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The work in the community of Chico Copataza focuses on helping a native Kichwa family who wishes to maintain its culture and traditions.
The Chumapi – Siguango family includes the father, a native Shuar, his wife who is a native Kichwa and their 9 children.
Chico Copataza is situated in the province of Pastaza. The community is at a distance of approximately 25 km (one hour and 45 minutes by bus) from Puyo town.
There is electricity but no running water in the community. The water must be fetched from a river near the volunteer house and be boiled before consumption.
 Puyo is the biggest town in the province, and can be reached from Quito in 5 hours by public bus.
There is no electricity or running water in the community. The water must be fetched from a river near the volunteer house and be boiled before consumption.
The climate in the zone is humid subtropical, with rainfall for the most part of the year. In the month of August rain is less frequent. The temperature is quite pleasant, some days will be very hot but one should take into account the humidity of the zone. Chico Copataza will give the volunteer the opportunity to observe and learn to recognize a large variety of medicinal plants, jungle animals, waterfalls and several bird species, including swallows, parrots, raptors etc.
 Program Description
Ecuador Volunteer does not directly coordinate the projects in Chico Copataza. The projects are initiated by the family members and by the volunteers who work with them. The volunteers’ own initiative is fundamental in developing a project, and they shouldn’t expect the community or someone else to plan the process of activities for them.
The presentation and development of work is a priority as an economic resource for the family who has very few alternatives for improving their quality of life. The family needs better means in order to be able to improve the work. The family’s conservation vision is based on cultural recovery and education on the different aspects of conservation, including for themselves.
Services near the Community
Internet: In the town of Puyo, 1 hour and 45 minutes from the community by bus. Also in Sucre, 20 minutes walk away but very temperamental.
Telephone: The nearest telephone is a 3-hour walk from Chico Copataza, in the parish Simón Bolívar.
There are stores where you can buy milk, sugar and other supplies, a 20-minute walk from the project in the village of Sucre, or in Chico Copataza, a 5-minute walk from the project.
In Chico Copataza there is a health center, however, the family is very knowledgeable in natural remedies. In case of serious illness it is recommended that the volunteers go to one of the two hospitals in Puyo.
Days of public bus transport to the project:
Quito – Puyo - Quito: every day
Puyo – Chico Copataza: every day one bus per day.
Chico Copataza – Puyo: every day one bus per day.
Volunteer work activities
 Some are in process.
The work schedule is from Monday to Thursday, from 8.30 a.m. until 12.30 p.m. in the mornings and from 2.00 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. in the afternoons. On Fridays there is only work in the morning. The work tasks depend partly on what needs to be done; on Saturdays, for example, papayas and bananas are collected to be sold in the Puyo market on Sunday.
The community work varies greatly, based on the needs of the family (maintaining the vegetable garden, collecting yucca and bananas, construction, collecting rubbish, clearing pathways, giving English classes, and other activities).
- WORKING WITH WOMEN: The women of the community make ceramic handicrafts, very typical of the native culture. One way to participate in the work and help the women is to create sales strategies for their craft products. The volunteers can also educate the women about nutritional and health issues as well as help them sow and produce more vegetables. Only women can participate with the production of ceramics although men help with other crafts (shigras, changinas...)
 - SCHOOL: From September to mid July, volunteers can teach the children in subjects such as mathematics, science and English. Another way to participate is to teach new things like games and other extracurricular activities, and encourage the love of learning in general. The age of the pupils in the school varies from 5 to 15 years.
- GENERAL WORK : Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn a lot about the Shuar and Kichwa cultures, including the languages, typical food dishes, harpoon fishing, legends, medicinal plants, and many other things.
Each volunteer will be able to go to the jungle to observe plants, fruits, animals, rivers and the waterfall of Chinimp Tuna (in Shuar: “Swallows of the Waterfall”) from which the project has taken its name.
 - OTHER OPTIONS: If the volunteer has knowledge or experience in other areas apart from those mentioned above, it is possible to plan and realize a new educational community project in the chosen field.
Volunteers can also participate in communitarian work days and parties with the Kichwa people of Chico Copataza every monday.
Accommodation
Volunteers will stay in a house reserved for them, located just 2 minutes from the main family house where the daily activities are centered. The family will provide food for the volunteers, generally based on the traditional dishes that the family members eat, though they will also try to serve food according to the volunteers’ needs.
As for personal hygiene and washing clothes, the volunteers can use the nearby river for these activities.
What does the Volunteer need to bring?
- Insect repellent (there is no malaria risk in the area but there are a lot of mosquitoes)
- Towel
- Flashlight
- Batteries / Matches
- Raincoat
- Rubber (Wellington) boots (Preferably by them in Ecuador as the cost is lower)
- Working gloves
- Shampoo, (biodigradable) sunscreen
- First aid kit
- Biodegradable soap for washing clothes
- Sandals
- Bathing suit (Swimsuit – Bikini – Shorts)
- Light clothes (Undershirts, light trousers
- Long-sleeved cotton shirts
- Hiking shoes or boots
- CapCamera - Binoculars
- Sunglasses
- Small bags (for waste)
- Sleeping bag
 Duration
The minimum time required is 2 weeks and there is no maximum time that a volunteer can stay. It is possible to request a volunteer visa if you want to develop a project that will last more than 6 months. Volunteers work 8 hours per day, with 8 days off per month. (It is usually a 5 day work week, but it depends on the nature of the project.)
Volunteers are not tourists and can expect to work the same hours as a labourer or employee of the foundation. Volunteers must be prepared to work in adverse weather and under rustic conditions.
 Free Time
Volunteers will have the weekends off, and can use this time to rest, read, see various attractions in the area, go by the river, talk to local people or visit the town of Puyo where they can use the Internet or public telephones to communicate with friends and family.
 Requirements
You do not need a university education related to conservation activities to be accepted into the program. You do need to have a great interest in the conservation of nature and activities related to human development.
It is essential that the volunteer has an intermediate knowledge of Spanish, as without it he/she will not be able to make a significant contribution; the people of the community speak only Spanish and their native Kichwa. The volunteers must be able to hold conversations and participate in discussions in Spanish. On their arrival into Quito, all non-Hispanic volunteers will have to pass a Spanish exam before going into the project. If the volunteer is not at this level, Ecuador Volunteer could help him/her to find the best program to improve his abilities in Spanish before starting the project.
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