Overview introduction Huayra Causay is a non-governmental organization. Their members are a group of highly motivated young people, interested and qualified in sustainable agriculture and natural resource management. Huayra Causay achieved its legal recognition in 2007 (however the NGO began its work in 2006). The organization is located in Ecuador, South America. Among other activities, we coordinate a program in sustainable agriculture that recruits young Ecuadorians to be trained on U.S. farms for 8 months. This program has been running in partnership with MESA (Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture). So far, 74 Ecuadorians have participated under the coordination of Huayra Causay.
The organization coordinates and monitors local projects throughout Ecuador focusing on sustainable agriculture areas such as agro-ecosystems, animal feed, urban agriculture, grazing, environmental education for youth, food sovereignty and farm management and also research, teaching and thesis programs. Huayra Causay is pathfinders, dreamers and innovators who believe that it is necessary to change our way of living in order to increase global cooperation on sustainable development. The organization contributes to this rebalancing by promoting and supporting alternative approaches to agriculture. Furthermore, Huayra Causay is willing to build alliances with grassroots organizations, universities, communities, international development agencies, other NGOs and private companies interested in raising awareness and partnerships for the planet.
Volunteer Program Highlights The Hands Across Borders program seeks to foster intercultural dialogue and to promote social bonds between communities (rural and urban collectives) farms and volunteer participants from different backgrounds. The program is based on sustainable agriculture guidelines and the provision of technical assistance to build on community assets and develop social cohesion skills among participants. ● The Hands Across Borders program promotes mobility within and beyond the borders of
participants’ home countries, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue, and encourages the inclusion of all young people, regardless of their educational, social or cultural backgrounds. ● This project enhances local and global cultural awareness to involve youth in
environmental issues. ● It does encourage creative thinking for self-entrepreneurial opportunities for both
partners: the farmers and volunteers.
Volunteer by areas We are looking for dynamic and outgoing people who want to connect and be involved in community building with the local people in rural and urban communities in Ecuador. We hope that the volunteer will be open-minded, flexible, and motivated to participate in a number of different activities over the course of the program (from 2 to 6 months). We are looking for people interested in learning Latin American agriculture techniques, as well as culture and the dynamics of minority groups. The volunteer program provides the participants with an important exchange of information, ideas by implementing educational workshops about organic farming, food sovereignty, education and interaction with the environment, etc. The volunteers will participate in agricultural activities that local communities or host families do on a daily basis; such as planting, harvesting, weeding, and livestock care. Volunteers will be able to join local projects and assist in farming activities (e.g. composting, planting new crops, reforestation, agriculture techniques etc.) as well as knowing the local ecology and education (foreign languages or any subject). Another activity will be collecting and gathering information in certain communities, in order to be used for future projects. Statistics gathered by Huayra Causay will help facilitate programs with other grass roots organizations and evaluate the impact of the different projects.
Requirements The Hands Across Borders program does not require volunteers to have special skills or special training in sustainable farming, however we are looking for volunteers that have interest in or love for sustainable agriculture and ecology and have a true desire to share their time and energy as well as their knowledge with the communities involved in this program. Volunteers should be 18 years old and to be in good health.
Language Basic level of Spanish or higher is a must, but don't worry because volunteers will take an Intensive Spanish course of 1 or 2 weeks in our House which is located at Quito "Vivir en Quito". You are required to take a Spanish test before you arrive in Ecuador; this test will be done by Skype and will evaluate your knowledge of Spanish.
Vaccinations Yellow Fever
Insurance We recommend purchasing travel insurance prior your arrival otherwise; we will assist you in obtaining one.
Visa If you stay is less than 90 days, you can use a tourist visa but if you are going to stay longer than 90 days, you do have to obtain a volunteer visa before your arrival.
What will happen once you are accepted into the program? Once you are accepted into the volunteer program you will be transported from the airport to our house in Quito "VIVIR EN QUITO" www.hcausay.org/hospedaje_en_quito.html for 1 or 2 week orientation seminar, where we will introduce volunteers to the Ecuadorian organic agriculture, culture and the volunteer program (guidelines about safety and travel) . You will also receive an intensive Spanish course. In this time we will have the chance to get to know you and your volunteer goals. Other activities will include cultural presentations: the politics, history, myths, traditions, etc. of participants’ home countries; Cuisine - Fusion food, using local products to prepare overseas recipes; play: performing and telling stories about participant’s country traditions; workshops focusing on ecological economics, politics issues in global agriculture; ecofeminism (gender equality, cultural and non-verbal behavior) and Community Development. For the next 2 to 6 months the volunteers are matched with organic farms (Environment, Agriculture and Livestock) according to similar agricultural interests for the volunteer. We have 10 hosting farms. These are located in throughout the 4 regions of Ecuador such as the Coastal region, Andes Mountain region, the Amazon rainforest and the Galápagos Islands. Every volunteer will be able to spend this time in two farms or just stay at one farm. That means 2 1/2 to 3 months at one farm and 2 1/2 to 3 months in another farm. The activities will be according your farm or community and the project selected. Finally the volunteer program ends with a last gathering at the Huayra Causay house for 1 week where all volunteers reunite to share their experiences, and to participate in tourist activities in Quito.
