Volunteers will be living in an indigenous community located at 4,000 meters on the border of Chimborazo National Park.
This village is surrounded by a stark and rocky lunar landscape known only to herds of wild Alpacas and Vicuñas that roam the highlands around the extinct volcano Chimborazo, which towers above everything in sight at at 6,268 metres (20,565 ft)
Expected Tasks While Volunteering:
- Taking Care of Alpacas.
- Teaching English to Children
- Community Work
- Organic Farming
A Typical Day While Volunteering:
Volunteers will be invited into the community as one of their own and will be helping out with the day to day activities like tending to the alpacas and community work. Clothing suitable for very cold weather is necessary for working outside with the residents while organic farming and looking after the alpacas.
The huts and houses in the community are heavily insulated and volunteers can warm up around the wood fire ovens while cooking their food of a night. Some days visibility will be reduced to a few metres as the village is literary engulfed in the clouds and other days you will be working in the shadow of Ecuadors highest mountain, the volcano Chimborazo.
Why This Volunteer Work Project is Important:
By helping these Indigenous Villages rise out of poverty and become more self sufficient we will be reducing the ‘rural exodus’ of poor farm workers into dangerous slums with high unemployment in the big cities like Quito and Guayaquil. It also helps the community create a more environmentally sustainable way of living by encouraging conservation and reducing the reliance on exploiting the natural resources in the environment for money.
The Volunteer Perfect for this Program:
- Speaks a basic or intermediate level of Spanish and wishes to rapidly improve.
- Is eager to learn about Organic Farming in harsh climates
- Is an avid trekker, camper, horse rider, or photographer
- Is interested in mountain climbing and needs to acclimatize to high altitudes to increase his or her success in reaching the summit of Mt. Chimborazo or Cotopaxi.
Price per month:
- $300 per month
- A $50 administration fee is charged once at the start of the program.
Price Includes:
- Transport to Andes Alpaca Ranch
- Training and Support
- Homestay with an Indigenous Family
- A Work Recommendation Letter
Volunteers will also receive an instant discount on all Trekking and Mountain Climbing expeditions.
Minimum Time Spent Volunteering
- 2 weeks
- Discounts for longer stays.
Volunteers will be volunteering between Monday to Friday with weekends free for leisure time or travel around Ecuador. You will have to take your own food to prepare meals in the kitchen facilities provided. Volunteers are welcome to stay in our guesthouse in Riobamba for free on the weekend where they can relax and resupply, check the internet, or explore the beautiful city.
Want to Make a Difference? Contact Us!
Use the contact form below or email us on: ecuadorecovolunteer@gmail.com
