Description

Volunteer in Ecuador with Planet Drum.

Volunteer in Ecuador and work in a non-profit, non-governmental foundation in Ecuador. Help save the environment after a series of natural disasters in the city of Bahia de Caraquez. Volunteer work is not monotonous. The tasks change continuously and are mainly dependent upon the skills and initiative of the volunteer. We take into consideration what each volunteer in Ecuador desires to accomplish while they are with us, and match this with the tasks at hand. We ask volunteers to contribute at least 20 hours a week.

We put emphasis on fieldwork, research, and education. We integrate our projects with other non-profits, schools, local universities, local government, and the members of the community to carry out the environmental principles set by the city and to meet our objectives.

Revegetation:
De-forested hillsides collapsed killing 17 people and destroyed the better part of some neighborhoods. The landslides left many homeless. This happened during El Niño of 1998. We hope to prevent another tragedy like the one in 1998 by stabilizing the hillsides with the roots of native trees, shrubs and grasses. We only utilize species native to the coastal dry-tropical forest. In the process, we also create a wildlife corridor. We are planting revegetation sites and maintaining a greenhouse where native plants are cultivated. Greenhouse duties include: planting seeds, transplanting seedlings, mixing soil, watering, maintaining on-site compost facility, and collaboration with university students and faculty. Tasks associated with re-vegetation sites include: fencing, clearing trails, watering, planting, (i.e. you need to be able to swing a machete and dig a hole!) Volunteer in Ecuador spend most of your time working in the field.

Environmental Education:
Planet Drum has led field trips to our field sites with local school children. We have also taught bioregional workshops within the local community and at the Planet Drum house. Those who Volunteer in Ecuador help with these trips and classes, as needed. We are currently in the process of developing a yearlong Bioregional Education curriculum, which will begin in 2005.

Research:
Planet Drum is currently implementing a local seed bank project. Volunteer participation in this project includes, Internet research of local, native species, interviewing community members and local ecologist, translating information and such. We are continuously fund raising and doing research for future projects in Bahia de Caraquez including: renewable energy projects, waste water systems, etc.

Administrative:
Those who Volunteer in Ecuador are occasionally asked to take part in administrative tasks to help support Planet Drum staff.

Applying:
Do you plan to volunteer in Ecuador? E-mail the Field Projects Manager, Clay Plager-Unger,with the following information: relative life experience, educational background (formal and informal), and goals and reasons for wanting to volunteer. All applicants should hold an interest in environmentalism. Potential volunteers must be able to do manual labor in hot climates and offer solutions when presented with obstacles. All applicants should have a desire to live communally with fellow volunteers and staff, seek fun and adventure, and retain an open-mind. The most qualified applicant is a Jack or Jill of all trades that takes on responsibility and initiative quickly. We welcome persons of every ethnic group, religion, gender and sexual orientation.

Immunizations:
Potential volunteers should see about getting all necessary immunizations before arriving. Check with the Center for Disease Control. Malaria pills are also recommended.

Highlights

* USD 25 a month for house utilities.
* Twenty hours per week.
* Close to the beach and the mountains.
* Communal living.
* Supportive staff.

Qualifications

All applicants should hold an interest in environmentalism. Potential volunteers must be able to do manual labor in hot climates and offer solutions when presented with obstacles. All applicants should have a desire to live communally with fellow volunteers and staff, seek fun and adventure, and retain an open-mind. The most qualified applicant is a Jack or Jill of all trades that takes on responsibility and initiative quickly.

Intern Types

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

0

Program Fees Include:

There is no fee to volunteer for Planet Drum and the community in which we serve. Volunteers receive accommodation in exchange for their work, but must pay USD 25 a month to cover house expenses (water, electricity and gas). Volunteers are responsible for their personal and communal expenses. Communal expenses include home-cooked food (use of the kitchen is encouraged and we eat communal meals), water, and toiletries. Volunteers contribute about USD 15 a week to a kitty jar in which communal expenses (dinners, drinking water) are taking from. Transportation fees to and from worksites are not provided by PD and are considered a personal expense for each volunteer (we use the public bus system which costs 18 cents each trip, costs are minimal).

Experience Required

yes

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Typical volunteers are students or travelers from North America or Europe. Most volunteers are between the ages of twenty and thirty.

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 2 to 5

Application Process Involves

• Resume
• Other

Typically The Application Process Time is

few weeks

Planet Drum Ecuador's Mission Statement

To promote awareness of sustainable strategies for human inhabitation of the earth based on the bioregions where people live. We seek to enhance the intimate connection with life-places by spreading the ideas and activities of "living in place" through publications, workshops, formal curricula, and hands-on demonstration projects. This work is motivated by our vision of a truly sustainable world in which humans are harmonious with and respectful of the natural environment To promote and encourage ecologically sustainable living founded on an understanding of one's bioregion, a geographic area of interconnected natural systems and their characteristics.

Year Founded

1973