Public Health Internship in the Amazon

No! You can help greatly with little knowledge of Spanish. But the more you can speak the language, the more you can benefit from and give to the community. Thus, we recommend taking lessons in the community if you struggle to speak Spanish comfortably to enhance your language skills.

As a public health intern, you’re primarily responsible for creating and growing a health program. But each day in the Amazon is different! Spend 2-4 hours daily in a local clinic, on research, and program proposals. For the rest of the time, you perform organizational tasks, cook team meals, support other programs (including youth mentorship, gender equality, and sustainability), and participate in relationship-building and team meetings.

All interns stay in a dedicated MPI house in the community, a 10-minute walk from Manna's center. The house has four spacious bedrooms shared by 2-3 people. It has 1.5 bathrooms shared among the participants and an outdoor shower available. There is a fully equipped kitchen to cook meals, with staples provided by Manna. There is a large communal area and a rooftop where you can read and relax. 

Ecuador is currently listed by the US State Department as a Level 2 country (same as Europe), meaning that increased caution is recommended. However, in the local community of Shandia and Tena, safety is rarely a concern. In general, the crime rate in Napo Province is much lower than in the rest of Ecuador, and visitors often notice how safe these communities are. Shandia specifically is a community built on trust and relationships.