WE
NEED VOLUNTEERS!!!
Objectives
of the Arajuno Jungle Lodge:
• Establishment and management of private forest reserves.
• Natural and social scientific research to achieve ecological restoration
and cultural preservation.
• Implementation of ecotourism programs for generating local economic
opportunities.
• Environmental education and training in rural communities to promote
sustainable use of natural resources particularly in the area of
community tourism and ecotourism.
• Development of community-based resource management programs.
• Promotion
of inter-institutional cooperation
Although
we accept Volunteer/Interns for a minimum of two weeks
we highly recommend
a three-month stay in order for volunteers to become fully
effective and experience some results from their work. Ecuadorian
people
are some of the most honest, friendly, genuine people in the world.
Their
hospitality
is unique, making your adjustment to a very different way
of life
much easier.
The main thesis
of the Volunteer/Intern Program is for volunteers to work on a project
that is related to their education or interests.
For example, if you are a cook, you could teach residents of
local communities
how to prepare safe and healthy food for tourists and for their
own nutritional needs. If you are good at marketing, you could
help local women
develop markets for their handicrafts or develop new handicrafts
from the forest. If you are a computer specialist, you can help
the children
at a local school develop computer skills. If your focus is recreation
and tourism, there exists a tremendous potential to develop community
tourism and ecotourism throughout the entire Rio Arajuno drainage.
Whatever your talents or interests, you are more than welcome
to come serve and share them with the natives of the Rio Arajuno.
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About
the Program:
Each of the following programs has a strong component of environmental
education as a necessary aspect of sustainable development of
natural resources and conservation concerns.
• Environment: Natural resource conservation work, particularly developing native
forest management plans, valuable tree species
seed collection,
tree nursery work, etc.
• Economic: Community-based tourism project development. Help the local community
develop
local tourism
resources, training
in
community tourism. Help develop other alternative sources
of income through
the production
of local value-added products.
• Agriculture/Aquaculture: Develop local production systems for native as well as domestic
species of fish and
other animals
as an alternative
food source. Work with local communities to develop
alternative sources of vitamins and minerals through
small-scale family
gardens. Organic
fertilizers and pest/weed control.
• Health: Provide health information as it relates
to family planning, nutrition, disease control, sanitation
and more at
a local health
center or directly in any of several communities.
• Other
types of assistance needed: in the Rio Arajuno
area and at AJL there is a need for these types of
assistance:
Marketing Specialist
Strategic Planning Specialist
Resource Manager
Development/Special Events
Paper Making Specialist
Bamboo Specialist
Hotel/Restaurant Specialist
Recycling Specialist
Environmental Education
English Instructor
Art Instructor
Computer Skills Instructor
Horticulture Instructor
Ecology/Biology Instructor/Researcher
Forester
Crop Specialist
Pest Management Specialist
Orchid Specialist
Biologist
Botanist
Grant Writer
Chef
Builder/Carpenter
Wood Carver
Organic Gardener/Farmer
Small Animal Food Production Specialist
A
Typical Volunteer / Intern Day:
A typical Volunteer/Intern day at AJL starts:
07:00 - Wake up, do some exercises, go for a dip
in the river to refresh yourself.
07:30 - Breakfast.
8:30 - Your working day begins. Some Volunteer/Interns
work in the organic farm, others go to one of the
villages to work
with
community
members in a variety of programs, including school
gardens, women in handicrafts, teaching English,
native forest inventory,
tree
nursery work, seed collection, aquaculture projects,
community tourism training,
preparing and giving talks, and much more. Some
Volunteer/Interns work
on projects at the reserve, such as trail maintenance;
working at the organic farm/agroforesty system,
species propagation,
inventory of
plants and animals, and much more.
13.00 - Lunch.
14.00 - Continue with your work.
17.00 Take it easy, refresh yourself, go for a
swim or a walk. Relax, wash your clothes or help
in the
kitchen.
19.00 - Dinner
20.00 - Go for a night walk looking for nocturnal
animals or organize for a star watch.
Play games with others,
listen to
music, play
the guitar or spend some time by yourself,
reading a book or just relaxing
in a hammocks.
22.00 - To bed.
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Keep
In Mind:
To
work at AJL you should have a desire to lend a hand in
protecting biodiversity
in a highly
endangered
tropical habitat
within one of the world's top "biodiversity
hotspots." Some
qualities of a Volunteer/Intern are:
honesty and ability to work with
a group or as
an individual, flexibility,
initiative, creativity,
responsibility,
kindness, love for nature, and interest
in conservation and community development
efforts. Your work
activities
may involve strong
physical labor at times. You will
also be expected to take part in
some of
the daily operations of the lodge
that may include, cleaning, maintenance,
cooking,
assisting with
tourist groups,
etc. What you will get from
the workplace:
• An initial orientation
both in Quito and at AJL.
• Supervision and assistance from
staff as required
• A bilingual Volunteer/Intern
coordinator to help you interact
with residents of local communities,
the staff, and any logistical
needs.
