NGO/Social Enterprise Management Volunteer Internship

I truly enjoyed the work I was involved in, especially knowing that my efforts in research and Salesforce contributed to EcoSwell's growth. The Google Ads project that I am working on has been particularly valuable; learning to use both Google Ads and Salesforce has been highly relevant to my professional development. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to work on these projects, as they provided me with practical skills and a sense of meaningful impact.

I’ve only been here for three weeks, and it’s been amazing! Initially, I was quite nervous about coming to South America, but everyone here is incredibly friendly, which quickly put me at ease. The work itself has been fascinating, and I’ve learned a lot. Michael, my supervisor, has been super engaged and helpful, and I appreciated the entrepreneurial aspect of the tasks I was given—it really opened up a new side of my thinking. Overall, a very rewarding experience!

The internship was an incredibly positive experience. One of the best aspects was the freedom and independence I had in my role, which allowed me to fully engage with a range of tasks. I especially appreciated the variety of work—conducting interviews, going out into the field to connect with the local community, and taking on more creative responsibilities like drafting the company’s impact report. I also enjoyed gathering statistics and conducting research. Overall, it was a truly enriching and hands-on experience.

The work at EcoSwell is structured exceptionally well, with a clear plan and supportive leadership. My goal in coming here was to learn about sustainability, renewable energy, and the inner workings of an NGO, and the directors genuinely allowed me the space and trust to explore these areas. It wasn’t simply “We want you to do this,” but rather they involved me in meaningful discussions, listened, and actively engaged in my learning and professional growth. The experience in the house has also been very positive. The environment feels organized and safe, and Jesus, our volunteer coordinator program, does a great job keeping everyone connected. If any issues arise—like running low on food—feedback is addressed quickly. I truly feel that EcoSwell is invested in making sure we’re well-supported and enjoying our time here.

I really enjoyed my time in Lobitos. Lobitos itself is incredibly special; I had never been to a place like that before. There were plenty of new things to try, which was a great experience in itself. Secondly, the people made it even better—the EcoSwell team and the other volunteers were all wonderful. Living in the house felt comfortable and natural, and it was easy to feel at home. Overall, both the location and the community made for an amazing time.

My time at EcoSwell gave me a great opportunity to work closely with a group of diverse and passionate people. This range of volunteers and directors brought unique skillsets and perspectives to the projects at hand, and created a fun working environment. I was introduced to exciting things from learning how to plant seedlings to trying new cuisines. Most valuable however, is the close relationship EcoSwell shares with the community in Lobitos. What i enjoyed the most was the times when we interacted with local schoolchildren, residents and travelers. If you are a social and open minded person, I would definitely consider EcoSwell because it offers a chance to truly immerse yourself within such a tight-knit community. Located in the heart of Northern Peru, Lobitos is ripe with raw beauty. There is a good mix of relaxation and adventure and it is filled with artistic expression. The people there are incredibly easy going and genuine, and Lobitos has undoubtedly earned a place in my heart. The directors do a great job in providing you a balanced experience in which you can both work and soak in all that Peru has to offer. They give you space to explore as much as you desire while also making the home cozy and fun to be around if you wish to stay in. At times I felt singled out when I made mistakes or misunderstood things, but in the end, the directors are supportive of you and have your best interests in mind. As for the work, it is extremely useful to have first hand experience working at an NGO. From this, I have learned so much about how NGOs operate, establish, and maintain themselves. EcoSwell is still relatively new but has done so many impactful things for the community and I am excited to see it grow. With that being said, do have a flexible attitude when interning there. There are many tasks that you may need to help complete even though they are outside of what you signed up for. Use these tasks as a learning experience, and although they may not always cater to your skillset, understand that they are necessary elements to running a successful NGO. At times I felt dispensable and that the experience/knowledge I had to offer were under-utilised, but it is important to acknowledge that EcoSwell's projects continue long after any volunteer's time there, and that it is only in this conjoined effort spanning months of turnover, that great impacts are achieved. Use this as a chance to learn, meet new people, learn new skills, and do your part in contributing to the longevity of this flourishing organization. Overall, my experience was a positive and unforgettable one. I recommend EcoSwell highly and am proud to have been an intern here.

