Internship, Health and Safety in Rural Ecuador

Internship available in Ecuador helping improve health and safety on CRACYP´s sustainable rural development projects in the foothills of the Andes. 

CRACYP (which stands for Rural Reforestation and Progress Network Corporation, in Spanish) is a non profit organisation working in over 200 agricultural communities on the borders of the Cotopaxi, Bolivar and Los Rios provinces in Ecuador.  

CRACYP´s aim is "Progreso Verde" or "Green Progress" - conservation of the environment and economic and social development of local communities.  We aim to transfer appropriate technology and sustainable alternative agricultural methods, in exchange for community participation in reforestation.  This process also increases the production alternatives and resources of the communities involved, improving their quality of life.  

Health and safety is a virtually unknown concept in rural Ecuador, so this is a great opportunity to make a real difference whilst gaining practical field experience.  Interns will help with a range of environmental and development projects as well as undertaking a small development project of their own and participating in monthly development workshops.  The main focus will be on improving health and safety in the many small, family-run sugar cane mills and distilleries in the area.

Interns will be based mostly in the organic sugar cane farming communities in the foothills of the Andes, a beautiful area with a subtropical climate.  Projects involve not only organic agriculture but also environmental issues, education and other development challenges for the sugar cane farmers and the communities they live in.

More details:  http://www.progresoverde.org/internship.html or email internship.ecuador@yahoo.co.uk.  Please quote reference SDHasJun10 when you apply.