El Terreno

My experience at El Terreno was truly recommendable. During my time there, I had the opportunity to participate in physiotherapy projects and work closely with the community, which allowed me to apply my knowledge while learning from the people around me. This experience gave me a better understanding of the importance of accessible healthcare, human connection, and community-based support. I appreciated the welcoming environment, the cultural exchange, and the opportunity to contribute through my field of study. It was a valuable experience both professionally and personally, and I would highly recommend El Terreno to anyone looking for a meaningful learning journey.

El Terreno was an incredible experience, one that is difficult to fully explain because it is something that can only truly be understood by living it. My time there allowed me to step outside my comfort zone, connect with new perspectives, and experience a way of life that completely changed how I see the world. Through the people, the community, and the daily experiences, I gained a deeper appreciation for simplicity, collaboration, and the value of meaningful human connections. This journey expanded the small bubble I once lived in and gave me a renewed perspective on life, personal growth, and the impact we can create when we engage with others. If I had the opportunity to relive the entire experience again, I would do it without hesitation. El Terreno will always remain a meaningful chapter of my life.

Learning traditional construction methods with native materials, and working directly with community residents provided the ideal cultural immersion and educational experience to expand my knowledge of vernacular architecture.

Thank you for this experience and for welcoming me in Atandahua. I will never forget this time. During my stay, I had the opportunity to work closely with local families on the chocho production project, learning about the agricultural processes, challenges, and traditions that are such an important part of the community. It was inspiring to see the dedication and resilience of the farmers and to contribute, even in a small way, to a project that supports local livelihoods. Beyond the work itself, what made this experience truly special was the kindness and generosity of the people I met. Living and working alongside the community allowed me to better understand their culture, values, and daily life. I am grateful for every conversation, every shared meal, and every lesson learned. The friendships, memories, and experiences I gained in Atandahua will stay with me forever, and I will always look back on this time with gratitude and appreciation.

I absolutely loved my stay at El Terreno. I had the opportunity to apply my passion of social entrepreneurship to craft a project with the incredible support of the El Terreno staff and mentors. I am so grateful for El Terreno as it has shaped my life trajectory and pushed me to become a better individual both personally and professionally!

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.

I spent 12 weeks at El Terreno and I really enjoyed it & found it very valuable. I was part of a project about Indigenous maternal health, and we were working with stakeholders from the community including Kichwa midwives and healthcare staff from local centres. I feel like I got a lot out of it, especially the hands-on work in a changing, unfamiliar environment and picking up new skills. At times it was challenging, but I got great support from Cristian. Outside of the project, I also really enjoyed my time at Quilico - everybody from the El Terreno team is lovely, the intern community was great and I met lots of awesome people, and there were lots of opportunities to get involved with the local culture - you can stay with a homestay, take Spanish and Kichwa classes, and in February we even got to be involved in the annual Carnaval festival! The internship is flexible, it's self-led and you are encouraged to come up with plans and adapt them according to community needs. I found it a really valuable experience.

Specifically speaking from a point of view of an Architectural Intern, I enjoyed a lot working on the projects and hands-on experience with Gina and her family. I learned a lot being fully immersed with the culture and people in the community. I am also grateful for the push and support the mentors and other volunteers and interns gave to work on the projects.

El Terreno es un proyecto maravilloso, creado por una persona maravillosa. El objectivo es ayudar a la comunidad sin hacerles el trabajo : acompanar, explicar, gestionar... Hacer lo que ellos no podrian hacer y darles las herramientas para mejorar su calidad de vida. Fue un placer trabajar alli con la gente. Joshua tiene un gran corazon y necesita a otras personas como él para sopartar ese gran proyecto. Gracias por todo lo que hacéis ! Espero que continuara todo ese trabajo. Os deseo todo lo mejor

Lo pasé genial en la fundación El Terreno. Pude participar en varios proyectos diferentes. También tuve la oportunidad de vivir experiencias con la gente de la comunidad. Conocí a gente maravillosa con la que fue fantástico compartir estos momentos, ¡y las comidas de Karina y Nelly siempre estan deliciosas!

My 10 weeks at El Terreno felt like a carnivalistic rollercoaster (we arrived just before the Carnival week, so the first weeks were literally ruled by Carnival music, dances and Pajaro Azul, phenomenal experience!!). Already after the first week I felt very at home, mainly because of the other interns and people working at the foundation but also because of the very welcoming and warm attitude of the community members from Atandahua and San Juan de Llullundongo. Starting into the gender project was a little rough at first because of the complexity of the situation concerning maternal health in the region but also because of the circumstance that my team mates had been working on the project already for a couple of weeks so I felt like I needed to catch up on a lot of context based research in a very short time, but I managed! I cannot highlight enough how important I believe it to be to have an advanced level of Spanish (~B1) when joining this project. From interviews to field visits to the organisation of meetings and initiatives with the collaborating stakeholders language knowledge really is a decisive factor and in my case allowed me to really feel like I was capable of organizing a project independently without having to rely on the availability of others to translate for me. Overall I would recommend an internship with El Terreno to everyone who is looking to work very independently and has a great commitment to finding solution approaches to very complex and sensitive issues that require endurance as well as openness and respect for a cultural reality that is probably different to what most interns are used to.

I really really enjoyed my time in Ecuador, in the beginning I thought that 6 weeks was a super long time but it was not nearly enough I could have stayed much longer. I’m super happy with the work I managed to get done in this short amount of time! Everyone was super friendly from the other interns to the staff and the community :) I was there over carnaval which was amazing to experience part of the culture , we got to dance. I now have memories and friends for life thanks to el terreno.

I really enjoyed the experience as a whole! I loved waking up every morning in the peaceful rural Andes of Ecuador and seeing Chimborazo in the distance. I enjoyed making connections with the interns, volunteers, other associates and employees. I got so much out of living in the heart of the Atandahua community and understanding first-hand the way they live but also the challenges they face - This gave me motivation in my associate role as I understood why the work I was doing was so important. Finally, I was grateful to be able to explore the rest of Ecuador in my free-time and I can't wait to come back to explore the rest later this year.

