Internships - Sustainable Rural Development, Organic Farming, Fair Trade

Sustainable rural development internships available in Ecuador in CRACYP’s “green progress” 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 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.  Many of our projects involve organic cultivation and/or fair trade certification.

This is a great opportunity for those studying rural development, permaculture, sustainable development, organic agriculture, fair trade, ecotourism, community development or similar subjects to gain 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. 

There are also opportunities for business students or graduates to apply their skills (marketing, microfinance, business planning, etc.) to help small community enterprises in areas such as ecotourism and fair trade agricultural production.  Educators and public health workers are also welcome.

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

More details: Download the information pack from www.progresoverde.org/internship.html or email internship.ecuador@yahoo.co.uk.  Please quote reference SDIntMay12 when you apply.