Description

The volunteer community is located on the south coast of the Manabi Province, about 12.5 km (8 miles) from.the town of Puerto Lopez. The locale is along the road known as "the Spondylus Route" (spondylus, a spiky red oyster-like sea shell, was highly valued in the pre-Columbian cultures of Ecuador and Peru). Puerto Lopez is located on the Pacific coast, about 90 km (60 miles) north-west of Guayaquil.

Manabi Province has many natural attractions including tropical forests, sunny beaches, and sparkling rivers, so there are many places to practice ecotourism, adventure sports, bird watching, and community tourism. This volunteer project is centered around our potential to improve the quality of life in the local communities. With that common belief, we propose that our volunteers will be part of our community with activities based in their interests and goals.

The community has an ecological club which was established in 1995, based on a commitment with the development in this area. The members have been working with responsibility since 2006 as part of Multinational Federation of Community Tourism in Ecuador (FEPTCE).

Our volunteers will be part of a project that involves working with young people to help them become responsible members their local communities.
The volunteer program engages five local communities. In one of the communities, volunteers will have the opportunity to collaborate in the education of local children and in the development of various tourism ecological activities. Typical activities include teaching English, participating in environmental education, doing art projects, promoting school health practices, and developing ecotourism and conservation projects.

In the ecotourism activities, our volunteers will help in creating new trails, maintaining the existing trails surrounding the community, making signs for tourists, and translating for the tour guides.

In the community health activities, volunteers will assist in the Health Center with first aid, talks about nutrition, community health education, etc.
In the conservation activities, you can take care of sea turtles in the months from October to February. Other activities include conservation along the Ayampe River, reforestation with native species, and recycling programs.

Volunteers also immerse themselves in the local communities through coordination and planning of cultural programs involving members of the five communities, such as helping to make tagua handicrafts.

Qualifications

Volunteer profile: Teamwork, initiative and creativity, commitment to the activities with the community, respect for our cultures and peoples.

Time volunteering: 1 month minimum. We welcome volunteers all year round.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 400 per month

Program Fees Include:

Includes: Pick-up at airport in Quito, free night with a host family in Quito including breakfast, transfer from host family to bus station in Quito, accommodations in the Manabi in a volunteers' house or accommodation with a host family (shared room) in the community, three meals per day.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

This Program is open to

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

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Eco Volunteer UP Foundation's Mission Statement

We are a non-profit organization which is legally recognized by the Ecuadorian Government. Volunteers with Eco Volunteer UP have the choice of many worthy programs, such as vulnerable orphanages, institutes for children with disabilities, street children and local indigenous communities. There are volunteer programs located in and around Quito, the capital of Ecuador, as well as programs located in the Cloud Forest and its communities close to Quito, the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Galapagos Islands and other key places around Ecuador. We offer volunteers real immersion in the various Ecuadorian ecosystems, and the unique opportunity for learning and sharing about Ecuadorian cultures, costumes and traditions.