volunteer ecuador

Take a look at the places you should visit while in Ecuador!

2009-10-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

You should get to see all these places in Ecuador.
They're great!!! Congrats to the photographers.
And to see more pics, visit Flickr.

Day 3 in Buenos Aires. Vibe's Experience with Bueno Entonces

2009-10-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

I’ve had an AHA moment today. My teacher is very cute. His name is Martin and he’s 're-argentino'. That means REALLY Argentino in Argentino. He spent a year in Ireland teaching Spanish last year and he missed Buenos Aires a lot.. We talk a lot about Argentina and about the culture, about the crazy chaos of it all, the subversive attitude of the Argentines towards politics, finance, all that jazz. The Bulgarian likes to talk a lot about the Argentine girls, I don’t blame him. They mainly have very very long hair and are very pretty.

Martin says Bien, Entonces.. a lot. Or Muy Bien, entonces... I ask him why doesn’t he say Bueno, entonces (like the name of the course of course) and he explains that “Bueno,” often is something you say when you’ve had a enough of talking, or have had enough of talking about a particular subject. He explains that when somebody starts going, bueno bueno bueno on the phone, basically they are telling you that the conversation is over and they’ve had enough.

Read more about Vibe's experience in Buenos Aires, visiting beadventuresinba.blogspot.

Ecuador’s Authentic Hotels and Haciendas from North to South

2009-10-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Ecuador is beginning to attract more tourists to regions besides the Amazon, Quito (capital city), and the Galapagos Islands. Travelers are discovering the Andes highlands, Avenue of Volcanoes, coastal areas and southern Ecuador. Many travelers enjoy authentic experiences while staying in historic haciendas and hotels which offer organic foods, cultural inclusion, sustainable ecotourism, volunteer possibilities, and adventures

During my trip, I met gracious and enthusiastic proprietors who were eager to share stories, legends, history, and anecdotes about their hotel or hacienda. As an owner of Kaony Lodge put it, “I love what I do.” I sensed that his remarks were not an exception.

Haciendas are generationally-owned. Its descendants take great pride in keeping their family’s traditions alive. It is their life’s passion to preserve the properties. Their personalities, as well as the staff members, added life and learning to each stay.

Other owners found properties they loved and spent years restoring them. For example, Samari Spa Resort used to be a monastery, and Hotel Café Cultura was once the French Embassy. Each is unique and melded with its community.

Hungarian born, László Károlyl (owner of Hotel Café Cultura) recognized the uniqueness of these authentic accommodations. He chose thirteen from Quito (north) to Vilacabamba (south) and developed criteria for the group, “Exclusive Hotels & Haciendas.” “Exclusive” does not imply elitism in this case at all. Rather, it refers to this group of haciendas and hotels that represent various regions of Ecuador.

Each property is involved with the local community, uses local products, and is representative of Ecuador’s culture. They practice sustainable tourism and ecological practices leading to the “Smart Voyager” Certification.

Established in 2000 by the Ecuadorian NGO Conservation y Desarrollo, along with the Rainforest Alliance, this “Smart Voyager” Certification implements “best practices” in the tourism industry.

Its strict requirements for owners include contributing directly to the local economy and environment, reduction in the ecological impacts of tourism, while providing travelers with the opportunity to help local people and protect wildlife.

László’s “Exclusive Hotels and Haciendas” requirements--along with work towards the “Smart Voyager” certification—serves to assure travelers of a comfortable yet authentic experience which is beneficial to the environment, local people, and wildlife.

Search for more info on accommodation on Transitions Abroad Ecuador.

The General Linguistics Method for Teaching Foreign Languages

2009-10-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

Created by linguists, teachers and students from a half-dozen countries, General Linguistics developed Bueno, entonces… to incorporate all the best elements of the software and audiobook language learning methods like Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone that have been around for decades.

We mixed the comprehensive learning material of the audiobook courses with the addictive, fun and universally beloved format of a television show to create the Bueno, entonces… series. Each of the 30classes is 30-40 minutes long, proven as the perfect length for a language course - long enough to cover vocabulary and grammar topics but short enough to keep you interested the whole time. The challenging fast pace and edgy, entertaining style of Bueno, entonces… will keep you coming back for more.

Learning Spanish doesn’t have to be boring and monotonous. Bueno, entonces… infuses a witty, engaging storyline into the learning process - and by following along you absorb more Spanish, morequickly than you ever thought possible. By the end of the 5-week, 30-class series, you
will be speaking and understanding native conversational Spanish!

