GAIN REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SEE THE WORLD.
Design & deliver a hands-on, personalised Internship in Environmental & Civil Engineering to improve your resume and gain real-world experience, while making a real difference to rural communities in the majestic Ecuadorian Andes.
Help low-income, indigenous communities reduce water loss, improve housing safety, and restore their environment through sustainable, community-based engineering projects..
The Challenge
In rural Guaranda, essential infrastructure is often improvised rather than designed. Water reaches homes through long plastic hoses that crack under the sun and leak much of their flow before reaching families or crops. Adobe houses, though sustainable and traditional, are built without soil studies or solid foundations, leaving them vulnerable to cracks, settlement, and earthquakes. Household electricity is often routed with makeshift cabling, raising safety concerns. At the same time, decades of deforestation have reduced local water sources, while public services like schools and health posts have closed, creating additional pressure on already vulnerable families. Without technical guidance, many community solutions remain temporary and fragile, leaving structural challenges unresolved.
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The Solution
At El Terreno, we believe that the best solutions are built together. By combining local knowledge with hands-on engineering, we create practical and adaptable approaches that can address challenges in water, housing, energy, and beyond. Interns work side by side with families, professionals, and community leaders to test ideas, apply technical skills, and design replicable tools that communities can sustain long after the project ends.​
Recommended by Previous Participants
Since 2021, We've Hosted Over 250 Participants from 40 Countries
¡Advance Your Career!
Gain more project 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.
"I loved everything about this experience!"
Having recently graduated from university, I wanted to gain experience and put my skills into practice; this internship fulfilled that. The mixture of site visits as well as some desktop work that really worked for me. There is opportunity to work with the local community and really get involved. Also, the mentors taught me so much during and are genuinely amazing.
Joshua is also a great leader who you can can seek help regarding a work issues but also your personal well-being too.Finally, I stayed with a local family who were so accommodating. It was an experience I will never forget and will value forever.
Tiara from the UK (Community Water Projects)
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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Projects
Additional Project Costs**
(eg. materials, transport, site visits, and coordinator / mentor expenses)​​​​​​​
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**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
less than $45 per day​
Those who stay longer can make more impact
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
6-Week Pre-Arrival Spanish & Cultural Essentials Course
Airport Transfer
Private Room / Family Homestay
Breakfast Ingredients
Breakfast Meals (Mon - Fri)
Dinner Meals (Mon - Fri)
Additional Mentoring
Health Insurance
Monthly Ancestral Ceremonies
Language Classes (1/wk)
Cultural Activity (1/wk)
Changemaker Coaching Programme
The Ideal Candidate
Existing skills & experience in the project theme is preferred, but not essential. Bilingual coordinators will help with community engagement — but you will get much more if you come with at least B1 Spanish.
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What is essential is a hard-working, professional attitude with passion for making a difference. To thrive in rural Ecuador, you need to be positive, adaptable and a good collaborator.
Mutual respect for communal living, the lived experience from locals and the El Terreno team is key.
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.
Safety in Ecuador
We sometimes get asked about travelling in Ecuador — is it safe?
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While it's impossible to answer with a 'yes' or 'no', what we can say is that since starting programmes in 2021, nobody has been robbed or assaulted at El Terreno, and with a police station in the village, people generally feel very safe.
As with many places in the world, you need to take care of yourself while travelling, and we will provide a full orientation including how to be a savvy traveller. If you follow our advice, you're most likely to have a safe and fun experience.
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If you'd like to learn more now, we've written the following blog to help you come prepared:
