Organic Agriculture Internship, Ecuador

Internships available in Ecuador helping CRACYP´s organic sugar cane project 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.  

One of our projects is a sugar cane farming cooperative who have become the first group in the world to produce organically-certified, community-traded alcohol, which they now sell to the Body Shop for organic perfumes.

This is a great opportunity for those studying organic agriculture, rural development or similar subjects to gain practical field experience.  Interns will help with various aspects of organic sugar cane cultivation and alcohol production as well as undertaking a small development project of their own and participating in monthly development workshops. 

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.  CRACYP’s 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, so there may be chances to get involved with other aspects of development too.

More details:  http://www.progresoverde.org/internship.html or email internship.ecuador@yahoo.co.uk.  Please quote reference SDOrgFeb10 when you apply.