Help rural entrepreneurs strengthen organisation, creativity, and business practices while building fairer, community-led economies.
The Challenge
In Bolívar, small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs depend on selling their limited products—such as milk, grains, or vegetables—to local markets. However, due to layers of intermediaries and unstable prices, they earn only a fraction of the value. Credit is prohibitively expensive, and technical guidance from public or private institutions is scarce.
At the same time, local cooperatives and associations remain weak, making it difficult for families to join forces and negotiate fairer terms. Administrative and financial capacities are often underdeveloped, limiting the potential for businesses to grow. Without new strategies for community-based business development, families remain stuck in cycles of poverty, vulnerability, and migration.
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The Solutio
At El Terreno, we believe local businesses are the backbone of thriving communities. Through this internship, you’ll work side-by-side with farmers, artisans, and young entrepreneurs to explore opportunities in agro-production, community tourism, and small-scale enterprises. Whether strengthening existing initiatives or creating new ones, interns bring fresh ideas in marketing, finance, and organization—helping families capture more value from their work and build sustainable, community-led economies.
Our Proven Methodology
Our internship programs are built around the transformative Design Thinking methodology, ensuring that every solution meets the unique needs of low-income populations. You’ll engage deeply with local stakeholders to understand root challenges, co-create ideas, and test solutions that drive real impact. Through immersive guided tours, social innovation workshops, and hands-on prototyping, you’ll collaborate to build and refine sustainable initiatives. By the end of your experience, you’ll not only gain professional skills but also create lasting resources that empower communities and future interns to continue this meaningful work.
Recommended by Previous Participants
¡Advance Your Career!
Gain more business development 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.
"Great experience to learn from and enjoy"
“I absolutely loved my stay at El Terreno. I had the opportunity to apply my passion for social #entrepreneurship to craft a project with the incredible #support of the El Terreno staff and mentors. I am so grateful for El Terreno, as it has shaped my life trajectory and pushed me to become a better individual—both personally and professionally!”
Elise from the United States (Community Business Development)
Results from Past Internships
Check out this final presentation from previous interns, to see what they've achieved during their time here
¿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 Friday
Weekly Professional Learning/Mentoring
In-Person Coordination
Cultural Immersion
Free-Time Recommendations
Certificate of Completion
Written Reference
Additional Services
Private Room within a Local Family Homestay
Spanish/Kichwa Classes (before or during visit)
Private Transfer from Airport
Additional Professional Mentoring Sessions
Washing Services
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
