Sustainable Environmental Programs in Ecuador

  Ecuador

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

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: The Jatun Sacha Foundation offers volunteer opportunities in eight biological stations and reserves ( Tsurakú, Jatun Sacha, Guandera, La Hesperia, Bilsa, Congal, Lalo Loor and San Cristóbal) around Ecuador to offer volunteers field experience in a variety of areas: reforestation, environmental education, community service and development, plant conservation, agroforestry, organic agriculture, sustainable aquaculture, field data collection, and scientific research.

Volunteers have the possibility to chose from a wide variety of activities and fulfill others that are required, carrying out their work under the supervision of residential staff, researchers, environmental education instructors, and the administrative personnel of each reserve.

We look for people interested in contributing to the conservation of the environment. Last year over 1000 national and international volunteers contributed to the conservation work carried out in the biological stations.

Highlights: This program will not only let you travel to a new country, visit wonderful places and live with people from different cultures, but it will also develop new skills, gain field experience and participate in activities aimed to preserve the forests and improve the quality of life of families living near or in the forested areas where our reserves are situated.

Join the Jatun Sacha Foundation in its efforts to protect the tropical, aquatic and high land ecosystems of Ecuador.

Qualifications: Financing

- Volunteers must pay their own expenses, including airfare to Ecuador and living costs while in the country.

Costs for Volunteering

- Volunteers have to pay an application fee and the program fee according to the number of weeks they will stay at certain reserve. The program fee includes accommodation at the reserve, three meals a day, the coordination, organization and total support during the volunteer program. During the orientation meeting in Quito you will receive the following things: a Jatun Sacha T-shirt, a hat, a folder, a pen, a booklet with information about the Jatun Sacha Foundation, a map of Quito and the volunteers manual for the station you are going to volunteer at.

The payment has to be done before going to the reserve at the office in Quito during an orientation meeting.

Health Insurance

- Volunteers must have their own international health insurance and need to sign a waiver to release Jatun Sacha from responsibility from any illness or injury incurred in Ecuador.

Duration of Volunteer Work

- The minimum time limit for volunteers /internships is 14 days (just for the Jatun Sacha reserve the minimum time is one month). Volunteers will need a visa if staying in Ecuador more than 90 days).

Work Schedules

- Volunteers are expected to work 8 hours a day, 22 days per month, therefore having 8 vacation days per month to be used upon approval of the project coordinator.

Educational Requirements

- University study is not a prerequisite to be accepted into the Program. Prospective volunteers should have interest in conservation and related human issues.   
- There exists a small risk of malaria at our biological stations located in the Manabí and Esmeraldas provinces on the Ecuadorian coast (specifically at the following reserves: Lalo Loor, Bilsa, and Congal). Therefore volunteers must supply their own malaria prophylaxis while volunteering at either of these four sites.
- While at the reserves, volunteers need approximately $20 USD per week for additional costs (beverages, community visits, postcards, etc). However, please take along small bills to the reserves ($5 USD denominations or less).

Entrance days for the reserves:
* Bilsa: Wednesdays and Sundays.
* Guandera: Every day.
* Jatun Sacha: Every day.
* Congal: From Monday to Thursday.
* Lalo Loor: From Monday to Thursday.
* La Hesperia: From Monday to Thursday.
* San Cristobal: Mondays and Wednesdays.
* Tsuraku: From Monday to Thursday.

Please inquire with the Jatun Sacha's Volunteer Coordinator to organize arrival dates to Ecuador and entrance days to reserves before booking air tickets.

What to bring?

- Rubber boots, rainponcho or raincoat, working gloves or garden gloves, another pair of good walking shoes, work clothes (long sleeve shirts light colors- and pants, easy to dry), swim suit, mosquito bed net, face net, flip flops or rubber sandals, loads of socks and T-shirts, sleeping bag), insect repellent, sun protection, water bottle, small pocket knife, sunglasses, plastic (ziplock) bags for dry storage, flashlight, binoculars and a personal first aid kit.

Volunteers at Jatun Sacha's reserves are representatives of the Jatun Sacha Foundation and are expected to act in ways that enhance the Station's relations with local people and outside visitors. Alcohol and drugs are prohibited at all biological stations.

Volunteer fee:
It varies depending on the number of weeks and the biological station. The fee can go from US 240 on. The program fee includes accommodation at the reserve, three meals a day, the coordination, organization and total support during the volunteer program.

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Written Application

Jatun Sacha Foundation's Mission Statement: Promote the conservation of Ecuador's biodiversity, through technical training, scientific research, environmental education programs at national and international level, community development, sustainable management of natural resources and the training of leaders with greater ethnic and gender participation to improve the quality of life of the communities.

Year Founded: 1985