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Community Development Projects

Placement number: 0088
Location: Ecuador
Preferred Languages: Spanish
Date: All Year
Minimum Period : 2 weeks

We are an Ecuadorian non-profit organization dedicated to finding workable solutions between the ideals of rainforest  conservation and the reality of rural life. We work together with the local people to improve education, develop  community-based medical care, establish sustainable agricultural practices, provide environmentally sustainable economic alternatives, and conserve Ecuador’s rainforest. In 2005, we constructed an ecolodge as a means of financing our fight against poverty and disease in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. In 2004, we set out to create a Technical High School, an innovative education initiative designed to equip young people living in the Ecuadorian Amazon region with practical vocational skills that will help them find gainful employment, become community leaders, and better stewards of their own natural resources.

Role of Volunteer

Volunteers will be encouraged to participate in a variety of activities that support our efforts toward conserving the rainforest and raising the standard of living of its people

Cost

You must pay the US$50 non-refundable application-processing fee before your application will be reviewed. Charging a processing fee is how we pay the administrative costs associated with running the Volunteer Program.

The flight and canoe transportation to the Field Station costs $66 each way. You are not required to use this service, though we do recommend it.

Volunteers pay for their room and board. Anything left over pays for staff time and materials used for volunteer projects. The program fees vary depending upon the amount of time you wish to volunteer because we have found that volunteers that stay longer require less supervision, which costs us less.

Volunteer Contribution

Week	Price	Average Per Diem
2 weeks (14 days)	USD 595*	USD 42.50*
4 weeks (28 days)	USD 995	USD 35.50
More than 28 days	Contact your Volunteer Coordinator

 * Low Season 10% discount (January – June)

The program fee covers: " A single bed in a double room in our volunteer housing. For an extra fee you may elect to stay in Yachana Lodge's guest cabins. " Three meals a day in the staff dinning room. Box lunches will be provided on all day trips. On overnight trips, you will eat in the host community. " Lodge activities. You may participate in activities scheduled by the Lodge. This will help you understand the integrated nature of our projects. These activities may include hikes in the primary rainforest, visits to project sites, a cleansing ceremony with a Medicine Man, lectures about the flora and fauna of the Amazon Basin, and much more. " Supervision by our field staff. " Rubber boots for sizes up to 12 US and life jackets for use during your program. " Program coordination and assistance.

The fee does not cover: " International airfares. " Airport transfers. " Transportation in Ecuador, except for canoe transportation to and from Mondaña from Agua Santa if you enter via public transportation instead of our charter service. " Medical insurance. " Independent travel. " Food and lodging before or after the rotation.

Travel

Fly internationally to Quito airport then take a 30 minute flight to Coca.  From here a guide will pick you up and you will canoe for 2-3 hours up the Napo River to our lodge.

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