Ecuador: Fundación Despierta – Amazonian Region

About the local hosting organization

In Ecuador’s Amazon region, Fundación Despierta partners with a Kichwa community dedicated to recovering their tropical forest from historical timber extraction. Over the past 15 years, this community has successfully transitioned to conservation, adopting sustainable practices and preparing for eco-tourism. Our project rebuilds the connection between people and the rainforest by integrating traditional knowledge, environmental restoration, and youth leadership. Volunteers are vital to this participatory process, working alongside local leaders to ensure a shared future for nature and community. Key volunteer activities include: Flora & Fauna Observation: Daily walks to record and map biodiversity. Conservation Support: Assisting with species identification and conservation efforts. Youth-Led Communication: Co-designing communication materials with young community members. Environmental Education: Leading programs for children and youth, and facilitating “word circles” for knowledge exchange. Community Action: Participating in “mingas” for restoration and collective projects.

Presentation of the programme

Volunteers will contribute in full-time weekday activities such as: Observing and recording species in the forest alongside community members. Organizing digital biodiversity records. Designing and co-managing social media content with local youth. Assisting in environmental education sessions with school-aged children. Facilitating or supporting workshops on sustainable practices. Participating in mingas for forest cleanup and infrastructure development. Supporting the promotion of local sustainable tourism.

About the accomodation

Volunteers are housed in individual rooms in a designated volunteer area within the community. They will live in a shared space home and meals will be prepared in a community kitchen and eaten in a shared dining area.

About the location

Tarqui – Pastaza The community is located 30 minutes from Puyo and consists of about 50 members, including children, teenagers, and adults. Many community members are engaged in agroecology and ancestral medicine, while young people are preparing for futures in ecotourism and sustainable practices. The community is well-organized, safe, and fully committed to the vision of ecological restoration and education.

Requirements

They welcome volunteers who are enthusiastic about rainforest conservation and intercultural collaboration, that are creative and proactive especially in the use of photography, video, and social media, with a positive attitude and in good physical condition to engage in different community processes and open spaces. They search for someone who is comfortable living in a rural setting and open to learning from ancestral practices while basic Spanish proficiency is recommended. Backgrounds in ecology, biology, botany, agroecology, or environmental communication are highly valued.