Anthropology Volunteering in Ecuador

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love Volunteer! Love Volunteers is the most affordable way to volunteer and help local communities in developing countries! Why are we cheaper than other organisations? Firstly, we are just a handful of passionate people working hard to help volunteers and local communities around the world. We don't have huge overheads - no company cars, no downtown office - we're just volunteers who knew we could do a better job. Secondly, we work with local organisations wherever we can to keep administration costs to a minimum and also to feed as much money and skills into the local communities where we operate. All of Love Volunteers partner organisations have been fully vetted to ensure that, not only does a genuine need for assistance exist, but that the environments that we place our volunteers are safe and of high quality. Choose from one or more of our 200+ amazing community-based programs in 37 developing countries around the world. Every program has been personally visited by one of our dedicated staff members and is regularly audited to ensure it meets our high standards in terms of safety, sustainability, and local impact.

Ecuador has been named by ecologists as one of the world’s “megadiversity hotspots” and is one of the most species-rich countries on earth. The Galapagos Islands are 1000km (621mi) off Ecuador’s Pacific coast. Due to their isolation, the islands are home to many unique species of flora and fauna. This uniquely evolved wildlife is famous for helping Charles Darwin formulate his theory of evolution. Projects Abroad works on the island of San Cristobal in the Galapagos archipelago. Conservation volunteers live in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and work closely with the Galapagos National Park. Our overall aim in this projects is to contribute to the conservation and preservation of the unique and abundant marine and terrestrial ecosystems through much-needed research and practical, hands-on work. Daily activities include monitoring sea lion, marine iguana, and seabird populations around the island.

Research key development needs of low-income indigenous communities, and propose integrated solutions that also preserve their culture. THE CHALLENGE Guaranda is one of Ecuador's poorest regions. Most Indigenous people live in rural areas where poverty exceeds 40%, child malnutrition 48%, illiteracy 10%, and teenage pregnancy 26%. Five centuries after colonization, globalization could be the final blow to these cultures. Many young people migrate to cities to support families, and the Kichwa language risks extinction. THE SOLUTION We may have only a generation or two to ensure these cultures survive. Fortunately, locals work to continue traditions and rebuild pride. With your help, we can understand the factors determining whether they preserve and regenerate their culture while joining the global community of the 21st century. OUR METHODOLOGY Our internships use Design Thinking to co-create solutions with local partners. You’ll learn to observe, ideate, and prototype in real contexts, building skills while driving sustainable change. On weekends—or before and after your stay—you can explore Ecuador, from the Amazon to the Galápagos.