In 2025, I had the opportunity to participate in a three-months internship program at El Terreno, Atandahua, Ecuador. My project was focused on the improvement of the drinking water situation in Atandahua and the neighboring communities. Before starting the project, I had a short interview with Joshua, CEO and founder of El Terreno, to figure out what my motivations and expectations of the project are, what kind of character I am, and if I’m a good match for the team. Arriving at the airport in Quito, there was an organized pick-up for the transfer from Quito airport to Atandahua. Arriving on the same day as two other volunteers, I had the opportunity to get to know them a little bit on the four-and-a-half-hour-long drive. Travelling from Quito airport to Atandahua would have been possible by bus aswell, but for that, a better understanding of the public transport system in Ecuador would have been necessary. Now, with the experience I made in Ecuador, I could easily achieve that. Back then, it was a lot easier with the organized pick-up. Having arrived in Atandahua, we were very warmly welcomed at “El Terreno”, where I could very comfortably move into my new home for the next three months. And indeed, it became a home. The bed in a shared dorm with three bunk beds (six beds in total plus one individual bed, but only at max four of them occupied at a time) were comfortable. The kitchen space was big enough to comfortably cook on the six gas stoves provided, even with several people cooking their food in parallel at a time. The organization of the food storage inside and outside of the fridge is strict, but very well done, even though one fridge proved to be a bit small if there’s a lot of people. During my stay this issue was solved by installing a second fridge. From the beginning, Joshua and his family were lovely people, and it felt really good staying with them. Joshuas wife Karina provided one warm meal per day for lunch time, which was super delicious, and I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to taste original Ecuadorian food. “Quilico”, the house where the volunteers live together, is a very comfortable home, with a woodfire oven, gas stoves in the kitchen, and hot water showers. A big common area invites everyone to spend time together, but at the same time it is possible to retract from social life and have a bit of private time in the shared dorm rooms. The cleaning regime of “Quilico” is very well organized and Joshua has a strict eye on the tasks that need to be fulfilled by everyone to make a comfortable living together possible. The project work is very well organized, oriented at the design methodology approach. An introduction to design methodology is provided by Joshua. Mentors give an insight into the setting, the community and the problems and objectives of the project during the first four weeks. This is the basis for understanding the aim of the project properly. The next phase (additional four weeks) is the planning of actions aimed at providing solutions for the problems identified in the first phase. The last phase (another four weeks) is the execution of the plan to put the possible solutions into reality and testing their strengths and limitations. The social life at El Terreno is beautiful, with the opportunity to meet people from all around the world with the same intentions of doing something valuable for the community. There is sufficient free time to get to know each other, play games, cook and eat together and even have a party or watch a movie on the beamer. Once a week there is a pub quiz (“trivia”) in changing locations in Guaranda which is always fun to participate in. There, local people from Guaranda and the surrounding communities meet the foreigners of El Terreno and other organizations to answer trivial yet sometimes pretty tricky questions in a relaxed atmosphere with food and beers. The perfect opportunity to get to know the locals. I always loved trivia! 😊 As beautiful as my stay at El Terreno was, there is one point that should have been communicated better during the execution of the project, which is the continuation of the project after me having left El Terreno. Unfortunately, the projects prototype didn’t fulfill the expectations to a hundred percent which were put into it in the first place. My understanding was to figure out the issues and improve the prototype to finally achieve an optimized and reliably functional product. After I had left El Terreno, the prototype was exchanged against an off-the-shelf solution, which I intentionally had avoided due to major drawbacks in terms of long term costs and sustainability. Knowing this, my work and effort at El Terreno felt somehow wasted and I feel I could have achieved more focusing on other aspects of the project which my skills and expertise would have been more useful in the long run. With that said, I want to add that I definitely have all respect for the decision of El Terreno not to continue with the prototype because I am leaving after three months going back to Europe, but El Terreno has to make sure the equipment provided is working properly and must defend it against the community’s interests. The off-the-shelf solution was definitely a quick and more reliable solution for the water quality issues, yet with - from my point of view - major drawbacks in sustainability. Still, I enjoyed my time at El Terreno a lot and I’m happy coming back to the beautiful place on the outskirts of the Chimborazo volcano soon.

I can only recommend an internship at El Terreno. In addition to the architecture programme, I learned so much from the other people around me. It was an adventure that will stay with me for the rest of my life and has opened the door to travelling through South America for me.

In Atandahua, the people of the community have adapted and faced different challenges that have cemented in their cosmology and way of living. From a Western perspective, they are different from what is lived in Europe and North America, but in the rural countryside, these practices are considered part of the norm. From an agricultural perspective, there is a saturation of the market and land mismanagement due to the overproduction of the same products. On the other hand, gender norms and women’s health are constantly at risk, yet it has become a standard form of living. Through our projects, we wanted to propose alternative problem-solving that could have a long term impact, while still respecting the cultural traditions of the region. By starting a chocho production system with multiple farmers in the area, and reinforcing the linkage between health centres, hospitals, and midwives, the two pilot plans seemed to have started to have a positive impact on the people in the community.

My overall review of this experience is 10/10. The things that were different, or frustrating I learned to accept as part of the experience, seeing it as another thing to overcome. I met amazing people, experienced a beautiful culture, and learned alot about maternal health in indigenous communities. The personal and professional development I underwent will show up in other settings, and will help me adapt, accept, and communicate better- and push myself further.

I think that the work of Joshua, Sebastian, Cristian and all the other important people (maintenance, cooking, Neiser) is a great chance for the region to improve in so many ways. I felt part of the team from day one, and tried my best to make a difference. I think there's much to say about the programs, the house, the surrounding nature and the local people. But the most important thing to me was that this organisation brings out the best in the people they work with. Maybe it's a vibe, maybe it's structure, and maybe it's just the patience I experienced there every day. Adding to the greater good in society and improving the lives of so many, El Terreno simply rocks.

Quería hacer parte de un proyecto que usaba materiales naturales para una arquitectura social y sostenible. Definitivamente una experiencia genial tanto en el aspecto humano como profesional, lo recomiendo al 100%.

