Mind The Gap

Explore Ecuador, its people and culture in depth as you volunteer deep in the Amazon jungle, learning Spanish whilst living and working alongside an amazing bunch of students at a dynamic school with an exciting future. We are in a unique position to be able to help with the fight against poverty and disease and the destruction of Ecuador’s imperilled rainforest. The Foundation is named after a Quichua indigenous word that means ‘a place of learning’. The result is therefore a simultaneous conserving of the rainforest whilst helping its people with a range of integrated sustainable development and conservation projects. These projects are raising the standard of living, promoting the sustainable use of resources and providing viable economic alternatives to logging, cattle ranching, and the production of illicit crops. In addition a School was opened in 2005 on this site to provide opportunities to young people in risky situations. Most of the students come from rural areas and many are sons and daughters of indigenous farmers from the Amazon Region. It is only through an education relevant to their lives that these students will gain the capacity to generate economic alternatives in their communities that will permit them to improve their lives as well as protect their natural resources. In the School, all learning is focused on five main areas: rainforest conservation, sustainable agriculture, animal husbandry, eco-tourism, and sustainable micro enterprises. At the Yachana Colegio a qualified local teacher will guide you, according to your ability, through the grammar of spoken and written Spanish in a Jungle classroom. You will be able to engage the students as you put to good use your personal knowledge of IT and English to bridge the digital divide using a bespoke, state of the art, low energy, satellite wifi ethernet network. They in turn will reward you with insights and practical experience in agronomy, sustainability, biodiversity and micro-enterprise in the jungle.Volunteers participating in our volunteer program will work with our students in the following areas: • Teaching the skills of digital networking, podcasting and multi-media • Practising your new found conversational Spanish whilst they practise their conversational English • Aid development of the School’s micro-enterprise initiatives • Cultivation of organic agriculture. • Natural and sustainable animal husbandry. • Maintenance of walkways and facilities of the School. • Take on roles and responsibilities to help with the day to day running of the school and the Foundation’s own Eco-lodge. But it is not all work and no play! Depending on your programme duration you will have opportunities to mission off to explore what else this fantastic country has to offer, both near and far, as part of your once in a lifetime volunteer experience. (These will be either day excursions or 3-7 day missions, again dependent on which programme you choose). • Guided nature walks in Primary and Secondary rainforest to witness the vast array of flora & fauna • Meet the local Amazonian communities and take part in indigenous ceremonies • White-water rafting at Tena • Mission off to the historical city of Cuenca and visit the ruins at Ingapirca • Mission off to Banos in the Andean mountains and mountain bike to stunning waterfalls, hike up Volcanoes and sit in hot springs • Experience the great capital city of Quito, gateway to the Ecuator and Ottavalo, site of the country’s largest indigenous market. Prices - from £750, plus £100 donation to Yachana Foundation (choose from the Foundation's Wish List how you want to spend this)

For our volunteers Learn to speak and read Spanish Gain empathy and understanding of other cultures Acquire valuable life skills such as a sense of independence & self-empowerment Huge sense of achievement Highly desirable enrichment of CV/ Personal Statement Satisfaction of having had a major impact on the development of digital networking and media education programmes at Yachana Learn to work as part of a team Learn about sustainable practices that benefit the rainforest and its communities Experience social entrepreneurialism For Yachana High School Introduction and implementation of improved teaching curriculum in a variety of digital multi-media subjects New and previously unavailable online teaching resources Benefit from renewable energy sources (Energee-Saw and Solar panels for electricity) Development of international links Enhance the learning experience for the students at the School Continuation of this dynamic learning experience for the Students of Yachana High School

How old do I have to be to participate on this programme? The Volunteer Programmes are open to people from all walks of life age 18 and older. What level of fitness is required? You must be in good health Can I get by only speaking English? We recommend that you have some previous language skills or a desire to learn! Other volunteers may speak English, but most of the staff and community members do not. Will I be alone? You will be in groups of between 5 & 10 When can I go? This programme operates set arrival and departure dates. This are available on request by clicking the 'Apply now' link or completing the form on our 'Contact' page. What is the climate like? Ecuador has two seasons. The Andean highlands have their dry season from June to September. The Amazon basin is often wet with December to March offering the driest months. The coast’s wet season is January to May, with the dry season in June to December. The dry and rainy seasons however do not need to dictate your time of travel. Due to its location on the equator, the climate remains largely constant throughout the year. The differences occur as the landscape changes, largely determined by altitude.

Ecuador

South America