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.

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:

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, during which 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$ $140/week, $20/per day
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

General information:

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