Rumi Yacu Project: Adult education and sustainable farming

 

Project ref: ETV1003

 

Project Fact Box

Project: Teaching English and volunteer farm work  (individual placement)
Location: El Chaco, Napo Province, Amazon region
Accommodation: ETV Volunteer House at Rumi Yacu
Requirements: TEFL or previous experience of teaching English
Minimum commitment: 2 weeks
Project term: January to December
Project Hours: Monday to Friday,  09.00am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 5.00pm
Climate: Warm day and cool nights (Max 30C, min 7C) humid with occasional rainfall

 

The Rumi Yacu sustainable farming project in Chaco is developing agricultural techniques that work in harmony with the surrounding forests. 87% of the land surrounding Chaco is has been granted protected status which leaves a mere 13% of the land available for agriculture. The protected area is a territory that ranges from 1600m to 3350 m above sea level, it house seven distinct ecosystems from upland paramo to subtropical rain forest. Little wonder then that this region is considered a biological hot spot.

 

ETV are creating a sustainable development model to help optimise the potential income from that 13% of land that is the agricultural sector. Our project partner in Chaco is the Rumi Yacu volunteer farm run by local expert David Zapata. David has worked in Chaco for 20 years with the local municipality and the national park organisation. There is no one better informed than David to present this project to the local community as a serious development plan. As a volunteer you will be working under David’s direct supervision to help develop a land use plan. Living on the farm you will be able to work with the livestock and help maintain the farm’s own fruit and vegetable plots.

 

Adult education is another aspect of this rural project. Volunteers are invited to teach English as part of Chaco’s adult education programme.

 

Volunteer life in Rumi Yacu is a real learning experience. You will find out a lot about how the local community lives and what are the important issues in their lives. Of course, living on the farm involves a certain amount of manual labour but the rewards are fabulous (and it’s a great way to stay fit!) Volunteers from all over the world come to Ecuador so you’ll be living within a whole new circle of international friends. Weekends are free and for many, the nearby town of Tena is the big attraction where there are bars, cafes and restaurants. For the adventurous, there is white water rafting and for the indulgent, there are hot springs.

 

For more information about this or any other ETV project, please call, Skype or e mail us and we’ll endeavour to supply the information you need.