Help low-income, indigenous communities reclaim their ancestral building techniques to restore and build sustainable housing for all.
Before the industrialisation of construction, local people in the Andes built houses out of the rich clay soils available to them. Now, however, globalization has meant that local people are choosing to build single-skin, concrete buildings. Whilst these are quicker to build and considered more 'modern', they are also colder, more expensive, less ecological and more at risk during an earthquake. In the area, there are hundreds of adobe buildings that have been left to ruin, and as these traditional techniques are lost, so is the cultural heritage captured in the architectural beauty.
We are helping to restore these old buildings to preserve the cultural heritage and provide a future benefits to their owners, such as a much needed income through tourists/volunteers or simply a dignified place for them to live. With support from our experienced team, you will take on a design and/or build project where you will learn about how adobe homes are made in the Andes and help us restore buildings that otherwise may fall into ruin.
Recommended by Previous Participants
¡Advance Your Career!
Gain more construction experience with the support of trained mentors to expand your knowledge and build your confidence.
Now more than ever, employers are looking for a resume with diverse experiences, certificates and strong references that an internship provides.
¡Travel The World!
Why study from behind a desk when you could be experiencing new countries and cultures at the same time? During your placement, explore Ecuador's diverse landscapes and cultures - making memories that will last a lifetime!
Our stay with El Terreno was so far beyond my expectations. They - and their entire community in Atandahua - embraced us and shared their music, dancing, food, stories, adventures, and work. It is a truly special place.
The team are kind, organized, communicative, and inspiring. The work is fun and very fair, the accommodations are comfortable, the community and the group of volunteers is lovely and easy to build friendships within. I highly recommend this project to anyone looking to experience this region in a real way, and to become immersed in a small, hard-working community with a beautiful vision for the future. I will be thinking about all that I learned here for a long time.
Kenzie (USA)
¿What's Included?
Free Discovery Call & Plan
Flexible Start Date & Duration
Educational Documentation Support
Pre-Arrival & Travel Support
Shared Accommodation with WiFi
(Family Homestay also Available)
Lunches Monday to Thursday
Weekly Professional Learning/Mentoring
In-Person Coordination
Materials Budget
Cultural Immersion
Free-Time Recommendations
Certificate of Completion
Written Reference
Only $130 / week
(Minimum Stay 4 Weeks)
Additional Services
Private Room within a Local Family Homestay
Spanish Classes (before or during visit)
Private Transfer from Airport
Additional Professional Mentoring Sessions
Application Process
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Fill out the online interest form
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Participate in your discovery call, free of charge
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Review your personalised internship plan, free of charge
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Place your deposit & confirm your place
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Complete any required documents for your education provider
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Join us for an unforgettable experience in the Ecuadorian Andes!
Gain Experience.
Make a Difference.
Travel the World.
Imagine waking up to the cockerels at dawn as the sun rises over the horizon as you take in Chimborazo volcano over your morning coffee. After breakfast, walk down to meet your mentor, stopping to say hello to the friendly neighbours in the community as they take their cows to pasture.
Spend an hour to talk through your plans with your mentor, deepening your technical knowledge and finding out how to implement it within the local environment. Then take a trip into the colonial city of Guaranda to do some shopping and stop at a café to do some more research. Get back in time for lunch, which you spend with the rest of the team and workers from the local community, sharing stories and learning about the local culture.
Meet with your coordinator in the afternoon, to plan your pilot project or present your findings to the local community, before joining other interns and volunteers to go and watch the sunset, go out to a local bar/restaurant or simply spend the evening learning more from your host family.
Still not sure what a hands-on in the Ecuadorian Andes would look like? Speak to our team who will create you a personalised internship plan to give you a glimpse into the future, all free of charge.