Bueno, entonces… incorporates the following 5 principles to make learning Spanish fun, painless and effective:

1. Make The Classes Interesting & Engaging With Wit and Charm.

If you are not engaged, you are not going to learn or remember anything. Learning doesn’t have to be boring — remember your favorite teachers? Well, wait until you meet David & Jimena…

2. See The Words On The Screen.

Some people are audio learners, some people are video learners - most people are both, and learn different things in one way or the other. With Bueno, entonces… every word in Spanish is written on the screen so you can see how it is spelled while you hear it being pronounced. Old-fashioned audiobooks only get your half-way there.

3. Color-Coding.

Everything on the screen is color-coded in Spanish and English to help you understand word usage and sentence structure. You’ll start to quickly see and understand which words in Spanish correspond with similar words in English, and how those words are used in a sentence.

Read about this new and quick method of learning Spanish on buenoentonces.com/blog.

Community Tourism in Ecuador

2009-10-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

Development Model Is Transforming Villages

On a frigid Andean night last summer I broke bread with a Quichua community in Chilcapamba, Ecuador. We traded jokes and uncertain glances, working to get to know one another. I was there as a paying guest to experience a development model that is transforming villages throughout Ecuador: community tourism.

Travelers, local communities, and international organizations are calling for more community tourism opportunities, but few people fully consider the paradox this presents. Welcoming visitors is necessarily welcoming change. The market is thriving, but by definition it must restrain itself. A sense of being a minority in a new, not wholly understood, place is central to community tourism’s increasing appeal.

In Ecuador there are opportunities to live in indigenous Amazonian villages, go downriver in a dugout canoe, or stare up at the Southern Cross from Andean communities still unblemished by light pollution. Many visitors are not at all interested in questions about ownership and profit. Yet for communities these questions may matter most.

The fee for tourists there is $20 a night. The families receive $8 and must provide dinner and breakfast. Promotion and office space seem like they shouldn’t require much, but some communities have learned of their importance the hard way. A village I visited in the Amazon, Capirona, was an early entrepreneur in community tourism. They simply built cabanas and advertised locally, then had no visitors for the first three years. They needed connections to the outside world.

The families’ pay compares favorably with the wages of local flower industry workers, which are typically $5 to $7 for 12 hours of ceaseless labor. The long-standing disparity between rich and poor throughout Latin America makes $8 a day look like a comparatively decent wage.

Learn more about it, on Transitions Abroad Ecuador.

Where is my Embassy?

2009-10-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

The embassies and consulates listed below will be able to provide detailed information about Ecuador:

Embassy of Ecuador in Canada, 50 O'Connor St., Ottawa, Suite 1311, ON K1P 6L2, Canada; Tel: (613) 563-8206; Fax: 613-235-5776.

Embassy of Ecuador to the United Kingdom, 3 Hans Crescent, London , SW1X 0LS, U.K.; Tel: 020 7584 8084.

Embassies in Ecuador:

United States Embassy in Ecuador, www.usembassy.org.ec. Patria and 12 de Octubre Avenues, Quito, Ecuador; Tel: (593) 2-256-2890; Fax: (593) 2-250-2052.

Canadian Embassy in Ecuador, www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/ecuador/menu-en.asp. Av. 6 de Diciembre 2816 y Paul Rivet, Edificio Josueth González, 4th Floor, P.O. Box 17-11-6512, Quito - Ecuador; Tel: (011 593 2) 2232-114 and 2506-162; Fax: (011 593 2) 2503-108; quito@dfait-maeci.gc.ca.

British Embassy in Ecuador, www.britishembassy.gov.uk. Citiplaza Building, Naciones Unidas Ave. and Republica de El Salvador, 14th Floor, PO Box 17-17-830, Quito; Tel: (593) (2) 2970 800 / 801.

See where your embassy is at Transitions Abroad Ecuador.

EMPLOYMENT IN ECUADOR

2009-10-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

Ecuador has seen as explosion in ‘voluntourism’ in recent years, and there is a huge choice of organizations, both in and out of the country, that can set you up with voluntary work. The most popular options are working with children (generally teaching English at a school or helping out at an orphanage) or ecology-based projects such as reforestation, research or bear-tracking. Some offer free accommodation and food in return for your labour, while others charge a small fee (up to $15 per day). If you’re planning to stay for a while (generally a month or longer) the price goes down.

