This project allows volunteers to learn more about the Ecuadorian coast and the fishermen livelihood, as well as help to preserve the natural resources of the Ecuador’s Pacific Ocean Coast.
The main objective of the project is to support sustainable development through the marine and coastal resources.
Project Description
This project takes place in the surroundings of the fishing communities in Punta Blanca. It is really important to pay attention at the social aspect there, too.
We work in activities aimed at the practice and teaching of methodologies to achieve sustainable development in an environment of awareness and conservation of natural resources.
This program involves in the following branches:
1.- Environment, Research and Conservation.
2.- Education and Recreation.
The volunteer must travel by bus 8 hours from Quito. This project is located in a beautiful Ecuadorian beach in the Don Juan area, which is located in Manabi Province.
 “Don Juan” community is a small fishermen village; it is located on the Pacific Ocean shores, near to the river with the same name. It has a population of 400 people. It is surrounded by two forest types: dry forest and rainforest with a great variety of flora and fauna. Most of the year the weather is warm, and from July to November is a bit cooler. The rainy season runs from January to March, when the highest temperatures are recorded. In Don Juan there is a kindergarten and a school. There are many services like pip water and electricity.
Volunteer Activities
When you start the project once a week there is a meeting to assign the activities of each volunteer and receive your training program. And at the end of the week there is another meeting to analyze and reporting what happened during the week.
 Beaches Cleaning
We usually go three times a week to the beach with some bags to collect garbage. The time to go depends on the tide. It has to go out.
Then we get the trash to the house to analyze it. We document everything we have collected and count it to record the amount.
For that reason, the volunteer would have to wear clothing that could get dirty, work gloves, a hat, sunscreen and sandals. It is also important to carry a small bottle of water.
Project: We want to build garbage collection centers:
1 - Temporary wastebaskets to set them on the beach.
2 - Garbage collection systems in the communities.
3 – To set wastebaskets at the beaches’ entrances (for the garbage trucks to have access).
 Time To Help Animals On The Sea
Turtles during winter season (January to March) and humpback whales during the summer season (July to September).
a) Turtles: We organize campaigns to help the turtles to reach the beach to set their eggs and then to return to the sea. We also train and give lectures at the schools and to the fishermen groups, by explaining them the way to protect them.
 b) Humpback Whale: We register the number of visits that these marine mammals do to our coasts. We give talks in schools and communities that surround the sector to inform them about the data collected.
Fishermen
Jama, is a village where a large population live from fishing. This work requires, among other things, meetings’ organizing and support at Buena Vista cooperative’s organization that has 42 members.
The volunteer can help with these activities. He/she can accompany the fishermen in their boats to carry out their fishing tasks.
Maria, a fisherwoman that has her house on the beach at Punta Blanca, is the only woman that fish in the area and we can join her every day early in the morning.
The Group P.S.A.L. (Program for Social Action and Leadership)
It is a program initiated with 8 communities in the area to encourage the production and thus generate extra income for families. In the first phase we are carrying all the efforts to develop a form of tourism that will allow through a small investment the creation of a family business. Volunteers help in this training process. The initiative is very important; each volunteer can contribute with their knowledge.
The School
You can help in schools and day care centers for the community to be aware of taking care of the environment; weekly campaigns of community cleaning are among these activities. Classes are available from April to December.
 Volunteer Profile
We are looking for men and women 18 years or older who are willing to stay at least a month – the maximum duration is 6 months.
Services Near the Reserve
The nearest health care facility is in the Jama Village, 20 minutes away from where the project is located. Portoviejo or Manta, about 2 hours away, has excellent hospitals.
 Accommodation
The cost of the project includes 3 meals daily and the accommodation in the volunteers' house, as well as some excursions, salsa & cuisine classes. The volunteers' house is located 4 km away from Don Juan community, in an area of two hectares in front of the sea. The house has two floors, every room will have to be shared by two people, with capacity for 8 persons maximum. There is electricity, hot water, and you can use your cellphones. We have camping areas at the beach.
What Does the Volunteer Need to Bring?
- Bug repellent (there is no risk of catching malaria in this region but there are a lot of mosquitoes)
- Towel
- Flash Light
- Batteries/matches
- Work gloves
- Shampoo, Sunscreen
- First aid kit
- Environment-friendly soap to wash cloths
- Light clothing (undershirts, thin pants)
- Sandals
- Bathing suit
- Long-sleeve cotton shirts
- Shoes or boots for trekking
- Hat
- Camera, binoculars
- Sunglasses
- Books or materials for your project
 Duration
The minimum time required to work in this project is 2 weeks and the maximum duration is 6 months. It is possible to request a volunteer visa if you want to develop a project that will last more than 6 months. Volunteers will 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.)
The volunteers will have to work Monday-Friday (8am – 5pm).
 Free Time
The holidays will also be your days off. The volunteer may enjoy the peace and tranquility of the natural environment; make campfires on the beach, hike through the forests, around the area and nearby communities. You can also share with the fisher families in their free time where you can play soccer, celebrate birthdays, attend parties. You can also visit nearby towns such as Bahía de Caráquez, Canoa Beach and Pedernales. It is also possible to do extreme sports.
 Requirements
You do not need a college education in order to work in the conservation activities. You do need, however, a great interest in the conservation of nature and activities related to human development. A willingness to learn and work, a positive attitude and an intermediate level of Spanish is required. If the volunteer is not at this level, Ecuador Volunteer could help him/her to find the best program to improve their Spanish skills before starting the project |
