Volunteer in teaching , farming and conservation in a remote part of Ecuador
A great chance to experience life in a remote, beautiful Andean community, sharing your own values and lifestyle with local people, and learning about theirs. This is your chance to make a difference, helping local people (and yourself) to make the most of life, through cultural interaction, teaching and/or shared farming and ecological activities.
Accommodation with local families, usually after an introductory period with Patricia and Ned in Cuellaje small town
Length of placement anything from a week onwards. There are 3 main types of placement: teaching, farm work, and ecology/conservation.
Overall purpose of our volunteer project: to provide a fantastic experience of authentic Latin America for volunteers, and to build the confidence of the local children and adults in their ability to enjoy a wide range of professions, and also to enjoy and appreciate to the maximum their way of life here in Intag. We'd also like to help local people to get out of the poverty trap, and to realise their dreams- and, in some ways the objective is similar for volunteers - to broaden our horizons and realise our full potential as human beings, with new skills and knowledge to enrich our lives.
Most of all, we work with volunteerworld - www.volunteerworld.com , and you should be able to find lots of testimonials about our program - good, bad and indifferent - on their website. We've been running the program since 2008, so it shouldn't be difficult to find a range of opinions, and lots of independent descriptions, of what we offer here.
"I've had a great time here, staying with Mabel's family. A complete contrast to my usual rountine, working in the fields on the farm. A fun family to spend time with!" Graham, UK, november 2022
"Thank you for our stay! It was a pleasure to spend some time with Alba's family. Alba was so nice, we enjoyed learning how to make coffee, chocolate, cakes with her. It's great to be with animals everyday and surrounded by nature - Agathe and Marie-lou", France, october 2022
¨Una familia muy agradable, muy generosa, todo el tiempo tratando de dar la mejor experiencia a sus voluntarios. Me ha encantado estar aquí, es un pequeño paraíso, lejos de todo, con mucha tranquilidad.¨ Loic, France, january 2019
¨Merci pour ces magnifiques semaines pasées ici, Cloud Forest Adventure est vraiment une aventure extraordinaire. Merci pour votre generosité, simplicité et votre acceuil chaleureux¨ Kevin, France, jan 2019
"For me, this was an unforgettable experience in a beautiful, remote part of Ecuador. Ned, Patricia, and little Andy are a wonderful family, and they welcomed me warmly. Yes, this is a farm, which means mud, chickens running around, and all kinds of farm wonders, so if you're not up to that, then maybe this isn't for you. It was exactly what I was looking for: an authentic experience with an Ecuadorian family. I got to meet extended family members, go to the town market on Sunday, and best of all, volunteer at the local elementary school, where one amazing teacher works with seven different groups of students ages 7-12 in one room. As a teacher myself, I know how challenging this is. The kids were absolutely wonderful, and I loved my time there. I also appreciated Patricia's cooking! She is an amazing cook, and I loved the farm-fresh organic meals she prepared daily. I also want to mention my best amigo, Benji, who walked with me to school every day, waited patiently for me (after getting his water and snacks) and then walked me back every afternoon. Without him, who knows where I might have ended up, as my sense of direction is not the best. For those of us who live in hectic places, the solitude and beauty of the farm does wonders. I loved it! Gracias Ned, Patricia, and little Andy!” Tracy, USA, July 2018
"una experiencia ilustrativa, enriquecedora, y hermosa que va a estar conmigo por el resto de mis días" Max, New York City, Jan 2018
Please click on the menu at the left of the screen for more information. If you think we might be a good match for your expectations, then we invite you apply. You can do this directly at nedcresswell@yahoo.com, or by whatsapp at +593 988461692
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