If you are in Quito, go along to the South American Explorers Club, which can give you up-to-date information on organizations that offer volunteer work.

There are also numerous possibilities for working in Ecuador, although this is more difficult to arrange from home. Your best bet is to turn up and see what you can find.

There are vacancies year round for English teachers in Quito (less so in other cities) and most of the teachers had no problems finding a job. The best way is to print off a few copies of your resume/CV and visit a few language schools in person. Chances are you’ll get hired on the spot. Pay ranges from $3 to $7.50 per hour. Schools that teach business English pay the best, but tend to require certification such as CELTA or International TESOL. Some bilingual high schools require native English speakers (with the relevant experience and qualifications) to teach English as well as other subjects. They generally hire in September and the pay is probably the best you will find as a foreign teacher in Ecuador.

Your second best bet is to get a job in the tourism industry, such as travel agency or hotel work. Pay isn’t as good as the top-end English schools but employment often includes accommodation and food so you can live fairly cheaply. For these jobs you need a good level of Spanish.

If you have computer or web skills, it may be worth checking out the notice boards in the Mariscal as there are often vacancies for jobs designing websites or web-support. Again, your chances will be far better if you have a good level of Spanish and English.

More tips on employment, visit Allo' Expat Ecuador.

Cover Expenses, Gain Career Experience in an Internship Abroad

2009-10-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

By William Nolting

Why do you want an international internship—to live and work abroad, or to gain specific career-related work experience? If the former, many other work abroad opportunities may be easier to get or less expensive. These include short-term paid work abroad programs, teaching English abroad, or volunteering abroad.

Where. Many internships related to international careers, especially ones with international organizations, are actually located here in the U.S.—especially in centers of international activity such as Washington DC or New York. But it is often possible to combine an international internship with an overseas location.

How. Tuition-based study abroad internships sponsored by universities provide credit towards your degree. Financial aid can usually be used to help meet expenses. Tuition costs range widely. Unpaid, non-academic internships account for the majority of internships, both in the U.S. and abroad. If living costs are high, these may be as expensive as tuition-charging internships but without the benefits of credit and financial aid. The main benefit of such internships will be professionally-related experience and better prospects for career positions.

Finish reading at Transitions Abroad

Review: Learning Spanish in a Buenos Aires way

2009-10-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

I was recently contacted by the folks at Miniature Studios about their new Spanish language learning product Bueno, entonces.

[Disclaimer: Miniature Studios did provide me with free access to the product in exchange for this review, but otherwise there was no payment for this review and there are no affiliate links in this post.]

Ever since my days implementing digital technologies in higher education I’ve been very interested in multimedia-based approaches to learning. There are different learning styles and some people learn better in ways that are different from others. Of course, language learning always requires a high degree of personal interaction to achieve any level of proficiency. But language tapes and computer-based approaches serve as useful starting points.

Bueno, entonces is a series of animated videos that replicate a one-on-one Spanish class.Unlike most learning Spanish resources online, Bueno, entonces is designed specifically for the person who wants to live in Buenos Aires, or at least have an extended visit to Buenos Aires and have a good time.

And the good time aspect is an intentional part of this approach in learning Spanish. Not only does Bueno, entonces adopt the local pronunciation and use of vos rather than tu, there’s a bit of Argentine slang that is covered in a humorous way.

Read full review at buenoentonces.com/blog.

Quito documentary

2009-10-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

Check out this video, beware! it's in Spanish

Spend a Month in the Alto Choco Cloud Forest

2009-10-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

When I arrived for a month of volunteer work on the Alto Choco cloud forest reserve in Imbabura Province in Northern Ecuador, the volunteer coordinator asked me what I would like to work on. Environmental education, I suggested. "Great, you can be the head of it," she responded.

So after activities and working with other volunteers to get the materials ready, I delivered an invitation in my clumsy Spanish to the teacher at the school in the town of Santa Rosa, just down the road from the gates of the reserve. The program I had designed involved tree-planting, a scavenger hunt, an art project, games, and a snack. Since the reserve is involved with programs to help endangered Andean spectacled bears, the scavenger hunt put the kids on a quest for food, shelter, water, and hiding places that bears might need to survive. The snack was a mix of food the bears liked to eat, and the art project included coloring in cut-outs of bears.

