What is the Family Volunteering: Ecotourism and Community Development in Ecuador project all about?
Volunteer in Ecuador on this eco-friendly placement and take your family back to basics! The whole family will enjoy living in a tight-knit community while working on a small conservation project designed to preserve the unique location of the project, located high in the misty cloud forest.
A small community of 50 families works together every day to develop economic alternatives that allow them to improve their quality of life without losing their principles, values and traditions. From humble beginnings, the project began in 1995 as a forestry conservation effort and later gained the support of NGOs and international cooperation. It was then that the project was able to implement sustainable productive activities such as organic gardening, growing fruits for making jams and small dairy processing factories for ecotourism.
A few years ago, with the support of other organisations, this location was declared as a protected area. In order to achieve conservation sustainably, there has been no use of monocultures, agrochemicals, logging, or mass tourism. Further, several scientific research programs focus on helping to rescue the biological and cultural wealth of the area, with the objective of improving the quality of life of its people through the sustainable use of natural resources.
Why choose this Ecotourism & Community Development Family Volunteering project?
In a rural community of only 50 families, people work hard every day to develop the land around them and come up with economic alternatives. This project has provided them with such alternatives such as jam production and cheese making, which improve their quality of life and reduce their dependency on the conditions of the land. As a volunteer, you will be providing valuable assistance in these day-to-day pursuits, allowing them to increase their capacity.
Role of the Ecotourism & Community Volunteer
Families will be involved in a variety of activities, which will be largely determined by the needs of the project at the time. Typically, you can look forward to gaining practical knowledge of organic agriculture and working alongside the local community to improve farms in the area. Other community work includes planting seeds in the tree nursery for reforestation, watering plants in the orchard, supporting the environmental education program for children and more.
Children will particularly enjoy taking part in activities at the small dairy processing factory such as cheese making, picking fruit for making delicious jams and small ecotourism projects such as maintaining forest trails.
What skills do I need to be an Ecotourism & Community Volunteer in Ecuador?
There are no skills required to participate in this project. However, you will need basic Spanish to participate in activities. You will have the opportunity to practice while you are on the project and with your homestay family.
Instruction will be given for all activities and parents can guide younger children in less strenuous activities such as planting seeds, watering plants in the orchard and more.
Travel during COVID times
The health and safety of our travelers and our local communities remain central to our plans for reopening countries and projects. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been adapting our programs and protocols to protect all those involved, and ask for everyone’s patience and collaboration as new rules are implemented in-country. For all projects, new standards of sanitation, procedures and social behaviors are in place, including new health and hygiene protocols and social distancing practices. Each location may be slightly different in the way they operate. We encourage you to inquire to your placement advisor to learn more about your specific project as you plan for your responsible return to travel!
Read all about our project reopening response to COVID-19
RECRUITING FOR EARLY 2021
WHY JOIN THE PROJECT
FEATURED VIDEO
PROJECT TESTIMONIALS
Where will I work in Ecuador?
You will be located in Yunguilla, a small town, an hour outside of the capital of Quito. It is high up in the cloud forest and is part of a municipal natural reserve, located in between a private reserve and a national one. You’ll be greeted with bright, sunny mornings and murky afternoons, where clouds roll in and engulf the town in a misty haze, creating stunning views over the mountains.
Living and eating with members of the community will increase the feeling of integration into another culture. Families have the option of staying with a home-stay family, usually 2 or 3 per house or staying altogether at Yunguilla’s community house. In both cases you will dine with local families who will prepare all of your meals, allowing you to deepen your understanding of local lifestyle and cuisine. When you have weekends free and are in search of some entertainment, head to the city of Quito, a busy and vibrant city, framed on all sides by white-capped peaks and lush forested hills. Quito was named as a world heritage site in 1978 and has wonderful museums, arts and other places of interest to keep the whole family busy in your free time.
Details & Costs
- Duration: 2+ weeks
- Cost: –Custom quote as pricing may vary on this project depending on the season and the number of rooms needed. Please speak to a Kaya advisor.
- Requirements: Basic Spanish
- Location: Yunguilla, Ecuador
- Working hours: Monday – Friday, times vary
- Project availability: All year round
- Arrival day: Friday
What is included
- Accommodation: Room in a volunteer house or home-stay
- Food: 3 meals per day – Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Airport pick up and drop off from Quito International Airport
- Transfer from Quito to your project on public transport
- Training: Pre-departure information pack, on-site orientation and project induction provided
- Support: 24 hour support from on-site coordinator
- 24/7 emergency number for volunteers and families
What is not included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Visas
- Police/Government Background Check US and UK citizens processed through Kaya (admin fee applies) all other nationalities must provide local police check – Required for over 18 years of age
Pictures from our Family Volunteering: Ecotourism & Community Development in Ecuador project
Easy 4-step application process
APPLY ONLINE
Apply for a Kaya program and pay your application fee to apply for your space on your chosen project. Our advisors will then contact you to guide you through the next steps.
TELEPHONE INTERVIEW
Once we’ve received your application, we’ll review your details and be in touch to arrange your informal telephone interview with your Kaya Placement Advisor.
CONFIRMATION
Following your interview, we will provide you a placement offer. Once you are ready to confirm your placement and dates, you can pay your confirmation fee to book and secure your space.
GET PREPARED
When you have confirmed your project dates we'll send you your Welcome Pack and lots of other helpful information to assist you with preparing for your placement.