Converting Conventional Farms into Ecological Agriculture

  Ecuador

• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and over 2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: The project begins on Mondays each month except for December

Description: The purpose of turning conventional agriculture into organic agriculture with the aim of improving the farmers quality of life and stop the indiscriminate use of agricultural chemicals which are threatening the health of themselves, the consumers and the environment. It takes place in 4 communities in and around the Parish of Perucho.

Project Description
The Project works with peasants promoters who pay daily visits to farmers in the process of the conversion to organic agriculture. They share their experiences and support the implementation of the different practices of the technical equipment of the project such as: Separation of waste at source, composting , ecological control of pests and diseases, weed management, proper use of water resources, soil conservation practices and increasing their fertility, combined crops, wind-breakers, harvesting, post harvest and alternative crops.

It is important to include the women in the communities since the work we promote on their own farms the only alternative of labor to working in flower companies where the women are exposed to intensive use of pesticides that affect their health and the health of their families. The farms are demonstrative and didactic and they produce most of the food we eat. Volunteers from around the world use the English language on all issues related to organic agriculture, to train and teach the farmers and give them some knowledge to the English language. Soon the project will have 22 demonstration farms where volunteers can help implementing and maintaining.

Volunteer Activities
The Project works with local
promoters, who visit the farmers and participants. At each visit volunteers are needed to support the implementation of the different practices of organic agriculture. The current demonstration farms and others farms continually need the support of volunteers to motivate and to help farmers in their daily farming activities.

The volunteers will participate in activities on the farm as:
- Incubators, composting, earthworms, pruning, weeding, planting and transplanting, care, feeding and cleaning small pets such as guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, hens and goats.
- Accompanying the local promoters on their daily visits to farmers in the process of converting to organic agriculture.

The volunteer will receive training in organic agriculture in particular on issues related to the work performed on the demonstration farm or with other local farmers. Volunteers will enter the program on Mondays, where they will also receive the entries to begin their work.

Optional Activities
- On weekends there are excursions to the mountains and rivers nearby.
- Every 15 days there is a cultural weekend with traditional music.
- Every afternoon after work, the volunteers can learn pottery and crafts in the workshop of the project.

Duration
The minimum time of work required in this project is one month. The volunteers will work about 40 hours per week. Operation hours in the draft is 06:00 am - 17:00 p.m. The project begins on Mondays each month except for December, in which no work will be done because of traditional celebrations.

Highlights: Benefits for the volunteer:
- Training on the topics of organic agriculture and sustainable way of life.
- Ability of having a cultural experience with local farmers in their daily lives and in their traditional celebrations.
- Knowing beautiful rural landscapes, mountains, rivers, archeological sites.
- Learning from a sustainable and peaceful life.

Public services near the project:
The project has open phones all day long, and 10 minutes from the Project there is a place with internet. There are two restaurants and a health center with a full-time doctor close to the project and in Quito (1 hour 30 minutes) you'll find big hospitals and clinics.

Free Time:
On weekends volunteers have an option to do some tourist activities near the project so as trekking in mountains, go to rivers, water sources and mineral spa and waterfalls. They can also visit other villages and archaeological sites, but to do this the volunteers will have to pay local guides to take them around.

Other sites of interest are the city of Otavalo with its traditional market which is located 40 km from the project, and then of course Quito, 70 km away, with all its cultural attractions; architectural, historical, culinary and nightlife. There are at least 8 tourist sites identified around the project that can be visited in half a day or a weekend.

Qualifications: It is not necessary to have a higher education or working experience from something related to conservation activities. The most important thing is to have great interest in nature conservation and activities related to human development. A vital thing that the volunteer must have in mind for participation in this project is that all volunteers need to have an intermediate level of Spanish, because without this tool they will be unable to make a significant contribution. Volunteers must be able to engage in conversations and discussions in Spanish.
Arriving in Quito all non-Spanish-speaking volunteers must pass an exam in Spanish before going to the project.

Working in the program does not require any previous experience or college education. It is imperative to have vocation and a strong interest in nature conservation and furthermore you must enjoy working outdoors and living a simple life. The volunteer must have an intermediate level of Spanish and a minimum age of 20 years.

Cost in US$: 300.-/month

Accommodation: At the farm where the project has its headquarter there is a house in which we can accommodate up to 8 persons. The house is located in the village of Perucho. There is a kitchen, dining room and a shared bathroom with hot water. The bedrooms are shared too and you can wash clothes by hand or pay a person in the village to do it for you. In near future we will have about 5 families who would be willing to host 5 volunteers. They are right now receiving training for this. Food is included in the program, the volunteers get three meals a day - mostly vegetarian. Meat will be served only about 2 times per week.

Experience Required: no

Age Range: at least 20

This Program is open to World Wide 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