GAIN REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SEE THE WORLD.
Design & deliver a hands-on, personalised Internship in Community Business Development making a real difference to rural communities in the majestic Ecuadorian Andes.
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 Solution
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.
Recommended by Previous Participants
Since 2021, We've Hosted Over 250 Participants from 40 Countries
¡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?
Pre-Arrival
Free Discovery Call with our Founder
Personalised Changemaker Plan
Pre-Arrival Logistics & Orientation
Documentation Support (credits / funding / university requirements)
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Accommodation
Single-sex Dormitories (≤4 beds per room)
Cooked Lunches (Mon-Fri)
Washing Service (1x per week)
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Projects
Arrival Onboarding & Orientations
Weekly 1:1s and Reflection Sessions
Bilingual Project Coordination
Professional Mentoring (1hr/wk)
Participatory Methodology & Tools
Community & Institutional Collaboration
Site Visit Coordination
Accident Insurance
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Personal & Professional Development
Weekly Group Workshops
Monthly Ancestral Ceremonies
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Free Time
Free Time Activity Recommendation
Language Exchange Evenings in Guaranda
Weekly International Shared Meals
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Post-Departure
Certificate of Completion
Written Professional Reference
LinkedIn Recommendation
Alumni Network
¿What's Not Included?
Pre-Arrival
Flights or Expenses to Reach Us
Visas or Vaccines
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Meals & Insurance
Ingredients / Meals Outside of Lunches
Insurance Coverage
Project Costs
Additional Project Costs:
(e.g. materials, transport, site visits, and coordinator / mentor expenses)​
**However, you can apply for a $50 project microgrant and/or we can support you to create a crowdfunding campaign to send through your networks.
Only $295/week
That's less than $45 per day​
You can make more impact when you stay longer:
12 weeks for the price of 10
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First 6 deposits of the season choose from
$25/week discount
Dinner Meals Included Mon-Fri
$250 Project Transport & Materials
50% off additional all services, up to $250
We are a small independent organisation and receive no external funds for our programmes.
Your contribution is used to exclusively to deliver you the best internship programme possible!
Additional Services
Private Room in a Local Family Homestay
Spanish/Kichwa Classes (before or during)
Private Transfer from Airport
Additional Professional Mentoring
Washing Services
Show Up. Fully!
We look for participants who:
Are Ethically minded & Share our Vision
Ready to Step Outside of their Comfort Zone
Passionate, Proactive & Work to deadlines
Take Pride in their Work
Build Authentic Relationships
Join our International Community!
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.