My three months at EcoSwell were some of if not the best I have ever had. One of my favorite parts was the location and atmosphere of the town and that EcoSwell had within their house. My room I found clean when I arrived and it was my responsibility to keep it clean which I did. I think they could have been a little more organized in terms of explaining what we were doing. Sometimes we'd go somewhere as a group and just follow the directors around without knowing what we were going to do, but that's any easy thing to improve or change. They communicated with me well before my internship, however, which was very consistent. I never once felt like I was in danger as Lobitos is very safe. I felt mostly well utilized. At first I had a lot of translations and financial work given to me. I felt like I had too much at some points but I got it done, and for the majority of the time I was very happy with how much work I had and the type of work that I was doing. I was the one of the only volunteers who could speak Spanish fluently so most of my work was to do with that. Communicating with locals and translating. Great experience, overall amazing job by EcoSwell taking me in and helping me make the most out of my time there!

I spent four weeks in the summer of 2018 with EcoSwell. My role as an NGO Management intern included working on a range of projects, such as reforestation and waste management. As an NGO management intern, I also learnt a lot about the running of the organisation. I was given a high degree of autonomy over projects, such as being asked to write a grant application, and responsibility for the maintenance of a 200 tree forest nearby. The team have a great work-life balance, with plenty of time to surf, explore and relax. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience; everyone I lived and worked with were lovely, driven and inspirational. The location is phenomenal, the scenery stunning, the wildlife spectacular, and the experience incredible. I'd highly recommend an internship at EcoSwell!

EcoSwell provided me with a memorable and life-changing experience. Alejandro, Andres, and Diego gave me the freedom to be in charge of the projects that I was most passionate about, while maintaining a highly efficient and organized structure to the organization's work. A clear emphasis was placed on community participation as we worked with community members on a daily basis and based many of our projects on their needs, desires, and input. This was the most fulfilling aspect of the internship as I was exposed to not only a culture that was unfamiliar to me, but I also made great friends and experienced incredibly welcoming and hard-working individuals while improving their community in a collaborative and sustainable manner. I acquired useful skills as I helped to write grants, designed project profiles, and even organized a community workshop based around the water-efficient irrigation project I'd been working on for months. In our free time, the team and I often went surfing, or explored the beautiful Peruvian coastline. We even had the opportunity to spend a morning fishing with some of the local fishermen. My time with EcoSwell was an experience that will stick with me forever. It encouraged me to open my mind to new cultures, new ways of thinking, and a greater understanding of the world. I highly recommend this organization to anyone who is looking for a well-rounded experience, great company, and stories to tell for years to come.

After giving myself some time to adjust to being back in the United States after my placement with Eco-Swell, I think I am finally ready to accurately reflect on my experiences there. I think I needed some time because the differences in the environment from my home-town of Madison, Mississippi and that of Lobitos, Peru, and the micro-community within the Eco-Swell house are so profound. I come from a conservative community. I don’t say that to mean the reliance on established principles is a good or bad thing, only that the progressive and intellectually based problem-solving atmosphere of Eco-Swell was a refreshing change. Each day was a new challenge for me. Whether it was researching potential grants, how to build a frame for the solar distiller out of bamboo or new potential designs for the dry-toilet irrigation pipe, I felt challenged intellectually. I felt my capacities were respected and my capabilities developed when faced with problems and offered the freedom to explore and implement solutions. This type of bottom-up approach and its ubiquity within Eco-Swell is something I spoke with Michael and Andres about extensively. This type of approach which differs from that of most other NGOs, allowed Eco-Swell to discover the needs of the community without bias, and address those needs as they were able to grow. In that way, growth in the community was organic and progress came where it was most needed. I will take many lessons from this experience. One, that every day I should strive to learn more about the world around me, and as I inevitably discover issues, try and fix them before they cause problems for everyone. Two, that surrounding myself with knowledgeable and interesting friends and colleagues is perhaps my greatest tool to personal and professional success. The friends that I made at EcoSwell pushed me intellectually and physically to achieve things I most certainly did not think I was capable of. And finally, that good business means beginning with good intentions and following through every day to consciously improve the lives of others. In living with these principles, I hope to carry the fulfillment gained through my three weeks at Eco-Swell into the rest of my career. Thank you to everyone in Lobitos for an amazing experience, and I look forward to seeing you all again someday.