¡Equality, Values and Governance in Action!:
The following is an El Terreno newsletter published on 20th May 2025
Hola there,
With thanks to our popular programmes and meaningful projects, El Terreno is going through a growth spurt!. Other than the great initiatives and partnerships our interns have been building, we've been growing our team and systems to be able to provide better and bigger impact.
You'll learn about the values we've developed as part of this process, as well as some interesting presentations within this newsletter.
Joshua Holmes
Founder, El Terreno
Meet the Reality for Women and Girls in Ecuador
Before coming to Ecuador, it's difficult to imagine what life is really like for the local people. This is especially true in nuanced and sensitive issues like Gender Equality & Reproductive Health.
That's why we asked our mentor, Pamela Ordóñez, to share her experience on gender equality in Ecuador — from hard data to real-life stories and concrete community strategies. She emphasises how equality isn’t just about numbers, but about who leads, whose voices are heard, and how we design interventions that shift culture. |
The session also challenges us to embed gender equality at the heart of our projects, rather than treating it as an add-on. So if you want to make a difference through a hands-on project, while developing your professional skills alongside trained professionals, get in touch to arrange what an personalised internship might look like for you. |
Governance for Local Agriculture Assocations
Following on from the work done by Elise in our previous newsletter, we had another intern from the USA, Luke, to help us progress the Chochos project. As a law student, he was interested in how rural communities can help lift themselves out of poverty by organising themselves to be more effective and efficient in local markets. |
Other than building great friendships over evening meals and weekend adventures, Luke was able to develop a meaningful research project into the different legal frameworks available in Ecuador, as well as draft some collaborative agreements to be used between the El Terreno Foundation and local associations. Watch his final presentation to learn more: |
"El Terreno is a wonderful experience to learn about the realities of economic, social, and cultural problems, and engage in meaningful work that contributes to sustainable solutions." - Luke, USA |
If you're interested in joining one of our internship programmes, including our new 'Law & Community Governance', see the link below and request a free discovery call today!
But be quick - you'll save $25 per week on 2026 prices if you book before the end of the year! |
What We Stand For
At El Terreno, culture has always been something you can feel — in how we greet each other, how we collaborate, how we share food, and even how we approach the soil beneath our feet. But as we’ve grown, we realised it was time to put that feeling into words.
Values are not just slogans on a wall. They are the shared principles that shape how we think, act, and create. They help us make decisions, onboard new people, and stay true to who we are, even as we evolve. That’s why we recently brought together members of our staff and our mentors mentors for a workshop to explore the heart of El Terreno’s culture. |
We laughed, shared stories, and listened to one another’s experiences. The result was a set of six core values that reflect not only how we work, but who we are.
Come from PURE INTENT Come with an genuine desire to make a difference. More than a Job — JOIN A CONNECTED COMMUNITY We welcome and help develop the whole person
Learn from LIVED EXPERIENCE Best solutions integrate diverse perspectives on any issue
Take PRIDE IN YOUR WORK Strive for excellence in service to something bigger than yourself
BREAK THE MOLD Inspire, innovate, take a fresh approach — even if it's a little crazy! Build something for the NEXT GENERATION Building a microcosm of a new world |
T“El Terreno has always been more than an organisation — it’s a living experiment of what the world could be. These values are our compass, guiding how we build, grow, and connect — with each other and with the Earth.” — Joshua, Founder of El Terreno
These values capture the spirit that’s always been here: from the courage to do things differently, to the care we put into every action. They remind us that every project, every seed planted, and every conversation is part of something bigger.
As we continue to grow, these values will guide us, helping us stay authentic, grounded, and connected to our purpose: to co-create more vibrant, prosperous, and regenerative communities, where migration is a choice, not a necessity. |
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