This internship was a highly valuable and rewarding experience. It allowed me to step beyond the digital, academic side of my studies and gain hands-on experience through building and working on site. Being able to see ideas translated into physical reality gave me a much deeper understanding of the design and construction process. Working in a new environment pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me develop practical skills, adaptability, and confidence. The experience also gave me insight into collaborative, community-driven work and reinforced my interest in hands-on, impact-focused projects. Beyond the professional growth, I also formed strong, lasting friendships and bonds with the people I worked alongside, which made the experience even more meaningful. Overall, the internship was both personally and professionally enriching, and it has strongly influenced how I view my future work and career direction.

I really enjoyed learning more about traditional architecture and working alongside the locals to create beautiful designs that embrace their heritage. I hope to employ similar design philosophies to the work I do in preserving the cultural heritage of my country.

It was such a humbling but important experience. I learned a whole new approach to life, and am so thankful for all the opportunities to immerse Joshua and his team have created. I enjoyed the parallel nature of work and culture, how integrated the local people are into any project.

My ten months at El Terreno has been another deeply enriching and eye-opening experience in my life: one I can definitely call a whole 'chapter'. What stood out most to me was El Terreno’s commitment to working with the local community, rather than for it. It never felt externally driven or detached from the realities on the ground: "what you see, is what you get, and you have to work with that". I had a chance to engage with the local culture, reflect on different dimensions of development work, and grow both professionally and personally. While there are always areas to improve within organisations - particularly around project continuity and intercultural collaboration - I leave with a strong sense of appreciation and insight. El Terreno not only provided me with a valuable internship for my graduation semester, but it also - thanks to the community, Joshua, Karina, the animals, and all the wonderful people I met - turned my time in Ecuador into something much more: a place that felt like home

I had an absolutely incredible experience at El Terreno during my 6-week stay. I am so happy that I chose El Terreno as my final destination when I was looking for humanitarian work in Latin America. I loved the community, and the project was really well set up. I felt supported along the way and have learned so much about the community and about myself, both professionally and personally. Not only did I feel challenged, but I can say I’ve definitely developed some very important skills and got to see the impact the team and I made along the way. Joshua’s project is very interesting and inspiring. I would 100% recommend this to anyone who’s looking for meaningful work and some adventure along the way!

I enjoyed my experience in Ecuador. My first big trip “alone”. People there were really nice, locals and other El Terreno members as well. The work was a good challenge for me. I hope that people will like the house when it will be done. The place is safe, the accommodations were better than I expected. The food was good, but I found it a bit repetitive. There are a lot of activities to do around. If I had the choice, I would have stayed longer. Thanks for Joshua, Karina and all the others for this unforgettable experience ! ¡ Gracias y hasta luego !

What did you most enjoy about your experience? Everything! I loved getting involved with the community. I loved the days up at the school, getting to know the kids, chatting, playing, working on the garden together. I loved the days we spent walking around the land, identifying and mapping the ojos de agua. I loved all of the mingas. I loved being invited along to attend the meetings (even if I didn’t understand everything!). I loved being invited to join the disfile for carnaval with one of the families. I loved how much I learnt! From Sebastian, not only about various farming techniques, native plants and trees, how the water supply works etc but also about cultura andina, traditional methods, beliefs, medicines and how integral it is to the communities. I learned so much from Joshua and Karina about life in Ecuador in general - politics, culture, places! From the communities about life in the Andes. Seeing real progress. Although not complete, we planted in the garden and only had some parts left to finish. With the reforestation project, we mapped, observed whilst Sebastian coordinated where and when with the community and then planted in the minga! I loved the structure of the project. Daily check ins were great to get energised, feel appreciation, check in with each other and to stay up to date about what everyone else was up to. Delicious communal lunch was very much appreciated for the great food and social aspect also. Quilico is perfect. Comfortable, beautiful surroundings, sociable. Great recommendations for local walks - the Komoot link was great! List of things to do on days off. Joshua also shared lots of info of things happening around Guaranda.

For over 5 years I’ve been wanting to have a meaningful volunteering experience in a part of the world that I’ve never been to, and my time in El Terreno was everything I’d hoped for and more! It was a mixture of hands on experience with local guidance, interesting cultural learnings about the region, Ecuador and South America, interactions with the local communities in a language I didn’t really understand but somehow managed to communicate in, and it’s an experience I won’t forget! In those short 4 weeks, I met people from all sorts of background, and discovered so much about myself and the world. There is a lot out there to discover and a lot of needs to be met, so I’d encourage everyone to give this experience a go and give back in any way you can. You might learn something new about yourself!

Volunteering with El Terreno and the Atandahua community was one of the most meaningful and beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. From the very beginning, I felt completely at home. The warmth, kindness and strength of the people there made it so easy to feel connected, like I belonged. The children at the nursery are full of life, curiosity, and potential—and spending time with them was a true joy. What made this experience so special wasn’t just the work, but the relationships, the cultural connection and the sense of purpose I felt every single day. Reconnecting with my roots in such a personal and heartfelt way is something I’ll always be grateful for. To anyone considering volunteering here: do it. You’ll be embraced by a community that stays with you long after you leave.

During my 4-month internship with El Terreno, I learned a lot about myself, both professionally and personally. I had the privilege of designing a pilot project, which gave me experience in every step of project design. This was incredibly valuable, as it gave me a more practical understanding of my strengths and weaknesses in this area. Now, I can focus on fine-tuning the aspects I enjoyed and where I found my strengths. I also really appreciated the immersion in the culture, and the close connection to local people which El Terreno provides. I was also supported by mentors who guided me throughout the internship and from whom I learned a great deal. The El Terreno internship program is perfect for students who have a clear sense of direction and are interested in hands-on projects.

Volunteering at El Terreno in Atandahua was a really great and meaningful experience. I joined a reforesting project, helping to give and plant trees to local communities. I learned a lot about how trees help bring back natural springs, and also improved my social and language skills. The volunteer team felt like a family, and the local people were super kind. El Terreno is a place where anyone can find a project that fits them, even without any experience. I really recommend it to anyone who wants to help and learn in a friendly and safe place.

After my 8 weeks there, I left El Terreno with so much more knowledge, optimism, and confidence than I had arrived with. I was involved in a water and reforestation project, and got to work on all aspects of the project, from being out in the field planting trees to working with local engineers and experts on a research project. I got to learn so much from my mentors, Joshua, the local farmers and other interns, that I do feel like this a very one- of-a-kind experience. Joshua and the staff foster a very welcoming atmosphere, and if there is something you are interested in, they will do their best to help you explore it. I also appreciate how focused El Terreno is on ethical community involvement. You have the opportunity to work directly alongside locals, and you can really see how the work you're doing benefits the community.

When it comes to service projects, I’ve got high standards because I’ve worked professionally as a volunteer manager for the past 15 years. El Terreno exceeded my expectations. El Terreno doesn’t impose their ideals on the community, they build relationships with the local people and truly collaborate. As interns, we were folded into that process. We were given a lot of responsibility and worked hard, but had plenty of support. Being a family of three, with our 12 year old son, we were not the typical interns. Thanks to Joshua’s thoughtful attention and innovation, we were always engaged in meaningful work. I’ve worked on other volunteer projects that didn’t feel very inspiring or impactful. Not this one. It was unforgettable.

My internship at El Terreno lasted 1 month. This month I was part of the Water a d Reforestation project. It was great to help the community and immerse myself in this life completely different from the one I usually do in Italy. Joshua is an example of dedication to work and community and it was an inspiration to see him work for this project. During my internship I met fantastic people from all over the world, I left alone a little fearful but it only took me a few hours to feel at home. I think it's an experience that everyone should have at least once.

social enterprise skills is a wonderful skills that students should be exposed to early during their academic pursuit. As a research assistant at the international center at Eastern university university located in Cyprus. My role was to coordinate, manage and grant award to student who excelled in their various social enterprise skills, both in the field of information technology, finance, science and marketing. i would be glad to have the same excellent experience with your organization since i already have above 10 years experience in the co ordination and administration of such programs.

It was an incredible experience. Not only did I find a space to work on my own project, but I was also surrounded by an inspiring and collaborative atmosphere. I loved how everyone in the house was deeply involved in their own projects as well as with the local communities. Joshua was a great help with my photography project, connecting me with other people and communities. This project opened my eyes to new perspectives and possibilities. I never thought I could do all these things at 20 years old, and visit so many places, meet so many new people & cultures but with the trust of Joshua & everyone else in the house everything became possible!

After finishing my third year of civil engineering in Canada I wanted to find an internship abroad, I had a focus on international development and I didn't want to go abroad to work with big international companies. This internship was perfect for me as it really highlighted the community aspect, working with local organizations and farmers was a great opportunity for me not only to explore aspects of my field but also to create connections and see the impact my work is making. Our mentor, Sebastian, was extremely helpful to us, we learnt a lot about agroforestry and natural water conservation. Joshua was also very friendly and I enjoyed the close-knit atmosphere El Terreno had. Atandahua was an extremely picturesque town and I enjoyed living with a local family there and speaking to them about their life. As for the specific work we did, we conducted interviews, followed the standard design ideation process, surveyed natural wells, compiled the data and also presented to the community. I also had the opportunity to go on trips all around Ecuador during the weekends! It was overall an incredible experience. I did this internship for 2 months and I can't wait to return to Ecuador to see how our project has evolved!

Overall, I'm very grateful for my time in El Terrano. The program worked closely with the community, allowing you to really experience Ecuador and the local culture. It's clear that the program is aimed to give back to the community and help to improve the live's of those living there. Joshua was super supportive of the other interns and I. He closely listens to your goals, while also being able to offer you suggestions on what could make your involvement even more exciting. Joshua helped to organize multiple trips into the local community, outside of Atandahua, which enriched my entire trip even more. I got to work closely with various professionals, and after working on so many hypothetical projects in school, this brought a certain level of realistically to the project and made everything even more interesting. The man we worked to design a cabin for during my 6 weeks there, was super sweet and humble, which really made you want to do good work and create a good design. There's a wide variety of activities you can do on the weekends in your spare time, which gave a nice balance of work to pleasure, and the opportunity to explore the rest of Ecuador. I'm super happy with my experience and would honestly recommend it to anyone interested in traveling and doing work like this.

As a “digital nomad”, I have worked remotely and traveled around. But I had a desire to try something different and use my professional skills to help a local organization, while also getting the opportunity to immerse myself in a local community. El Terreno was the perfect spot for volunteering my professional skills. I enjoyed the beautiful settings of Ecuador and meeting new people from around the world who came to intern and volunteer. The team at El Terreno was great to work with and made me feel like a valuable member and contributor. They also had amazing WiFi that I was able to use to work on projects for my remote job during my free time!

