature measuring and other environment-related Coastal Marine.
Also, you will be working at the beach cleanliness processes, with a technical way, taking important information; the analysis results turn into a tool to identify the marine tailing sources, this helps to identify the solutions and allows us to develop effective strategies of control derived from the pollution. When you finish your work you will have to present a detailed report of your activities.

Education & Recreation
This activity consists of a constant reinforcement in the "change of attitude" the the environmental projects generated in the daily life of the family unit and its members individually. If you like to work in the educational area you can work in workshops giving classes of basic knowledge of English or participating in the general educational process with children that study in the kindergarten or school in "Don Juan".

The volunteers can help with:
*Help children with their homework.
*Assisting teachers with the English and environmental classes
*Organizing excursions so the children can learn about the environment and ecology.
*Organizing games and activities for children aged 3-12
*In addition the volunteer will be in charge of the community cinema that works the weekends and will take part in the puppets workshop conducted by young group of people of the fishermen's association called "Buena Vista de Don Juan".

The Organization has an agreement of cooperation with the Fishing Production Cooperative "Buena Vista de Don Juan", the volunteer will be working at all the activities of this product agreement.

Duration
The minimum time required to work in this project is one month ant the maximum duration is 6 months. It is possible to request a volunteer visa if you want to develop a project that will last more than 6 months. Volunteers will work 8 hours per day, with 8 days off per month. (It is usually a 5 day work week, but it depends on the nature of the project.)
The volunteers will have to work Monday-Friday (8-am 5 p.m.).

Highlights: The holidays will also be your days off. The volunteer may live in peace and tranquility of the natural environment; make campfires on the beach, hiking through the forests around area and nearby communities. Also shared with the fisher families in their free time where you can play soccer, celebrate birthdays, attend parties. You can also visit nearby towns such as Bahía de Caráquez, Canoa Beach and Pedernales. It is also possible to do extreme sports.

Services near the reserve:
The nearest health care facility is in the Jama Village, 20 minutes away from where the project is located. Portoviejo or Manta, about 2 hours away, has excellent hospitals.

Qualifications: You do not need a college education in order to work in the conservation activities. You do need, however, a great interest in the conservation of nature and activities related to human development. A willingness to learn and work a positive attitude. An intermediate level of Spanish is required. If the volunteer is not at this level, Ecuador Volunteer could help him/her to find the best program to improve his/her Spanish skills before starting the project.

We are looking for men and women 18 years or older who are willing to stay at least a month the maximum duration is 6 months.

Cost in US$: 300USD

Accommodation
The cost of the project includes 3 meals daily and the accommodation in the volunteers' house, as well as some excursions, salsa & cuisine classes. The volunteers' house is located 4 km away from Don Juan community, in an area of two hectares in front of the sea. The house has two floors, every room will have to share two people, with capacity for 8 persons maximum, it has electrical service, hot water, and internet and sign to use of cellular-phone. We have camping areas at the beach.

Experience Required: no

Age Range: at least 18

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

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Other

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