Live with the indigenous people of the Amazon and support their development projects

In the Amazon, there are communities and ecological reserves which are protected by the natives, where volunteers can help with reforestation, agriculture, environmental protection and community tasks. This program is dedicated to true nature lovers who want to experience an eco-adventure and who would be willing to adapt to the modest accommodation offered by these communities.

The volunteers have the opportunity to learn about the jungle through the “Jungle school” where they will learn how to catch birds or other forest animals in a survival situation, will learn to fish, will travel by canoe, will prepare food from the jungle, will take part in night hikes through the jungle, will learn about medicinal plant cultivation. When there is the opportunity, the volunteers can help in the communities or in the Indian Reserves in the construction of houses, cleaning of roads, in the construction of latrines, and other development projects in benefit of the communities.

During the scholar year (from September to June), the volunteers could assist in the school located in the nearest town, teaching two hours of basic English lessons to the kids.

Special requirements: Knowledge of Spanish language is needed to communicate with the natives because although the communities' native languages are Kichwa, Shuar, and Ashuar, they also understand Spanish.

Duration of the project: The program is running all year round. Minimum time for volunteering is 4 weeks, up to 12 months.

Accommodation: The volunteers will be staying at the native’s chozas (houses), which have very simple infrastructure; there are latrines near the houses. The kitchen is very simple: three pieces of wood and a pot hanging from a piece of branch supported by a rope, is all they need to cook, they don’t have stoves. Access to water, showers, electricity or telecommunications may be unavailable. Volunteers can enjoy swimming in the nearby river. The locals collect rain water to prepare their food. Their basic diet includes papayas, bananas, and bitter cane, cooked with leaves, noodles, tuna fish, and a special kind of fried bread made with flour.

There is no running water, but we will collect fresh water from a spring. In the project, there's no communications or internet, but these services are accessible in a two-hour bus ride to Macas, the capital of the province.

Location: Our destination is located in the head of the Amazon Basin, in the Province of Morona Santiago, near the capital city Macas and one of the Shuar communities. This is a very beautiful natural area, an ideal placement for volunteers who can adapt to life with very limited comfort.

More information and enrollment: https://cadip.org/volunteering-in-ecuador