Over the summer I spent 10 weeks in Ecuador, immersing myself within the vibrant culture and appreciating the magnificently distinct way of life. The time I spent in the modest village of Atandahua was incredible, everything from the landscapes, food, fashion, architecture and traditions were all so wonderfully unfamiliar to me. I came to Ecuador exited to understand the different architectural practices, (and hopefully return with a tan), but the vast amount of knowledge and respect I gained about this fascinating indigenous culture was invaluable. Coming from a "resort family", I was quite unsure about the idea of travelling to South America but, the constant guidance and support from Joshua ensured my stay was one I'll never forget, and I can confidently say, I don’t think I could've had a richer experience. Whether you travel every weekend, or stay in Quilico the entire stay, you cannot escape the remarkable customs and depth of culture within the country. Now, after returning home and reflecting on my time in Ecuador I'm filled with a sense of dissatisfaction, this trip gave me a taste of a warm and caring community and opened my eyes to the beauty of a humble lifestyle. In regard to the internship, I was wonderfully surprised with the variety of learning I was doing. From desk-based research to site visits, experimenting with materials, meeting and talking to professionals and even a week-long trip around Ecuador. This comprehensive learning strategy gave me such a valuable insight to how the vernacular architecture in Ecuador works and how these sustainable practises could be implemented in the UK and wider Europe to achieve a greener future. Adobe construction may not be directly applicable into the urban context but the experience I gathered working to deadlines, conversing with a client, adjusting my design in accordance with specific perimeters and exploring numerous bioclimatic strategies was invaluable. Weekends spent exploring the diverse towns, cities and villages Ecuador has to offer were incredible. The wide range of landscapes made each weekend feel like a different holiday and guaranteed a consistently enjoyable experience. After all, "Ecuador has the most diverse landscape per km² in the world. In just one hour you could be at the peak of the Andes mountains at Chimborazo, or the depths of the subtropics in Chazojuan"- which I'm sure Joshua can attest to. I was pleasantly surprised to learn I wasn’t just getting guidance with my internship, any places that I was interested in exploring whilst staying in Quilico, Joshua promptly took note, researched it, reached out to the appropriate people and drafted an extensive itinerary with times, locations, phone numbers, and even his personal recommendations. He so determined to give us the best experience possible and was always happy to help with any concerns or questions I may have had. The ethos of this organisation is something quite remarkable and sadly lost in western society. El Terreno is a cultural centre run by a selfless pair of humanitarians, centred around its mission of replenishing "vibrant and prosperous communities" under the pressures of increasing urbanisation and migration. The relationship established when joining Joshua and Karina was affectionate and welcoming. They went above and beyond to ensure everyone felt comfortable and valued in their home. This personal connection created encouraged a more collaborative atmosphere making the work feel even more meaningful. Finally, the dynamic of all interns, volunteers and associates coming together to share, learn and work in harmony to achieve a collective goal of bettering a community was really inspiring. I am so incredibly grateful to both Joshua, Karina and everyone involved for giving me the opportunity to experience this beautiful country.

Interning with El Terreno was an incredible experience! Every aspect, from project organization to social activities and daily life, was meticulously planned and executed perfectly. Joshua, the founder, is truly one of the most inspiring individuals you could meet. He settled in the area, built everything from the ground up, is doing his best to improve the lives of not just the Atandahua community, but the surrounding areas as well—all while raising a family and personally checking in on every intern to ensure everything runs smoothly. I often describe it as an experience of many "firsts": my first time in Latin America, my first time working in a fully Spanish-speaking environment, my first community-based project, and my first time tackling a project completely outside my expertise. And everything went exceptionally well. Life in Quilico was also fantastic, offering all the comforts we needed— a spacious kitchen, comfortable beds, excellent Wi-Fi, hot showers, and great company with fellow interns. Without a doubt, this is an experience I would recommend to anyone looking to volunteer in Latin America.

I completed an 8-week internship at El Terreno and absolutely loved it! The project was incredibly versatile and tailored to my personal goals and aspirations. Like many of the internships, we used the Design Thinking Approach, which was an excellent method for understanding the community, brainstorming solutions, and implementing our initiatives. Joshua has a lot of passion for his work and provided exceptional support, connecting us with great mentors and offering guidance whenever needed. There was also an incredible community of volunteers and interns, and I developed many deep and lasting friendships with the group here. The weekend trips exploring different parts of Ecuador were a great way to unwind and see the country. I enjoyed spending time around Atandahua too, from Tuesday trivia nights to making empanadas and tortillas, to watching the sunset above the clouds. I am so grateful for the opportunity to come here and would highly recommend it.

I really liked the mix of languages, cultural knowledge but also the constant help from Joshua from administration questions to more specific topics as cultures, architecture (in my case), history or local politics. I felt like I could ask whatever question I had and always got the help I needed :)

Time spent in El Terreno has been amazing, it feels like a second home. This experience allowed me to better know a completely different way of living, a slow, easy, and sustainable life, which I have taken back home with me for sure. Discovering a unique culture and so many beautiful people, genuine and generous. All of this is possible because Joshua and Karina have created this lovely home where people from all over the world can get in touch with the heart of Ecuador, learn a lot from it, be part of it and create something new. Thank you so much!

The kind of opportunity your are infinitely grateful for ! I loved everything about my fantastic journey in the Andes, discovering ancient vernacular building techniques and learning from local professionals. The touching contact with local population has been a great opportunity to practice my Spanish and get to know their incredible culture. Absolutely grateful to Joshua for his support and dedication in the project and for making my internship such a wonderful time.

Doing my internship at El Terreno in the rural Andes was an extremely valuable learning experience. Thanks to the human-centered character of my internship, I got to work with many locals, and discovered new methods of participatory research. I appreciate the most, the variety of skills that my internship have taught me. Besides conducting my qualitative research, I made myself to learn Spanish faster, networked with various stakeholders, hold a workshop with teenage girls and improved my graphic design skills. Working with the community and learning about the challenges they encounter was a strong motivation during my internship. I loved engaging with the local stakeholders and realizing possible solutions with my teammates. Although, the topic of my research was at times challenging, I enjoyed every day that I worked on my project thanks to the friendly atmosphere at El Terreno. And waking up every day with the view of Chimborazo is pretty awesome too!

After doing an internship of 6 weeks at El Terreno I can say without hesitation that I loved the experience. Joshua is open for the different goals and experiences people strive for, making it easy to create a well suited programme. It allowed me to develop myself in a new environment wherein I could learn new things as well as giving something back. Next to this more practical side, living with Joshua and the other interns was a really pleasant experience. The group activities we organised made the work / travelling experience nicely balanced, while on the other hand it was also possible to decide when to join these activities or not. Lastly the location, Atandahua itself is a rural quiet place which gives it a relaxing atmosphere. In the direct surroundings there is enough to do during the week and the central location allows for easy trips throughout Ecuador during the weekends.

Embarking on a remote internship in the enchanting Ecuadorian Andes at El Terreno was a cultural odyssey worth cherishing. Joshua and his team exuded warmth, offering unwavering support throughout my month-long stay. As a tourism intern, I actively contributed to bolstering local businesses, making my experience both rewarding and impactful. Immersing myself in the December 2022 festivities was a highlight, adding a unique charm to my journey. However, the intermittent water availability for showers posed a challenge, with water accessible only every other day. Additionally, the nocturnal temperatures, plummeting to 1-10 °C, proved demanding. My host family lacked heating, necessitating the use of four blankets and thermals for a cozy night's sleep. Despite these considerations, my overall internship experience was deeply fulfilling. Feel free to reach out if you have any queries — I'm happy to share more insights.