The Alto Choco reserve is located in the Choco bioregion, which the World Wildlife Fund and the World Bank calls one of the ten most important biological hotspots in the world. The forest and the species that live there are threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture, livestock farming, and logging. Currently, projects at the reserve involve preserving rare species through the development of a botanical garden, the extension of programs designed to protect Andean bears, and managing the reserve in cooperation with local communities.

I had chosen Alto Choco from among various options for working in Ecuadorian cloud forests because it was the cheapest program. Volunteers have been coming to this threatened patch of cloud forest—which is like a rainforest, only at higher elevation—for only a few years. Because it's still a start-up operation, there is some disorganization and lack of equipment, but its relatively new status allows for a lot of flexibility. Volunteers can even create their own projects, possibly setting up programs that will continue long after they are gone.

By Kate Gustafson

To keep reading this article go to Transitions Abroad

Things Seen at the Market

2009-10-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

Just about any public place in Ecuador is a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, smells and experiences. Loja’s central market, where we buy most of our fruits, vegetables and coffee, is one public place with it’s share of activity. There is so much happening that it is too much to take in all at once, but here are a few things I noticed during a recent shopping trip:

Women huddled together on the sidewalk outside of the market selling socks from baskets, their children playing nearby.

An old, skinny man standing at the entrance to the market holding up a large, bright red towel, and yelling, "Towels for sale, get your towel here!"

An even older, skinnier man selling little foam alphabet puzzles. His cry was, "Puzzles, puzzles, buy yourself a puzzle today!"

A seemingly endless number of stalls within the market, all of them overflowing with a colorful jumble of goods. The market has two floors. Downstairs are the produce, meat, cheese, flowers and household goods sections. Upstairs you’ll find coffee, dried goods, sweets, clothes, barber shops, fresh juice bars, and a few restaurants.

A young guy selling little frog toys that paddle their legs when you wind them up. He has a small tub of water next to him which he uses to demonstrate how the frogs work.

Finish reading the article at Living in Loja

Childcare Volunteering Program in Ecuador

2009-10-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

The volunteers taking part in this project will be working with children of between 4 and 6 years of age to teach basic literacy and education. The classes are informal, focusing on fun and interaction aimed at helping them learn a range of different activities. Having never attended school, these children will require help to master essential classroom basics like holding pencils, their initial numbers, drawing lines and their ABCs. Although often challenging, working with young children is a rewarding experience and every day is full of laughter and fun. This project is run in a school with older children and volunteers may occasionally be needed to assist in classes with students of an older age group. Living with a local family in the beautiful market town of Otavalo, volunteering on this project gives you the opportunity to learn Spanish and immerse yourself in Andean indigenous culture.

For more info go to Transitions Abroad

Ecuador's map

2009-10-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

More maps at Media News

take a look at this Bueno Entonces video. Fun and dynamic Spanish classes

2009-10-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

HOUSING IN ECUADOR

2009-10-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

Expat areas

Most popular areas are Guayaquil and Quito.

Housing

Houses and apartments, generally unfurnished, are available for rental and expatriates will have no difficulty in finding suitable accommodation with car parking facilities (garage or carport).

Cost of housing

If you decide to rent a house by the Northern districts of larger cities such as Guayaquil, or Quito; these, are quite expensive areas and the cost ranges between US$ 700 and US$ 2500 per month (always depending on the property). The local currency is US Dollar (US$).

More info at Allo' Expat.

Ecuador's top-notch medical and dental care

2009-10-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

By Gary Scott

On the most recent International Living Discovery Tour to Ecuador we were joined by a 93-year-old reader. The guy was unstoppable, para-sailing, mountain climbing... seemingly indestructible... until he simply stepped off the bus and banged his head on the door.

The reason I'm telling you all this? Believe it or not, in all the years that I've been involved in Discovery Tours to Ecuador, we've never really had a medical emergency. So in the way that sometimes mishaps can be fortuitous, this minor accident allowed me a birds eye view of Ecuadorian medical care... and I liked what I found.

We rushed Paul to the emergency room where we happily discovered the cut was far less severe than it looked. Quite a few stitches later and with some medicine, our near centenarian was comfortably back in his hotel room.

Then I looked at the bill. $15 for the visit and the stitches, and another five bucks for the medication. "That's all?," I questioned? In the U.S. we aren't even allowed to think the word hospital for 20 bucks! Just how good is the medical care? The whole experience prompted me to explore just how good and inexpensive are medical services in Ecuador?

