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The ethos of our work in Ecuador is that projects are run cooperatively, all development initiatives are chosen and led by local people ensuring that our projects are well managed and needed by the community. Projects are sustainable, giving long-term benefits to both the community and environment.
Environmental Policy - Volunteers are based in 3 different locations throughout Ecuador. The projects however are in walking distance of the accommodation. Project work includes a mix of rewarding community, eco-tourism and conservation projects – maintaining paths, monitoring wildlife, teaching English etc. A large part of the project is protecting and preserving both communities and the forests from the damage being caused by logging companies. Hands on projects working alongside committed communities are a powerful way to educate the next generation of travelers. In addition we have well briefed and professional project leaders working alongside village elders who ensure the message is got across.
Our teams are normally no bigger than 10 -12 per departure and foodstuffs are bought locally and resources such as heating in camps where possible is done in an environmentally friendly fashion e.g. solar panels. In addition rainwater is collected for drinking water. Clothes’s washing is done where possible with biodegradable soap. Litter is collected and disposed of properly. Walking on paths and erosion is taken seriously.
Social Responsibility- We ensure that all its programmes work with the full agreement of local elders and that volunteer’s work side by side amongst the community. More often living in the community. We pay the communities for looking after volunteers and every volunteer has a donation to the community included in the cost – currently £80 per person. This is used to buy materials to build classrooms, pay for education fees and so on. We also work alongside local charities as often as we can supporting their aims. All volunteers and Project Leaders are fully briefed on the destination, host community, local culture, religions, customs and particularly ways of behaving.
Economic Sustainability - We ensure that approximately 60% of the cost of each volunteers scheme is paid to the project leader in country to cover all their in-country costs. This includes paying local communities for food and accommodation where appropriate. In addition we pay communities a donation as described above and source all food, drink, equipment, fuel locally thereby enhancing the local economy.
The hosts employ as many staff as they can cutting down on unemployment and providing families with an income. Sometimes this income supports numerous relations. We also recognize that volunteers spend their own money on drinks, transport, souvenirs, services (taxis), medical care, park fees, activities e.g. rafting, diving, climbing etc which are major contributors to local suppliers incomes and the overall economy.
We invite every traveler who books a vacation via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the vacations they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same vacation can have different views!
