Description

This volunteer opportunity is situated on a farm with 50 hectare plot of land located in the tiny 15 family farming community on the island of San Cristobal in the Galapagos. The plot of land itself is extremely impressive, as it borders the national park and affords astounding views of the native forests of the Galapagos all the way down to the islands eastern and western shorelines.

However, the farm is so much more than a plot of land with a view. The farm is defined by the work that the volunteers accomplish. The mission of the farm is to strengthen the environment and community simultaneously. Virtually all volunteer programs in the Galapagos focus solely on the environment and neglect the problems that the local people face. The small number of organizations that do address social issues pay no attention to the environment. This farm is different. It is the only volunteer project in the Galapagos that combines environmental concerns together with those the social issues faced by the local community. The volunteers on this project tackle social and environmental issues as one translating the farms mission into action.

How Do Our Volunteers Make The Island A Better Place?

* Reforestation - The Galapagos are under siege from invasive species. Invasive species overrun small farms destroying livelihoods and they choke out the endemic forests which Galapagos tortoises, mockingbirds, and finches depend on for survival. Our volunteers spend much of their time removing invasive species while planting and nurturing native and endemic species in their place.

By 2020, the aim of the farm is to rehabilitate all of the 50 hectares, which covers three endemic ecosystems the transitional zone (between the arid lowlands and the upper moist zones), the miconia zone, and the escalesia zone. Once all the land is restored, Galapagos tortoises will be reintroduced.
Furthermore, volunteers help local farmers clear invasive plants from their farms. All the farm asks in exchange is the farmers promise that they will care for a portion of their land where the volunteers will plant native and endemic vegetation.

* Community Work - Every month, children from INFA (the local equivalent to family services) come to the farm to hike, horseback ride or play games with the volunteers. At the same time these children are enjoying the outdoors, they are taught to value the environment through educational efforts. The hope is that these educational efforts will manifest into more sustainable habits, livelihoods, and ways of thinking as the children mature.

Each week, one day of labor is dedicated to the ongoing replacement of the 8 km water pipe that provides water to the community.

* Self and Community-Sustainability - The volunteers maintain their own organic garden, milk their own cows, and grow, dry and roast their own coffee. Because more product is produced than can be consumed, the remainder is donated to INFA.

Time volunteering: 1 week minimum and 12 weeks maximum

Highlights

If you are planning to explore the real cultural and natural beauty of Ecuador, why not start your adventure by joining one of our voluntary positions, Free Spanish lessons, village hiking expeditions, or sightseeing of some of the cultural wonders of Ecuador. Eco-Volunteer UP offers you unique opportunities to explore the great land of Ecuador while working for children and people in teaching, orphanage projects, health, forest placements with its flora, fauna and other community development projects.

Our prices to take part in our volunteering projects are the cheapest of the place. Search and compare other companies and you will find that nobody offer the quality of our projects at lower prices.

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

USD 320 per month

Program Fees Include:

Pick up airport in Quito, transfer from the Galapagos airport to the project, accommodation in the farm house (2, 3 or 4 people per room and a shower has hot water). The accommodation has everything normally expected in a house. The volunteers need to buy their own groceries and cook for themselves in the kitchen where you have all the necessitates to cook. First free night (bed & breakfast) with a host family in Quito, transfer from host family to the airport in Quito (next day of your arrival).

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

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.