If you dream of immersing yourself in South America's Andean cultures amid snowcapped volcanoes, while making a real-world impact for rural communities, our International Changemaker Programme is for you.
As part of El Terreno's international community, you'll use your skills on social and environmental projects while discovering your purpose and building skills for a more successful life — no matter your age.
Rural Guaranda is one of Ecuador's poorest regions, with high rates of poverty (40%), child malnutrition (48%) and teenage pregnancy. Five centuries after colonisation, globalisation and migration threaten the Kichwa language and cultural heritage, as young people leave for the cities or the US.
With just a generation or two before much of this culture could be lost, documenting it has never been more urgent. Through photography, film, writing and digital storytelling, you'll share these communities' stories with the world and inspire young people to take pride in their ancestral roots. With bilingual coordinators and local mentors, you'll live in community, grow your Spanish, and advance your career.
In your free time, explore Guaranda's markets, hike Chimborazo, or take weekend trips to Quito, Baños, Quilotoa or the coast. Stay in our purpose-built Quilico accommodation, or opt for an immersive family homestay.
Come for the projects. Stay for the community. Leave transformed