Staff Interview with Pamela Arias

What inspired you to work for your organization?

Jocotoco has great people who really love wildlife conservation. All reserves are special and it is amazing that I can work in these places with these people.

Describe a typical day at work.

On a typical day, I answer emails from volunteers, coordinate with students groups visiting our reserves, and coordinate with volunteers who supervise activities.

Why do you do what you do?

Because I love to work with people in the reserves of all different ages, and show them the importance of wildlife conservation in a safe environment in Ecuador!

What is your favorite part of your job?

When people can see the difference that they made and continue helping to protect wildlife and environmental conservation. This is a great experience!

What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?

My challenge is the continuing improvement of our programs. Also, we don’t receive money from the government, so we deeply rely on the help of volunteers.

What are some current projects you are working on?

We are working on a new volunteer program in the Galapagos with the National Park as well as a new student program for summer camps, where students can practice all that they learn in class.

What makes your organization special?

The people who work here! These people really love conservation and work very hard. The most important thing: They really enjoy their work and like to help.

Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?

Because we have been in Ecuador for 20 years now, and we grow every year. We have 14 reserves with different ecosystems and our volunteer programs work on incredible conservation projects.

What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?

I hope that volunteers come back with their own projects and want to help us conserve! I also hope that they tell their friends about our work and recommend them to visit our reserves.

What is something your organization has done that you’re particularly proud of?

Our environmental education programs made an impact within our communities. People in Ecuador used to catch birds for pets, but now they talk to other people about why birds are not pets!

What makes your organization easy to market to potential participants?

We are a real conservation foundation with real projects in our different reserves. We don’t want volunteers just to have free labor—we want volunteers to learn all about conservation topics.

What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?

Our mission is protecting areas of critical importance for the conservation of endemic and threatened bird species in Ecuador that are not under the protection of the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP). Jocotoco achieves this goal by acquiring and managing land as biological reserves.

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

I hope that volunteers take home the message that everybody can make a difference in the world. They just have to want to do it, and to try. 

How do you help support participants?

We have a supervisor with the volunteers at all times, 24/7 in each reserve. We also have a coordinator to talk with the volunteers and supervisor every week for support.

If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?

I would participate in our Galápagos program, because it’s an amazing place where you can see endemic animals and ecosystems unique in the world. This is a very special opportunity.

What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?

People often ask why they need to pay to be a volunteer? We are an Ecuadorian non-governmental organization (NGO), so the volunteer must pay for their food and accomodation.

Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?

Because this is an experience that will open your mind and help you to understand other people. Many times, these experiences will break your glass bubble where you don’t know just how lucky you are!

Why do you think learning a new language is important?

Speaking another language will help you in your professional life, but also in your personal life. It will help you watch foreign movies in the original language, and communicate with other people in other countries.

What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?

Visit all the countries that you can and try to do so as a volunteer! When you are a tourist you only visit the nice places, but when you are a volunteer you will know the reality of the country.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel is travel that gives you a complete experience, not just fun and pictures. This travel will change you, and give you a new vision of your life and the world.