• Food and lodging
• A certificate at the end of
your Volunteer/Intern period.
Duration
of Stay
A minimum stay of two weeks is required; however, in order
to
become an effective agent
of change,
a stay of 3-6 months is highly
recommended.
Volunteer/Interns will work five days a week
and usually have weekends off.
Nevertheless, this will
depend on
the characteristics
of the
Volunteer/Intern work. Individual
and group schedules will be designed and agreed upon
together with each Volunteer/Intern
and his/her coordinator.
Volunteer/Interns always have opportunities
to participate in other projects
during free time,
weekends, or when
their schedule
permits Volunteer/Intern
weekly meetings, all individuals are
encouraged to share their experiences.
This way, all Volunteer/Interns will learn about
different
projects
and share ideas.
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Cost
Arajuno
Jungle Lodge relies 100% on donations and financing from its
own ecotourism
program
to enable
conservation
work to continue.
In
order to provide your food and lodging and
other expenses, we must charge a nominal
fee to Volunteer/Interns
who
come to help
the
local communities that are basically poor
and can provide no material support.
The rate is as follows:
US$ $110/week (Duration of stay less than
three months)
US$ 100/week (Duration of stay longer than
three months)
These prices include food and lodging. Depending
on the amount of tourists, scientists and
Volunteer/Interns at AJL, each
Volunteer/Intern may
get his or her own bedroom; nevertheless,
in most situations
bedrooms have to be shared.
A US$ 25 application fee is required of all
applicants
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Why
Volunteer?
Volunteer/Intern work is a way for you to
accomplish incredible
things in another country and another
culture. You have the
opportunity to learn
Spanish, gain valuable skills and experience and provide
service
to poor indigenous communities
that need your help. It's a reciprocal process that
benefits
both you
and your community.
Through such
an
interchange, you take
part in improving the world by making friendships across
boarders
and by
emphasizing values such
as tolerance and
peace, as well as helping
others to help themselves. We guarantee that you will
leave Ecuador having
made new friends for life and a positive contribution toward
sustainable
development
and conservation
efforts.
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FAQ:
Do I need to speak Spanish?
The overwhelming
majority of Ecuadorians
speak only Spanish. In order for
you to work as a
Volunteer/Intern, you need to speak Spanish. If you are
a beginner, we urge you to study Spanish six
weeks before you begin
your Volunteer/Intern
period. If
you cannot speak
any Spanish, you can still work on projects at
AJL, but quite honestly,
you probably will not be as effective when working
with the local communities.
Where will
I live during my stay?
All Volunteer/Interns reside at the Arajuno
Jungle Lodge
When do I need to start?
You decide when to start the program. If you don't
speak any Spanish,
you will need
to take some
Spanish classes
before the
beginning your Volunteer/Intern period.
Why do I have to pay
to Volunteer/Intern?
For many, it may seem strange to pay
in order
to work for
free. However,
it is necessary to charge
a small amount
to defray costs of the program and support conservation projects.
We realize
that
many Volunteer/Interns
do not have
a lot of
money. Therefore we work hard to offer you the minimum price.
Do I
need any experience or education to participate?
You don't need
to have
a formal
education to
participate
in the Rio Arajuno Volunteer/Intern/Student
Internship
Program. In many cases, life provides the best experience,
and that is
what makes our voluntary programs unique. Previous
experience
is preferred. Please keep in mind, in order
to effectively
work in a local community you need to
communicate in Spanish. You can work
exclusively
at AJL on reserve projects without needing much, if any, Spanish.
Do I need to work alone?
Some of the projects require you to work alone, other projects do not.
Please refer to the description of each program to find the one that
fits you best. If you have a good command of the Spanish language,
you will
need less help and supervision.
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About
the Host:
The
owner of the Arajuno Jungle Lodge, Tom Larson, has served as the
Chief of Environmental Education for the Charles Darwin Research
Station, Galapagos Islands, as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador
and as the Peace Corps Ecuador Training Director.
The Rio Arajuno
Volunteer/Student Internship Program is operated by local Ecuadorians
and the Arajuno Jungle Lodge (AJL) staff. Volunteer/Interns work
at both the Arajuno Jungle Lodge Forest Reserve and in any of the
many local indigenous communities. We aim to provide the best experience
for all parties involved to ensure a productive and worthy placement.
Rio Arajuno
Volunteer/Student Internship Program organizers work in the field
of sustainable development and conservation and have more than
15 years of experience at both national and international levels.
This enables us to identify the best and most deserving activities
for our Volunteer/Interns and ensures the mutual benefit between
natural resource conservation and improving the local standard
of living for the indigenous population.
AJL is dedicated to the conservation of the Amazon region’s biodiversity
and economic development for the local indigenous communities of the Rio Arajuno.
AJL It provides
a model for the sustainable use of natural resources. AJL promotes
the participation of local communities in all of its programs.
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Application
Form:
If you
are interested in volunteering, please email the following information
to
larstom@gmail.com
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