Project Description

• - Starting & Ending Date: GROUPS: Flexible dates for groups; INDIVIDUALS: See dates below; suggested 8-day package
• - Location: Pastaza Province (Amazon), Ecuador
• - Price: $769 (all-included, excl. flight to/from Ecuador)
• - Dates: Session 1- March 10-18, 2012

The Alternative Spring Break Program in Santa Ana seeks to support and help an indigenous Kichwa community. The community is located in Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest, where it has been isolated from many important services and community infrastructure that other parts of the country have been able to enjoy. This Alternative Spring Break Program connects volunteers with local residents to contribute to development projects and ideas initiated by the community. 

The residents of Santa Ana wish to bring the infrastructure and other services to the community to improve the community's overall well-being. At the same time, the community is proud of its Kichwa roots and thus wishes to maintain its culture and traditions.

Santa Ana is situated in the Province of Pastaza, about 25 km (1 hour and 45 minutes by bus) from the town of Puyo. Puyo, the largest town in the Province of Pastaza, is about 5 hours south of Quito by bus. The community does not have electricity or running water, so water must be brought from the river and boiled before consumption.

During the Alternative Spring Break Program, volunteers will stay with the Chumapi-Siguango family, which is a mixed Shuar-Kichwa household. Due to this bi-cultural mixture, volunteers will have the opportunity to learn about both Shuar and Kichwa traditions and beliefs. 

Volunteer assistance is important to this project because the community needs people who can offer new ideas and different techniques and strategies to improve the community. Volunteers spend their Spring Break collaborate with the community to make itself more self-sustainable and enable the community to support itself and develop independently. Ultimately, volunteers will contribute to the quality of the education of local children and adolescents. Finally, by sharing the unique Kichwa and Shuar cultures and traditions of the family and the larger community with other people, the preservation and strengthening of these cultures is possible and the pride in being indigenous can grow. Most importantly, volunteers will have an Alternative Spring Break experience that they will never forget!

Spring Break Daily Activities

The volunteer work depends on the current needs of the family and of the community, and thus volunteer activities will vary greatly. While volunteers may have the chance to participate in special projects, the majority of activities will be related to the following tasks:

• Creating and maintaining trails and tourist infrastructure
• Helping cultivate marketable crops (e.g., broom fibers)
• Helping with traditional farming
• Assisting in cultivating ornamental and medicinal plants
• Assisting in constructing houses
• Helping cook and prepare meals
• Learning and assisting in making pottery
• Teaching English
• Participating in mingas (community work days) on Mondays
• Developing a garden for new crops (e.g., peppers, cucumbers)
• Installing and maintaining a trash collection system

While living with the indigenous family, volunteers will have the opportunity to learn a lot about the Shuar and Kichwa cultures, including their languages, typical dishes, harpoon fishing, legends, medicinal plants, and many other important cultural activities.

Sample Alternative Spring Break Program Itinerary (Based on 8-Day Trip)

Day 1: Arrival at the airport in Quito, the Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), from where you will be transferred to your respective accommodation. Many international flights from the United States arrive in the evening, so be sure to rest and give yourself time to adjust to the altitude during the first evening and be ready to begin your adventure the next day!

Day 2: You will be welcomed at our main office in Quito, where you will be given a short introduction about security and safety tips and information about living and traveling in Quito and Ecuador. Following this introduction, you will receive a presentation about the history, culture, lifestyle, and politics of Ecuador. In the afternoon, you will take a bus to the project site near the city of Puyo, about 5 hours southeast of Quito. Your project coordinator and host family will meet you and introduce you to the project site and the town. Unpack, relax, and enjoy the spectacular biodiversity and natural wonders that surround Santa Ana. In the evening, enjoy a warm reception from the indigenous community of Santa Ana.

Day 3: In the morning, meet the community members of Santa Ana and receive an introduction about their culture, traditions, hopes, and needs. Work with the community to begin planning volunteer projects for the community. In the afternoon, learn the indigenous art of making ceramics and potteries.

Day 4: Spend the morning working on volunteer projects in the community. In the afternoon, go on a hike through the rainforest with a local guide and visit the region's splendid waterfalls. This will give you the opportunity to observe some of the Amazon's most exotic and unique plants, animals, and insects.

Day 5: Continue working on volunteer projects in the community during the morning. In the afternoon, learn the indigenous art and skills used in fishing and hunting. In the evening, join the women of the community in making the traditional indigenous drink, chicha.

Day 6-7: Take a 2-day trip to the town of Baños, about 3 hours from your project site. In Baños, you have a variety of activities to choose from, including: horseback riding, biking, hiking, zip-lining, repelling, puenting (like bungee jumping from a bridge), white-water rafting, waterfall tour, visiting the Tungurahua Volcano, and relaxing in the hot springs. Spend the night and following morning in Baños for the chance to experience all that the town has to offer. In the afternoon of Day 7, take a bus back to Quito. In the evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner in Quito.

Day 8: You have the morning and afternoon in Quito free to relax, pack, get last minute souvenirs and gifts, or explore the city and its many tourist sites. In the evening, arrive at the airport to leave for your home country.

