by El Terreno
Rural communities in the Andes struggle to maintain autonomy while dealing with complex legal and administrative systems. Around Guaranda, challenges include bureaucratic barriers for low-literacy populations, limited legal support against mining and deforestation, and fragmented organizations due to historical inequalities.
Although communities value collective work through ‘mingas’, many lack clear governance structures and struggle to engage effectively with external partners.
The Law & Community Governance placement welcomes interns and volunteers. You will support local leaders, water committees, and farmers’ associations to strengthen their legal frameworks, administrative capacity, and organizational skills. You will help build clearer structures and contribute to the vision of a unified inter-community network for better resource management and collective advocacy.
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Updated Jun 15, 2026
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El Terreno is a wonderful experience to learn about social, economic, and cultural realities, allowing participants to engage in deeply meaningful work that contributes to sustainable solutions and creates a lasting positive impact on our world.
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Get answers to all the most common questions about El Terreno.
The Law & Community Governance program costs $250 per week.
The Law & Community Governance placement lasts a minimum of 4 weeks.
The Law & Community Governance program (which welcomes volunteers and interns) is open for university students, recent graduates, and professionals from around the world.
As an organization committed to a community-based approach, we search for ethically minded participants who share our vision for a more vibrant, prosperous, and sustainable world. An ideal participant is passionate, proactive, able to meet deadlines, and takes pride in their work — all while desiring to step outside of their comfort zone, build authentic relationships, and become a member of our international community.
Yes! El Terreno is based in a peaceful rural community where people know and support each other. The region is considered very safe, and Atandahua even has its own local police station. There have been no security incidents involving our interns or community members since our start in 2021. We also maintain close partnerships with local authorities and provide 24/7 on-site support to ensure all participants feel safe and welcome.
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