Help tell the story of low-income indigenous communities so they may preserve their cultural heritage.
Benefits
Design and deliver a unique internship based on your career aspirations and local needs, supported by an experienced international team.
Advance your career, develop your skills, and improve your résumé through a hands-on project with 1:1 mentoring from a professional in the field.
Make a meaningful difference to low-income populations who lack the education, support, and resources to make the changes themselves.
Immerse yourself in another culture and experience a different way of life through family homestays, cultural activities, and life in a small rural community.
Set off on adventures and make lifetime memories with other interns and volunteers – climb mountains, hike through the jungle, and explore indigenous communities.
The Challenge
Guaranda is one of Ecuador's poorest and least developed regions. With a large indigenous population, the rural communities struggle with high poverty rates (40%), child malnutrition (48%) and teenage pregnancy (up to 50%).
500 years after the Spanish colonisation, the forces of globalisation threaten the native language and cultural heritage of these communities, as many young people leave in search of better opportunities in the cities and through illegal migration to the US.
The Solution
With just a generation or two from these cultures being lost, documenting them may become essential in preserving knowledge before they are lost forever.
By tell their stories to an international audience, there is a chance that the world can become aware of their struggles and a new generation can begin to take greater pride in the their ancestral history.
Find Out More
Interested in developing your career while making a meaningful impact in low-income communities?
What's Included
- Free Discovery Call & Plan
- Flexible Start Date & Duration
- Educational Documentation Support
- Pre-Arrival & Travel Support
- Shared Accommodation with WiFi
- Lunches Monday to Thursday
- Weekly Professional Learning/Mentoring
- In-Person Coordination
- Materials Budget
- Cultural Immersion
- Free-Time Recommendations
- Certificate of Completion
- Written Reference
Optional Extras
- Private Room within a Local Family Homestay
- Spanish/Kichwa Classes (before or during visit)
- Private Transfer from Airport
- Additional Professional Mentoring Sessions
What's Not Included
- Flights, visas, vaccines, or any other expenses to reach us
- Travel, health, and work insurance
- Other meals
- Leisure time activities & Spending money
Feedback
"I Had an Amazing Experience at El Terreno"
"I participated in their Culture and Anthropology internship and learned more than I could ever have expected. The support from the team throughout the process was outstanding and my experience in a homestay and with the other volunteers and interns was absolutely amazing. I am so blessed to have had this experience and would strongly recommend to anyone else who is considering"
- Naomi from the USA (Journalism & Multimedia Intern)
Ready to Begin Planning Your Adventure?
Schedule your free discovery call and begin co-creating your personalised internship in the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes.
Start Dates
Flexible - all year round.
Pricing
$145 per week (when booked before January 2024)
We are a small independent organisation and receive no external funds for our programme and therefore there is a cost to the programme, which is used to exclusively to deliver you the best internship programme possible!
Requirements
No specific requirements, though better suited to those with a passion and some experience in building and architecture.