I had spotted a new hospital near the U.S. military base in Manta. One of the other IL readers on the tour is an old-timer M.D. with 40 years of general surgery under his belt so I decided to take him along for his professional opinion.

Read more at Expat Exchange

NGOs Offer Hundreds of Choices. Volunteering in Ecuador

2009-10-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Ecuador is a beautiful country, interesting for many reasons, but especially for its huge diversity—geographic, biological, and socio-cultural. The range of flora and fauna is world-famous, especially in the Galapagos Islands. Ethnic diversity is arguably one of the highest in the continent. However, in modern times, the diversity is being threatened by many different factors and in many different ways.

My husband and I spent three weeks in Ecuador from December through January at GAIAS (Galapagos Academic Institute of Arts and Science). There we met the director’s wife, Tania Ledergerber de Quiroga, who is passionate about preserving and conserving Ecuador’s biodiversity. She works for Fundacion Jatun Sacha (Jatun Sacha Foundation), an NGO that runs sustainable conservation projects on 10 reserves around the country. At any one time they have about 800 volunteers, offering many choices volunteer opportunities.

The reserves are in different ecosystems, so the foundation can do research and learn to deal with the different local conditions. Five reserves are on the coastline, two in the highlands, two in the jungle, and one on San Cristobel Island in the Galapagos. More volunteers are needed in the highlands and on the coast especially, as most local people live in these areas.

Minimum sign-up is two weeks, but a month or more is recommended so the volunteer can learn more and get more deeply involved in the culture. The foundation also offers mini-courses: for example, a graduate student pursuing an education degree worked in a local school.

by Vivienne Mackie

Read full article at Transitions Abroad

Top Ecuadorian Eco-Lodges Seek Talented Help

2009-10-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

Volunteering in South America

By Nathan Ward

If you want to travel, live out adventures, and work to make a difference in someone’s life as well as your own, volunteering in Ecuador is the ticket.

Several excellent eco-lodges recently joined forces to create a group called Ecuador Verde to promote responsible tourism and community development in Ecuador. They are looking for volunteers to work on a number of innovative projects throughout the country—the jungle, the cloud forest, the Andes, and the Pacific Coast.

Ecuador is a great place to learn about South America while gaining valuable international work experience in one of the planet’s most biologically diverse countries, polishing Spanish language skills, and gaining academic credit. Ecuador is historically a safe country and there are few countries in the world that offer such diverse opportunities in a small geographical area. Ecuador Verde members represent the best eco-lodges in the country, so they have the resources and infrastructure in place to help you make a real difference.

In addition, Ecuador Verde promotes responsible tourism and works hard to involve and develop the communities where it operates. It is looking for self-motivated professional volunteers who are willing to commit to projects that better the community and make a difference in the daily lives of the Ecuadorian people.

Keep reading at Transitions Abroad

WHAT IS Bueno, entonces... exactly?

2009-09-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Bueno, entonces... is the best selling language-learning program for the iPhone, now available on DVD and instant download! Featured by Apple as New & Noteworthy, tens of thousands are already learning Spanish with Bueno, entonces…

Taking the most effective elements from traditional audio books and software programs, Bueno, entonces... has revamped language-learning by incorporating those features into a 1-on-1 Spanish lesson format, where you sit in on private classes with fresh audio/visual teaching tools, a huge improvement over programs currently available on the market.

Bueno, entonces... takes you inside 30 private Spanish lessons with Jimena, a gorgeous Spanish instructor, and David, her jackass student from London as he learns Spanish in beautiful Buenos Aires. Like learn-Spanish reality TV, but without the guilt of getting addicted, because in just 5 weeks you'll be speaking Spanish conversationally.

To learn more about Bueno, entonces, go to General Linguistics.

One semester of Spanish video

2009-09-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

This is just hilarious!! Take a few minutes to laugh, laugh and laugh

WORK PERMIT IN ECUADOR

2009-09-30T11:09:00.001-07:00

The work visa category 12-VI is issued to highly qualified professionals, technicians, contracted personnel for industrial training and specialized workers, to perform temporary works. The validity of this visa depends upon the length of the assignment or contract and it covers direct family members.

