Volunteer in (Amazonian) Ecuador!

The Global Volunteer Network currently has volunteer opportunities through our partner organization in Ecuador. Our partner was establishment in July 1989, by the government of Ecuador. It is private, non-profit Ecuadorian foundation. Besides protecting ecologically important forest habitats, the foundation's biological stations are nationally and internationally recognized as leaders in the development of innovative and concrete programs in community agroforestry, and environmental education.

Volunteer interns can participate in research, education, community service, station maintenance, plant conservation and agroforestry activities carried out by the Jatun Sacha, Bilsa, and Guandera biological stations. The volunteer program is intended to provide practical experience for people interested in contributing to our partners conservation activities and projects. Volunteers work on a variety of projects under the supervision of the resident researchers, environmental education instructors and administrative staff of each reserve.

What activities are volunteers involved in?

All volunteers located at field stations will participate in maintenance and development of the infrastructure of these stations. Volunteers are not tourists and are expected to work full days like all other employees of the station. Interns should be able to undertake strenuous and sometimes tedious labor in a hot tropical climate under primitive living conditions.

You can be involved in:

Research: it is possible to carry out this activity at the Bilsa and Guandera Forest reserves. Volunteers are encouraged to develop a personal project and they will have time to work on it.

Education: at Guandera, we have an environmental education program and also English classes for the schools of the area. For the environmental education, the volunteer needs to be fluent in Spanish. For the english classes we prefer long term volunteers.

Station maintenance: general maintenance work and light construction. Cleaning trails, and sometimes work in the kitchen.

Plant conservation: at all our reserves we have centers for conservation of plants of the different areas. Activities include collection, identification and treatment of seeds, care of tree nurseries (weeding and watering), reforestation itself.

Jatun Sacha

The Center for Conservation of Amazonian Plants: Reforestation, experimental silviculture of tropical trees, development and maintenance of Jatun Sacha's botanical garden and plant conservation center, and seed collecting.

Various activities associated with the development of a reserve project, including maintenance and infrastructure expansion.

Environmental Education Program: Interns develop and instruct activities and classes on conservation, biology, and human issues for local school children and adults. The program is taught both in local schools and at Jatun Sacha. Note: general fluency in Spanish and a three month minimum commitment is required to participate in the environmental education program.

Guandera

Various activities associated with the development of a new reserve project such as, biological inventories and research assistance.

The Center for the Conservation of Andean Plants. Experimental silviculture of Andean trees, seed and data collection, and reforestation.

Environmental Education. Development and instruction of environmental activities for local school children and adults. Note: a good working use of Spanish is required to teach activities.

Teaching English in local Schools. We require long term volunteers or interns to teach English to children and adults in the area.

Bilsa

Various activities associated with the development of a new reserve project, such as assisting researchers and maintaining infrastructure. Note: rigorous conditions exist during the wet season from January to June.

Center for the Conservation of Ecuador's Western Coastal Forest Plants: Experimental silviculture of tropical trees, seed and data collection, and reforestation.

Environmental Education Program: same as Jatun Sacha (see above).

Program Schedule

The minimum commitment for volunteer internships is one month. The maximum time limit for any of the reserves is six months (exceptions can be made in special cases). A special visa is required to remain in Ecuador for more than 90 days.

Volunteers are expected to work 22 days per month. Eight vacation days per month can be used upon approval by project coordinator. Volunteers are expected to work an average of 6 to 8 hours per day, depending on the activities they carry out.

To see a Map of Ecuador .

Program Cost

The cost of the program are as follows:

Global Volunteer Network - Application Fee: US $250.00 Dollars. (This fee is paid to us before you leave for Ecuador).

Ecuador Program Fee: US $30.00 Dollars.

The program fee covers administrative charge, communication expenses, and organizing your placement. (This fee is paid directly to our partner organization).

Following are the volunteer rates for each reserve that include 3 meals a day plus lodging in cabins which are shared with other volunteers and researchers. Volunteer fees must be paid in advance and are nonrefundable.

Jatun Sacha
Foreigners US$ 300/month, US$ 75/week after one-month minimum
Ecuadorians US$80/month, US$20/week after one-month minimum

Bilsa
Foreigners US$ 300/month, US$ 75/week
Ecuadorians US$100/month, US$ 25/week

Guandera
Foreigners US$ 300/month, US$75/week
Ecuadorians US$90/month, US$23/week

The other costs you will need to meet are:

Your flights, visa, shots, health insurance and corresponding airport departure taxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have put together the following page, which answers the majority of questions people have.
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Application Process

All, applicants will be notified by email as to whether their application has been successful.

(1) Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form, which is below. Upon receipt of the form we will contact our volunteer partner in Ecuador to assess the availability of the program you have chosen.

(2) Contact You: If you are successful we will then email you a letter of acceptance.

(3) Decision Point: Once you have read through the letter of acceptance, and we have answered any questions or concerns that you might have, it is time to pay your application fee to secure your place on the program. You will need to fill out our application fee to secure your place on the program.

(4) Payment of Application Fee US $250.00 Dollars: Your application fee secures your place on the program. Please note that we will refund your application fee in full if you decide not to go.

(5) Confirmation: Once the application fee is paid, our volunteer partner will contact you to ensure everything is organized. We will also send you our information pack on Ecuador which, as well as having detailed country information, it provides advice on preparation before you leave.

(6) Communication & Support: Through out volunteer placement, we communicate with you as needed to help you through any problems that may arise.

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