Location: The Galapagos Islands

Duration: Minimum 3 months commitment.

Cost: $2340 USD for the 3 months placement + $170 USD for each additional week. Includes food, accommodation, airport pickup/drop off and in-country orientation and 24 hour support. You will also need to pay the Galapagos Islands National Park fee of $100.

Travel: You will be met at either Quito or Guayaquil International Airport and taken to the Project HQ by a project representative. You will given orientation, and then taken to the airport to get to your placement on the islands.

Work: Reforestation, Conservation Education and Organic Agricultural Practice

Introduction

The Galapagos Islands are world renowned for their incredible natural biodiversity and variety of life.  However many of these natural habitats are being destroyed by tourism, deforestation and desertification. This exciting program offers you the opportunity to work in the midst of these incredible islands, helping to conserve their uniqueness.

The principal aim of this project is to broaden awareness of environmental issues; the conservation of eco-systems and cultural diversity, environmental education and sustainable development. You will be contributing significantly to the success of protecting these ecological and biological reserves through the sustainable use of natural resources.

Your help is needed in the preservation, investigation, environmental education and management of the local flora, fauna and landscapes.

Daily Life

Your work will vary depending on the day to day needs of the project, and the length of your stay. 
You could get involved in the following projects;

Tree nursery

This project is focused to the development and maintenance of tree nurseries in their various national parks or reserves  in which we work.  The main tasks include;
- Collecting tree seeds within and around the reserve
- Planting seeds and caring for seedlings (irrigation, liberation, etc.)
- Installing fences and creating nursery beds

Conservation Education

This project seeks to teach to the communities living inside various National Parks of the importance of native flora and fauna,. Specifically how native plants can be used to increase farming productivity in a sustainable way, thereby increasing their  inherent value whilst increasing biodiversity.
 
For several years, staff of the park and volunteers have been implementing environmental education classes mostly directed to local children, who will be the  future cultivators of the land.

Current project include;
- Continuing classes on the importance of natural resources
- Holiday classes on recycling and crafts with local seeds.
- Theatre activities during the celebrations of Arbor Day and Earth Day (annually).


Organic Agriculture

This project enables you to gain a greater understanding of organic agriculture and other methods of non contaminating sustainable agriculture.  There are no chemicals used at all  - all fertilizers are organic, and the pesticides are made of chili peppers and jalapeno peppers.

Volunteers on this project can participate in general activities related to agriculture such as sowing seeds, pricking, planting, weeding, pruning, compost making, harvesting, pest control and recycling organic waste among many others.

Accommodation

You will live with an Ecuadorian host  family who will provide a comfortable single room, three daily meals (break fast, lunch and dinner) and a weekly laundry service. All the host-families have been carefully selected by the Project Provider.

You will be received as a member of the family and will be involved in the daily activities of that family, offering you the chance of putting into practice and improving your language skills whilst gaining special insight into Ecuadorian society.

All the host families reside in short walking distance or bus ride away, in quiet and safe residential sectors of the city and close to everything such as supermarkets, cafe-internet, medical centers, post offices, shopping malls, bars, restaurants, educational centers, libraries, cultural places, historical downtown, dance clubs, bus stations, airport, etc.

Requirements

All are very welcome on this project. However, if you do have any previous experience you are particularly encouraged to apply.

* Min age 18
* Minimum 3 months commitment - 15-20 hours a week.
* Basic to Intermediate Spanish (Lessons available)
* Full travel & medical insurance
* Necessary vaccinations
* Necessary flights & visas

NO commission is added to the cost of this project by Global Nomadic. We ask instead for a flat placement fee of £125 per project (paid securely via Paypal). We offer full pre-departure support, ongoing email assistance and a full range of discounts with our selected partners.

Send us an email enquiry to find out more, or click the 'Join this Project' button below if you are ready to get involved.