You can feel that this Project comes from the heart and that the main motivation is improving the quality of live for the local community. The love and energy that Joshua and Karina put into the work is omnipresent and create a wonderful atmosphere. I was nervous to spend such a long time away from home, in a country where I couldn't really communicate with anyone... But from week number two I was hooked and the time went by way to fast. I loved the life in the casa communal with the other volunteers, the interaction with the local community, visiting the market on Sundays, the Spanish lessons, the excursions linked to the internship organized by Joshua, the planning and construction work on Ginas House and the Weekend trips with the other volunteers. I felt very comfortable in my homestay and by the end it was really hard to say goodbye. After my Bachelor in Architecture, I worked 4 month on an adobe construction site. It was an abandoned building, which we transformed into a tourist accommodation, to serve as an extra income for a local Family (who was super cute and lovely btw). I enjoyed working closely together with the local community - there were 2 Builders that teached and supported me on the construction site (again very lovely people) and an Architekt that helped me with my design and planning work. Joshua was always there to guide my internship and I had a lot of freedom. I wanted to use this opportunity to both do the planning work and implement my designs on the building site, which worked out amazingly. I learned a lot about my perfession, but also about myself and my place in the world. I would fully recommend an internship with El Terreno - no matter what profession or interests you have.

I'm so thankful for my time at El Terreno! I spent my time there as an architecture intern and got to do a very large variety of things, like different scales of designing, planning as well as working hands on with construction. El Terreno is a place where there's always new things to do and new ideas coming around. The work atmosphere is very open, explorative and motivated, and your wishes, needs or thoughts and ideas will surely be taken into account, even encouraged! El Terreno is a project that in every aspect has people in focus, it's very clear how important it is and I'm in no doubt that it's impact in Atandahua will have a very meaningful and longlasting effect! Speaking of, the people both in the project as well as the village are so incredibly nice, and it feels like a very safe place. I'm really grateful and inspired by the work of Joshua and Karina, not to mention the amazing volunteers and interns that I met, and all of our good times together! I loved doing trips together during the weekends, and as the project is situated in the middle of Ecuador, you can go pretty much anywhere. (I would recommend leaving at least a week of travel after the project to have more time to explore though!) All in all it's an experience I'll never forget, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who is ready and up for immersing themselves in Ecuadorian culture, learning a ton(!!), working hard, meeting amazing people and create unforgettable memories! If you're thinking about it, do it! All the best! //Elise

I had the privilege of interning at El Terreno for 6 weeks, where I worked on a water project and was able to learn so much and make a difference in the community. I worked with a great team, did a lot of hiking to water sources, talked to community members, learned a lot from our mentors Sebastian and Cristian, researched solutions to improve water quality, and was even able to collect water samples and conduct experiments at the local university. Joshua was very helpful in providing support and giving me the freedom to decide the direction of my internship. Working on the water project gave me the experience I needed to secure an internship for a global engineering company, and I am forever grateful to Joshua and El Terreno for helping me achieve my goals.

After my first attempt at volunteering in Peru didn't work out, I found this opportunity which felt like a close fit and had great reviews. Leaving my family for 4 weeks sounded like long time, but it takes a while to make an impact. I'm so glad that I decided to go to Atandahua and help with their community water projects. Joshua was very supportive in helping me construct a plan for my internship and setting me up with top notch professionals to help me accomplish meaningful results along the way. I stayed in a family homestay and was guided by Cristian, an engineer whose family grew up around the area. I learned so much about the water, projects, farming, and culture. Having not been out of the US for an extended period of time, there was an adjustment, but the people in the local community are so warm, hard-working, and friendly, I felt like I was in a family community away from home. I ended up helping map out the water system and meters in the town, helping with a gray water project, planting native trees, and helping make organic fertilizer. I was also able to help out with the school children in English classes which helped solidify my Spanish. In the end, I was able help the community to have a much better understanding of their water system and I laid the groundwork for others who are coming in during the following months to continue to make an impact. I hope to come back, maybe with students, to continue to help out these great people to have better access to water, a right which we all should be able to have.

The internship here in Atandahua was amazing. I got to learn and improve my medical skills as a 4th year student and was immersed in a very different setting. The rural indigenous population has a very different relationship with healthcare which was very enriching and eye-opening. Next to the medical part, I got to learn a lot from the other volunteers in construction work and agriculture and could lend a hand in the afternoon, which made me feel super integrated to the group very fast. I also improved my Spanish a lot and got to share the culture with locals firsthand in my host family. In the weekends you can go roaming around in Ecuador sightseeing and visiting places, both nature and cities. Ecuador is a very rich and diverse country with 4 major biomes so there is plenty to see!

I spent 3 months interning at El Terreno, learnt so much and genuinely felt I made an impact. I worked alongside the local potable and irrigation water committees on strategically planning improvements regarding water quality, quantity and infrastructure through regional organisation. I was part of a team that successfully led a proposal for the legal formation of a regional water committee (2nd degree organisation) compromising 7 communities as a platform to pool resources, knowledge and facilitate legal collaboration over protecting water supplies in the area. I had so much fun on this internship but more importantly, for my personal goals, I learnt a huge amount about development in real-life contexts. What I loved most was the balance between the freedom to design and implement my own project with a team of like minded interns while also having constant access to field experts Sebastian and Cristian - their support was invaluable. Among other things, key activities included community site visits, attending conferences and field research. Furthermore, having the weekends free allowed time to travel Ecuador and visit other areas of Ecuador - something i was very grateful for! Overall, I really enjoyed my internship and feel it has been a key part of my journey in the field of international development.

