Reforestation & Ecosystem Restoration Volunteer Intern
Daily Tasks
"Lobitos & Piedritas Verde" reforestation projects
We currently work with approx. 60 families in Lobitos and 20 in the small community of Piedritas. Volunteer interns are required to conduct house to house visits in the communities, carrying out family & plant monitoring surveys, as well as planting/maintaining native trees with the local families. Volunteer interns may also have the opportunity to take part in environmental education workshops & communications campaigns, plan, design and undertake big reforestation activities, promote conservation & restoration of local degraded priority sites and get involved with ecological/environmental research projects with associated academic partners.
Ecotourism
Our new conservation project in the local Dry Forest of Piedritas aims to provide local people with a sustainable alternative to illegal logging through ecotourism initiatives whilst protecting their native Dry Forest habitat. Volunteer interns may be required to support the development, promotion & improvement of this project, but will also have the opportunity to learn in-depth about the unique biodiversity of the Dry Forest ecosystem and its endangered flora and fauna.
Reforestation sites and permaculture garden maintenance
Volunteer interns carry out general upkeep in our community reforestation sites, the EcoSwell garden and native seedlings & plant nurseries. This is done by planting trees, collecting & germinating native seeds, using drip irrigation and updating important reforestation tracking documents.
Online program
You can take part in this position through our online program as well at a discounted financial contribution.. The online activities for this project may include (but are not limited to):
Data monitoring and analysis
Research into new sustainability solutions
Design proposals and feasibility studies
Report and grant-writing
In addition, you’ll be able to take part in the following online educational seminars, given by our Directors:
NGO/Social enterprise creation and management
Outreach and Business Development
Marketing (digital and promotional)
Sustainability perspectives from a local "on the ground" development organisation
International environmental and social sustainability standards
Before applying, please ensure that you have familiarized yourself with the information in regards to the financial contribution required for the volunteer internship. We look forward to hearing from you!
Benefits of joining this program
We need hard-working people with a strong interest, background knowledge or basic experience in reforestation, conservation, biology/ecology, and the like, to come and support us in these ongoing projects. The benefits of taking part in this volunteer internship are:
Enhance your CV and gain professional hands-on experience managing sustainable projects in an international development NGO, having a real and positive impact on a vulnerable community.
Develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of ecological, environmental & permaculture techniques, reforestation and biodiversity/nature conservation of the Dry Forest ecosystem.
Work alongside experienced & passionate people from a range of disciplines & backgrounds.
Live and work in a surfing paradise in northern Peru, the land of endless summer.
Requirements
This volunteer internship is open to all disciplines, but is most suited for those interested in reforestation, wildlife & biodiversity conservation, ecological/environmental restoration, habitat recovery, biology, geography, permaculture, international and sustainable development and the like. Undergraduates, postgraduates, PhDs and/or professionals are all welcome. However, we do ask for:
An academic/basic professional background or personal motivation in environmental science, conservation, biology, geography, sustainable development and the like.
Minimum age 18.
Basic experience or strong motivation to work as part of a team away from home.
However, the most important thing is that you have an open mind, positive attitude and willingness to learn!
FOR EVERY VOLUNTEER INTERN THAT JOINS US, A local family will plant and care for a native TREE IN THE VOLUNTEER INTERNS NAME.
If you'd like to get in touch with our former volunteer interns to hear about their experiences with us, get in touch and we'd be happy to connect you.
“A crazy and amazing time”
My name is Lukas, I am from Austria and I travelled to Peru in Summer 2017.
EcoSwell has a huge impact on Lobitos, a small fishing and surf town in the Peruvian desert, where water is a rare and costly good. Besides helping the local fishermen, EcoSwell has committed itself to reforestation in Lobitos and its neighbourhood districts, which is quite a challenge when water is that scarce. Thanks to EcoSwell, I learned a lot about recycling, composting, the unique ecosystem here in the North of Peru and on how to save water and plant trees in a desert. It was very instructive to see how the people are living here and what kind of problems they face, which contrast greatly to those of Europe for example. It was also amazing to experience how the founders of EcoSwell are so passionate about their NGO and their projects. As a result, the organisation is growing and gaining more and more partners in Peru and worldwide. I really enjoyed Lobitos, especially its chilled vibes, the great beaches and amazing waves to surf.