We accept Volunteers throughout the year, with a 1-month minimum commitment.

We are offering 4-week programs in organic farming at our intentional community in south Ecuador.  Work consists mostly of organic farming and harvesting. You may also participate and help on our 2 – 4 Week Health Program for visitors, which offer lessons in healing practices, exercises, meditations lessons, etc. We also offer daily fun activities and planned side trips to the local town of Vilcabamba and the city of Loja. 

Our next 4 week program starts on (to be announced).

Volunteering at our community is an opportunity to gain experience in a variety of areas on an organic farming and healing practices to improve your health, work, and play with folks who have chosen to live in a rural intentional community.

Volunteers are invited to participate, as non-members, in all aspects of the community for the length of their stay. This includes being present for meetings and remaining open to offering and receiving feedback about what they say or do. It is important that volunteers be comfortable around children and animals. We look forward to having volunteers along on our community outings and fun social occasions.

Whether choosing a focus or the "General" volunteer category, we expect/encourage all to be flexible and help out where needed. Familiarity with most areas is not necessary; lots of energy and enthusiasm for learning are more important. This internship does not offer classes; learning is informal and hands-on. Volunteers should be ready to initiate contact with members when instruction or direction is needed. Self-motivation and the ability to take initiative are essential, and volunteer should be prepared to work independently most of the time.

We like having volunteers because of the new energy they bring into our community; deeply appreciate the help they offer; and enjoy sharing our lifestyle.

 
VOLUNTEERING OPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE:

Choosing one of the below categories is not an obligation to complete all the tasks listed, but simply an indication of interest in focusing on that area.

Organic Gardening and Agriculture: Care of gardens. Planting, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilizing, compost maintenance, vermiculture, harvesting for meals, processing herbs for medicinal and tinctures.  Reforestation, planting and  transplanting.  Enthusiasm for, or interest in, biodynamic/permaculture methods is welcome!

Construction: Construction projects include (some project do not require experience): fence repair, meditation pyramid on scale to Keops, cabin, carpentry, indoor finish work and improvements to existing buildings. Depending on your skills/experience, construction of a greenhouse may be part of this focus area. waste digester, architectural designs in Autocad 2004, river rock stairs, rock walls, path construction utilizing feng shui principles.

General: Combine construction, organic gardening, agriculture, baking, cooking, food preserving, office work, marketing  and sales of our existing products, etc.

Other areas for flexibility and variety: Animal care (chicken, guinea pigs house, maintenance, turkeys, ducks, geese, fish, milking, care of cows, feeding, recollection); food products (preserves for home use; tempeh/tofu/garlic); cooking; beekeeping/honey harvesting; computer support;, cybercafé, outreach work in our ecological foundation.

Meals/Housing: We provide all on-farm meals. While meat is served occasionally, interns must be comfortable with a primarily vegetarian diet. A vegan option is offered at every meal if the need exists. A room may or sleeping area is available. Community common spaces are available for writing, reading, and hanging out.

Health Insurance: Volunteers must have their own health insurance and sign a waiver to release us from responsibility for any illness or injury incurred in Ecuador.

NOTE: The internship does not offer at this time official nor formal classes in gardening not agriculture.

What we offer: 

• 3 mostly vegetarian meals a day
• Organic food from whatever is growing at the farm at the time
• Purified, filtered drinking water
• Hot shower and toilets facilities
• Library
• $2 US per hour usage of High Speed Internet Access (when not in use by Full members) or you may bring a notebook
• Sleeping room accommodations when available, paying visitors have first choice.
• Soaps
• Open mindness

What do we expect from you:

• Monday - Saturday 6-hour work per day from 8-12am and 2-4pm.
• Common Sense
• Creativity
• Initiative
• Conscientiousness
• Acceptance of the work that is in progress
• Non-Violence
• Open mindness
• Not Smoking in common spaces
• Adaptability
• Flexibility
• Pitch in when needed on your own – help in the kitchen, like washing the dishes, cleaning the floor, etc.
• Good communication skills

Things you are encouraged to bring:

• Flash Lights and extra batteries (A MUST!)
• Towel/s (A MUST!)
• Daypack
• Bed Sheets
• Toiletries - toothpaste, tampons, etc.
• High consumption Items according to your own personal needs.
• Sunscreen
• Pocketknife
• Books or other reading material, playing games, pen, pencil.
• Used clothing, bed sheets, towels, books, etc. to share in the community or to give away to the poor.
• Cooking spices are always welcome, especially something unique to your area or places you visit
• Seeds
• Good sense of humor

Things to Wear:

• Rubber boots, you can bring them or buy them in Loja for $4-6
• Hiking boots – we have lots of hills
• Sandals
• Poncho or raincoat (December-June)
• Plenty of work clothes, long sleeve shirts and long pants to protect you from the sun and bugs
• Hat that covers all your head, lots of sun and some rain
• Plenty of socks
• Light sweater for cool nights 

Things you must leave behind: 

• Illegal Drugs
• Weapons of any kind
• Pets
• Discrimination of any kind
• Any kind of Violence
• Close-mindness
• Non-cooperation
• Bad-temper

 Minimum commitment: 4-weeks.

COST: $150 per month payable in advance upon arrival.  Additional week(s) $35

We accept inquiries throughout the year. After we receive the application below, we will contact you for any further questions we may have. Please email us.

Please also read: visiting rules for prospective members. Be sure to read and agree with ALL of our main web site UEVN.org  and LosVisionarios.org; We recommend that you also read Ccondorhuana.org and GGTrust.com for more information of activities of our foundation.

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APPLICATION

 Please provide the following to us in an email:

Full name:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Date of Birth:

Male/Female:

Country of residence:

Passport number:

Which country are you coming from?

Have you ever visited a Latin country?

How fluent are you in Spanish?

Emergency contact information:

How long do you plan to stay:

When do you wish to arrive?

Airline, date, arrival time and flight number:

Area(s) you prefer to work:

Did you read all our web site www.uevn.org and it’s links?

Are you taking any medication, any medical problems?

List your skills and/or attaché a resume.

THANK-YOU!