Note: This is just a suggested, sample itinerary and might be changed depending on your groups schedule, interests, and preferences. The itinerary is flexible and may be extended or shortened for varying lengths of time. Furthermore, if your group is more interested in volunteering, you can continue to volunteer in the community of Santa Ana in lieu of the trip to Baños.

Skills and Qualification Requirements

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to participate in this Spring Break Program. Most importantly, volunteers should be mature and understand the importance and meaning of their work for the community. Men and women may apply. No experience is necessary, but ideally volunteers are willing and able to donate their time, creativity, and support to the community. Volunteers should be eager to work with the community and nature, to work with the children and youth, and to teach languages to the community members.

No professional experience is necessary. However, volunteers should:

• Have an interest in nature conservation, new cultures, and activities related to human development
• Have a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and work
• Be team-oriented and have the ability to show leadership skills.
• Be creative and eager to help in nature-oriented and environmentally friendly work.
• Have an intermediate level of Spanish (required because no one in Santa Ana speaks a lot of English).

This project requires flexibility on the part of volunteers and is open to whoever applies. Responsibilities carried out will depend on the level of experience of individual volunteers, his/her skills and the positions available at the time. Depending on the volunteer's profession, experience, or specialty, the project coordinators can design specific courses and activities for his/her stay in the community.

Food & Accommodation

The Ecuador Volunteer Foundation will manage your accommodation, food and supervision during your participation in the Spring Break Program. In this program, volunteers stay with a host family of mixed Kichwa-Shuar cultures. Housing and meals are very basic and simple. We guarantee that volunteers who keep an open mind and take advantage of this opportunity to learn a new culture and live an entirely new lifestyle will have the experience of a lifetime.

Housing with the indigenous host family is the same housing as that of local residents. Meaning, volunteers will be given a communal sleeping room. Volunteers must bring their own sleeping bag made for warm climates (the Amazon is hot and humid; a heavily lined sleeping bag will be uncomfortable at night), as the community does not have mattresses or blankets to share with volunteers. Volunteers will sleep together in the same room, offering the opportunity to share and reflect on their experiences, observations, and ideas. The houses in Santa Ana do not have bathrooms. Like all local residents, volunteers will use outdoor latrines as restrooms and will bathe in the nearby river.

Meals are also simple. Volunteers are given three meals per day, shared with their host family. The most common foods are yuca and potatoes grown in community gardens, and fish caught in the nearby river. On some occasions, the community goes to nearby towns to buy chicken and other products. While meals are filling, they do not vary greatly from day to day, so do not expect a large variety of food options. Vegetarians have participated in this project without problems. However, this project is not recommended for volunteers with specific dietary problems or allergies (especially diabetes) as it may be difficult to find specific dietary supplements in this remote area.

Note: We do not recommend this Spring Break Program for people with diabetes.

Materials To Bring

Most everyday materials and items can be bought in Ecuador at a low cost, but we suggest you bring the follow items with you in your luggage:

• Toiletries
• Sleeping bag for hot climate (**necessary)
• Insect repellent (at least 40% DEET is recommended)
• Sunscreen
• Work gloves
• Rubber boots (these can be bought in Ecuador for about $10-$15)
• Environmentally-friendly shampoo and soap
• First Aid kit
• Batteries
• Water Bottle
• Rain jacket/poncho
• Warm clothing for the evenings
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Summer clothes for the daytime
• Quick-dry pants (cargo pants; jeans don't dry easily in the rainforest)
• Swimsuit
• Many pairs of socks
• Walking shoes
• Hat
• Sandals
• Flashlight, batteries, and matches
• Towel
• Camera, binoculars (optional)
• Sunglasses
• Light sleeping bag for use in a hot climate
• Ziploc bags (to protect electronics and documents from the humidity)

Note: We DO NOT suggest you bring any new or expensive clothes as you will likely be getting dirty and muddy during your project.

Passport & Visa Requirements

A valid passport is necessary for travel to Ecuador. Your passport must be valid for at least six months. You do not need a visa to enter Ecuador if you are staying for up to 90 days. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be given a stamp in your passport that serves as a short-term Tourist Visa.

If you will be staying in Ecuador for more than 90 days for any reason, you will need to get a visa. You can get a long-term Tourist Visa (up to 6 months) or a Volunteer Visa (up to 1 year). You can apply for visas at the nearest Ecuadorian Embassy or Consulate before coming to Ecuador. Please contact an Ecuadorian Embassy or Consulate to find out what you need to apply for a visa. Remember that this process can take 6 weeks or longer.

Airport & Arrival Information

The Alternative Spring Break Program is organized for volunteers to arrive on the first date of the program. The program fees will cover project and housing expenses beginning on the first day of the program to the last day of the program. If you arrive before the first day of the program and/or stay beyond the last day of the program, any expenses will be the responsibility of the volunteer (usually $20-$25 per day for room/food at the hotel). If volunteers are delayed or miss their flight, it is highly recommended that you call our offices or your coordinator and make alternative arrangements with them.

The nearest international airport, the Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), is located in the capital city, Quito. It is important volunteers know that there is an airport exit fee each time the volunteer leaves the country. This includes flights to Peru, Colombia, and other South American countries. If a volunteer visits another South American country, then travels back to the United States via Ecuador, he/she should be prepared to pay the airport fee for each flight.

Program Fee