I spent two months at El Terreno working on a water project. The mission was very interesting and truly interdisciplinary. I got the chance to engage in many different activities (interviews, community meetings, site visites, classes with the local school…), work with a multidisciplinary team, discover a complete new environment, and contribute into the well-being of the community. I would definitely recommend this internship to anyone willing to help local people, or to apply their skills into concrete projects. On top of that, I met incredible people, saw amazing landscapes and made memories that I’ll never forget.

Working on the water project has really given me valuable experience. Having recently graduated from university, I wanted to gain experience in the field and really put my skills into practice and I feel like this internship fulfilled that. There was a mixture of physical work including site visits as well as some desktop work, and this balance of work really worked for me. There is opportunity to work and talk to members of the local community and really get involved in the project. Also, the internship mentors taught me so much during my time there and are genuinely amazing mentors. Joshua is also a great leader who you can can seek help regarding a work/internship issues but also your personal well-being too, which I really appreciated. Finally, I stayed with a local host family who were so accommodating and great hosts to live with. It was an experience I will never forget and will value forever.

I had an amazing experience with El Terreno. I participated in their Culture and Anthropology internship and learned more than I could ever have expected. The support from Joshua and Karina throughout the process was outstanding and my experience in a homestay and with the other volunteers and interns was absolutely amazing. I am so blessed to have had this experience and would strongly recommend to anyone else who is considering.

One of the best parts of this experience was having the best of both worlds culturally: on one hand, you’re able to live in a less-touristy part of Ecuador and immerse yourself in Ecuadorian culture, but on the other hand, you don’t feel completely like a fish out of water. I enjoyed my time in the homestay practicing my Spanish and learning about Ecuadorian culture. I came as a sustainable agriculture intern and was able to implement a school garden. This was a fantastic introduction to locally-led sustainable development work. My internship involved interacting and collaborating with various stakeholders, from the teachers to the parents. I even got to teach one of the example lesson plans I created. By the end of internship, I felt that I had made a meaningful contribution. That said, six weeks was too short for me—I recommend coming here for a summer internship if you can. Joshua is very thoughtful of the volunteer's needs and able to personalize your experience to what you're looking to get out of this experience. The community of volunteers and interns has also found a special place in my heart. The people who end up coming to El Terreno have a mutual interest in reconnecting with nature or promoting cultural exchange and social transformation. Being here is a really good way to meet people from all ages who are on a somewhat similar wavelength. Additionally, the whole experience is enriched with visits to the local farms and entrepreneurial cooperatives that are off-the-beaten path. Whatever your reason for looking into El Terreno—everyone comes for different reasons—it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. I'm very grateful the universe had led me there.

I have nothing negative to say about my experience at El Terreno. The medicine and public health internship allowed me to get a close up look at how a healthcare system runs in rural Ecuador and I was able to make meaningful connections with the community members we served

My time and internship at El Terreno provided me with the perfect opportunity to combine my vision and ambitions with my profession. I learned tons by doing an internship in sustainable architecture. Joshua and Karina are very kind and put in a lot of effort to ensure I, and the other people staying there, had a good time and they helped us organizing activities on the weekends. Ecuador is a beautiful country and with the right people you're sure of an excellent time. I found those people here and would recommend more people to join their program!

From the airport pickup to the program, I was taken directly to the location and the coordinator helped me settle into my accommodation in the middle of the night. The coordinator planned out my activities a few weeks in advance. With the assigned mentor I learnt the fundamentals of organic agriculture. This included the creation of an organic garden/farm from scratch, analysis of the soil, creation of organic fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides. In addition to this many other addition trips and site visits were organized to truly get a grasp of the the agricultural traditions of the Andes. The homestay accommodations were comfortable and had a great view of Chimborazo. Overall, this internship was an amazing experience and would recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic Andean experience to explore their passion for agriculture.

I spent 4 weeks at El Terreno, and loved my time there! I volunteered in the mornings with the manual work at the house (building barbed-wire fences, digging ditches, chopping trees, building a gate), and spent the afternoons doing my internship in the form of research for my bachelors dissertation in anthropology. I loved the community that I became a part of in Atandahua, both with the neighbours as well as with the volunteers that lived with me in casa communal! My time there involved a lot of different activities: cooking classes learning to make tortillas and empenadas with a new local friend, minga’s, class-prepping for the kids in the afternoon, visiting the nearby communities for research, as well as celebrating both the project anniversary and a local lantern festival that I was lucky to have been a part of my time there! (They love celebrating in Ecuador as you’ll come to find in your own time there too!) I spent my free time with the other volunteers, and we would sometimes go into Guanujo to have dinner together, celebrate each others birthdays, watch football matches, danced salsa and whatever other fun activities we came up with doing together. (The volunteer community is really what you make it yourself which is always fun!) And then of course playing with all the dogs that became a part of my time there too! The internship was really flexible which was awesome in my case for collecting research and needing to alter it over time and follow what opportunities would come up! I also got better at Spanish during my time there as I was practicing everyday, and the neighbours were always up for a chat! The project is very versatile, and you are encouraged to come with your own ideas/initiatives!!

My experience at El Terreno was absolutely fantastic. I fell in love with the little town (Atandahua) in the first week, and the people as well. The friendliness of Ecuadorians is unparalleled, and if you make an effort, you will feel like you live there in a second. The balance of work and time off was fantastic - if you wanted to work all day, you could, and if you wanted more free time, you could do that as well. Joshua was always quick to share cultural excursion opportunities, and the buses to various bigger cities are very convenient and cheap. Overall, a homie environment with endless opportunity and memories to last a lifetime.

I come back enriched by this experience in the Ecuadorian Andes. Those are the classes with the children that have caught my attention the most but also the connection that we can have with the community. Volunteers are welcome. However, I encourage you to make the effort to learn Spanish and create a connection. You are here to get out of your comfort zone and you will like it, for sure :)

was a volunteer and intern coordinator from May to July 22'. The peaceful solitude of the mountain village of Antandahua and with companionship of other volunteers, is a great place to not only help the community, but also help yourself gain inward perspective. We went through a 3 week 'Paro'. This consisted of road blocks and political demonstrations from the indigionous factions. The last day we cooked dinner on the outside firewood stove, because like everybody else were out or gas. The beautiful thing is, that during the Paro we were safe, because of our connections with and contributions to the community we live. If you or your family are concerned about safety, this is probably one of the safest places in South America. The location is also a good Basecamp in the middle of Ecuador, to explore other places in the 3-day long weekend. You will have your own unique experiences here, because you will be met with open arms and probably leave in tears.