Living accommodations Hosts provide living accommodations and food (3 meals per day) for the duration of the volunteer's stay. Extras such as television, internet service, and telephone access vary according the host farm or community and may include very rustic living conditions. During the volunteer’s stay at community lodges and with families, the volunteer will agree to respect the way of life of the members. Volunteers will be expected to help with general house cleaning and daily meal preparation.
Schedule The volunteers will work an average of 40 hours per week. Working hours are generally 07:00 am – 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. However this will change according the host activities. You will know the schedule once you are selected.
Free Time Volunteers will be able do some tourist activities near the farm or community or to become involved in social activities such as traditional holidays, preparing typical Ecuadorian food, learn about community culture (customs, ancestral practices, language) with your host, farmers, and population. They can also visit other sites close to their place.
What’s the Volunteer program included? Huayra Causay will support in: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Transfer service from the airport to our house in Quito. Accommodation for one to two weeks at our house "VIVIR EN QUITO" Internet, cable-tv, fully equipped kitchen, laundry room, BBQ area. Spanish intensive course for 1 to 2 weeks (this depends of your level of Spanish proficiency). Orientation to Ecuadorian agriculture and a cultural introduction to Ecuador. Host assessment and matching according your profile and your volunteer goals. If you will require a volunteer visa we will give you all the information related to the process. Workshop to highlight aspects of the project. Orientation of safety, security and emergency information. Transportation to your host farm or community and retrieval when the program has finished. Regular Monitoring of your adaptation and progress during the volunteer program. In case of emergency we will contact to your family or emergency contact. Tourist information about places and activities around your farm or community on your days off.
13. Certificate of Participation in Huayra Causay volunteer program. 14. 1 week of closing meeting at our house in Quito, accommodation and food inside the house. 15. Huayra Causay will look for seminar in agro ecology topics in cities close to where you are
located. 16. Transfer service from our house to the airport at the end of the program.
Not Included 1. Airline tickets, costs and expenses related to: VISA*, Travel insurance*, vaccinations,
medications and days off. 2. Meals or food outside of the host placement. 3. Expenses related tourist activities during free time and last seminar. 4. Personal expenses such as daily internet* use, or phone calls. *If you require these services we would help you to get them with an extra cost of the program fee.
How to apply? 1st.- Complete the application form and send it back to us. This application provides us the information necessary to coordinate and match you with a host farm or community based on your profile and goals. At this time you will deposit an application fee ($ 150 non-refundable) for application review, processing and Host placement services. 2nd.-After your application has been reviewed, you will be contacted with your host placement confirmation and we will provide you with information and details about the farm or community selected for your volunteer program. We will give you the cost of your volunteer program according to the time you have selected on the application form. We email you to complete your payment in full 30 days before your arrival to Ecuador.
Volunteer Program Cost? The cost for our volunteer program are defined per months, if you will require to stay less to a complete month we will charge you for a full month.
Length of Program 1 Month or less 2 Months or less 3 Months or less 4 Months or less 5 Months or less 6 Months or less
Cost US dollars $1318 $2397 $2996 $3745 $3943 $4150
Where does your money go? We use a percentage of the program fee for the transfers, accommodation and meals in your first and last week in our house, the larger part goes directly to the host farm or community where you are volunteering, in form of your accommodation and meals. Another percentage is used for our overhead administrative expenses, host assessment and matching you with your host, as well as for ongoing recruitment and new projects development. Without this program fee we wouldn’t be able to provide you with the support you need here for place and host you.
If you have any questions about the information provided, please feel free to contact us at any time: E-mail:
[email protected] or www.hcausay.com Contact name: Diana LLaguno Phone: (593-2) 3226713 - 3226706 Celular: (593) 999916418 Address: Barcelona E16-12 and Tolosa (La Floresta) Quito - Ecuador
WELCOME TO ECUADOR!
Sincerely, HUAYRA CAUSAY