(Comment: Generally, Presidents, General Managers, Legal Representatives and General Trustees do not apply for this 12-VI Visa, because they do not have an "Employment Relationship" with the Company, pursuant to the Labour Law. Instead they request, and are given, a 10-IV Visa, which is an Immigrant visa to take over top level administrative functions in an Ecuadorian Company. This visa can be easily obtained in Ecuador, without having to leave the country, while the individual is covered by the 12-IX Visa)

Requirements

The application for a work visa 12-VI must be made at the Ecuadorian Consulate with jurisdiction over the applicant's place of residence. The applicant must present an employment contract that has been legalized by Ecuador's Court of Labour, the certification issued by the National Direction of Employment and Human Resources or the appointment letter of Power of Attorney, when applicable.

Finish reading the requirements at Allo' Expat

Work in Ecuador. Both Paid and Volunteer Opportunities Abound

2009-09-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

By Christopher Sacco

Ecuador offers English-speaking job seekers abundant work and volunteer opportunities.

If you are already in Ecuador, you should start your job search with the notice boards frequently found in coffee shops, Internet cafes, laundromats, and hostels. In Quito, the myriad travelers’ haunts in La Mariscal, the city’s main tourist district, often have extensive notice boards aimed specifically at travelers. The South American Explorers Club, on Jorge Washington, a few blocks east of Avenida 6 de Diciembre, also posts job listings. Bartending, hospitality, teaching, and volunteer positions are regularly advertised here, especially from May through September, tourism’s high season.

Teaching English

There is a great demand for English teachers across Ecuador. In Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca, the three largest cities, as well as other principal population centers in the highlands and on the coast, there are literally hundreds of academies, colleges, and institutes that offer English classes.

The top language institutes pay between $5 and $8 per hour. This may not seem like much coming from North America or Europe, but it's enough to live on in Ecuador. Many of the better schools prefer candidates with college degrees and a TEFL or TESL certificate, but because the number of jobs greatly exceeds the number of qualified teachers many schools will take a well-spoken native speaker with a neat appearance and no other qualifications. The pay, however, may be much less: between $3 and $5 per hour.

If you have arranged no job before arriving, don’t despair. Just turn up at the right time: September or January, just before the semesters begin. Teachers inevitably bail at the last minute and schools chronically underhire.

Bilingual High Schools

Teachers with credentials or experience may find long-term work at a bilingual high school. A few of the more prestigious ones recruit their teachers from job fairs in North America; others rely on the Internet or hire from among the local gringo community. Because their curriculums are bilingual, these schools hire English speakers to teach most all subjects, not just language classes.

Bilingual high schools typically begin their search for teachers in April and May, the months when their current hires must decide whether or not they will stay on for another year. However, it’s not uncommon for high schools to need immediate hires at other times throughout the year.

While work as an English teacher is the easiest to find, it’s by no means the only gainful employment to be had. The tourism and exporting industries are other places where job seekers, especially bilingual ones, can often find work.

Read complete text at Transitions Abroad

Work with an Indigenous Amazonian Community

2009-09-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

by Sarah Keyt

Coco and I had prime seats at the front of the bus as we waited excitedly to begin our 7-hour journey from Quito to the Amazon jungle. Two days ago we had met for the first time at our orientation in the office of the Jatun Sacha Foundation. We had both signed up to volunteer for two weeks in an indigenous community called Tsurakú. The people are called the Shuar; we were told that they are famous for making shrunken heads.

All the volunteers in the Jatun Sacha lodge were college students in their early twenties. Most were studying a subject related to indigenous people. One of the directors of Jatun Sacha, Marlon, described in slow, clear Spanish the community and our projects. Tsurakú has about 350 people, most of whom marry their first cousins, so there are few more than 30 families. The men usually have two or three wives. The Shuar are traditionally semi-nomadic; they farmed using the slash and burn technique, moving from place to place as the soil lost its fertility. Since Tsurakú is a permanent village, the people are learning sustainable agriculture. Now that they are also part of a monetary culture, they need ways to earn money. That’s where Jatun Sacha and the volunteer program come in.

The main goals of the program are to help the community develop sustainable food sources, develop a sustainable reserve for the mahogany trees, and assist in the development of Tsurakú into an ecotourism site.

The families have a house in the community and also a portion of land outside the community where they grow yuca and papachina, a type of potato. Next to the high school, there is a vivero, or nursery, where mahogany and fruit trees are grown from seed to be transplanted to the plots of land.

There is also a sendero, or hiking trail, behind the school. The hope is that tourists will come to Tsurakú to learn about the jungle. Native plants, with signs that include the Shuar and Spanish names, are placed along the trail. The students hope to become guides on their sendero one day, and the volunteers help in the English classes.

Read full article at Transitions Abroad