Joshua is a great guy with an ambitious vision. He takes care of the volunteers and is opened to discussion. He is the leader everyone whished to have. The project is meaningful and made me feel useful and part of the community. I enjoyed organising cooking classes for the locals and helping building the house in the mindle of the mountains was a breathtaking experience (in both senses, don't forget you are at 2700m of altitude). I will definitely recommend this experience!

Last May, I spent two very memorable, rewarding and sometimes challenging but also very enjoyable weeks in Atandahua. What I will especially carry with me from my two weeks is the amazing people I got the chance to met. Coordinators as well as other volunteers, and of course the locals of Atandahua, not at least the children. I would especially recommend this project for those who, unlike myself, are already Spanish speakers or have a basic Spanish knowledge and are eager to learn. This to be able to even further connect with the Ecuadorians, since their level of English is often limited. I’ve few other times in my life felt so appreciated walking on the street, as I did during this two weeks. The gratitude from the locals is a great reward for the work, which can sometimes be a bit challenging. The challenge is what makes it fun though, and there is also plenty of free time. This is a community built on trust and helping each other. When leaving El Terreno, my bus never showed up, something which one of the projects neighbours noticed and offered me a ride. Lessons from this: many of the locals are extremely kind, and the system of public transport is in Ecuador is not the same as in Europe… Lastly, I would recommend a lot of warm clothes and good shoes. Speaking from experience, coming straight from Costa Rica with a suitcase full of beach clothes is not ideal. Despite this I had a wonderful time! Even though only had two weeks, it was possible to create some routines and a sort of everyday life which I often think back and miss.

I had the best three weeks of my life in Atandahua. The other volunteers were awesome and the vibe was productive, kind and joyful. It was also easy to interact and learn from the super friendly local community. It's a rural life but comfortable (but beware of the cold nights!), and there's a big town (Guaranda) nearby for all your civilisation needs. The organisers are super attentive to your needs. I couldn't recommend it more, or think of a better way to end my stay in Ecuador. I miss it every day!

Our stay with Joshua and Karina was so far beyond my expectations. They - and their entire community in Atandahua - embraced us and shared their music, dancing, food, stories, adventures, and work. It is a truly special place and Joshua is kind, organized, communicative, and inspiring. The work is fun and very fair, the accommodations are comfortable, the community and the group of volunteers is lovely and easy to build friendships within. I highly recommend this project to anyone looking to experience this region in a real way, and to become immersed in a small, hard-working community with a beautiful vision for the future. I will be thinking about all that I learned here for a long time.

Joshua was a great host, with an inspiring vision and making a difference in the community. It’s such a unique project that introduced me to so many concepts like permaculture, I’ve come away with a massively widened worldview. As for Joshua itself, I was absolutely blown away by his incredible patience- after filming for hours and hours to produce the video, he never lost it at all. If anything, he only became more invested and passionate about the video project, generating tons of ideas and suggestion, and being incredibly cooperative and flexible in the process of giving time to complete it. The area is also very interesting - I was looking to get away from the touristy parts of Ecuador and in the countryside, you are absolutely getting a true taste of Ecuador! From hitchhiking on the camioneta pick up trucks into town to buying food on the side of the road in the village of Guanujo, to shopping in the nearby provincial capital of Guaranda, you can get a piece of all types of life. One thing though - if you come in the winter, beware, as it does get pretty cold! (50F) but other than that, it’s totally worth it!

I had an amazing experience with Joshua and Karina in Guaranda. The project is incredibly well organized and the work is fulfilling. There are lots of opportunities to learn about the indigenous Kichwa culture of the region and to explore the natural beauty of Guaranda and its surroundings. The work itself was easy enough but rewarding, and I enjoyed being able to plan our own projects through the cultural project aspect. We taught English classes to a neighboring community and had a party for the community during my time there! The accommodation is great - nice rooms, comfortable beds, and great lunch provided by Karina on work days. I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

An Amazing Experience of Inter-Cultural Community and Collaboration - 10/10. I spent almost a month at El Terreno and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Joshua and Karrina have dedicated themselves to creating a nascent community center that serves their small town of Atandahua and the nearby indigenous village of San Juan, as well as the volunteers that join them from all over the world. In my time there I helped to harvest corn and chochos, provide general maintenance to la Casa Comunal, teach First Aid and support other volunteers in their efforts to teach English, encourage the continued use of the Kichwa language in English the indigenous community and throw a party that celebrated El Terreno’s first few months and presented the community with its accomplishments thus far. I’m so grateful to have worked alongside the most genuine and open-hearted volunteers. Together we formed our own tiny community in the hills of the highlands and with the help of Joshua learned an immense amount from each other about traveling, growing and serving. Thank you, El Terreno :)

El Terreno is well organized, they are always approachable and caring, creating a space where everyone feels comfortable. It’s a super living space, and the work is diverse and super enriching and humane. They support your personal strength and interests and the social community work is amazing. The people from Atandahua are lovely and the kichwa culture is rich and humble. The nature is beautiful!!! Thank you for this expanding and enriching experience! I highly recommend to everyone! :)

I went for one month in this little village called Atandahua, to help Karina and Joshua make their dream come true, building a very nice touristic place and restaurant in an amazing location in front of Chimborazo volcano. But it's not "just" a touristic place, it's a place where they want to share values and make intercultural connections. You can bring to the project whatever you want to inspire those ideas. I worked during the morning, but not everytime for the house, you Can also help cooking or doing arts or other stuff to improve life there! Atandahua's location is incredible, you can see Chimborazo and little hills so beautiful all day! As a volunteer, I found like a home there with wonderful persons and the residents of Atandahua were amazing. I felt so welcome there !!