This is an ongoing project. Minimum period of volunteering is of 4 weeks.
We offer volunteer programmes on the island of San Cristóbal, Galápagos. We have projects available in the following categories: environmental, community work and hypo-therapy, which uses the therapeutic movement of horses to treat numerous conditions. Our projects are situated on the upper part of the island, and we rely on the co-operation between various organisations.
Our mission is to provide alternative activities and projects which promote participation with the native communities on the island. Our vision is to create sustainable projects with civic participation to create more opportunities to enjoy the tranquility which exists in the upper part of the island, as much for the volunteers and tourists as for the population of San Cristóbal.
We have a house and 50 hectares of land which are used for the project. We have a tree nursery which is used for the reforestation project, and also use eight horses for the practice of hypo-therapy.
Furthermore, we work in co-operation with families in the communities on projects involving the control and monitoring of harmful plants, as well as cultural exchange. Additionally, we work in co-operation with various other organisations for Inter-cultural interaction with children and teaching of Basic English; technical support at a reforestation project; providing hypo-therapy workshops for children with special needs and to provide fruit for the canteen.
Project:
This project is aimed at reforestation, and is assisted with technical support from the Charles Darwin Scientific Station (CDSS). Its main impact is to reduce the damage caused by the introduction of new species of plants on the island of San Cristobal, restoring the native forests in the area of La Soledad and the Port of Baquerizo Moreno.
Work:
The volunteers work in the area controlling and eliminating the new plants, in order to allow the planting of native trees in the future. They also look after the plants in the nursery. One day a week a scientist from the CDSS comes to supervise and to give a talk about the importance of this project. The personnel also assign projects on short notice and provides follow up guidance.
Volunteers will work from Monday to Friday, from 9am-12am and from 3pm-5pm.
Hosting Fee:
US$450, to be paid in Quito at Fundación Chiriboga offices. It includes 4 weeks of accommodation in the project's house. When there are groups of more than 10 volunteers per project, volunteers will be placed in family homes in the port. Our services rely on help in all areas relating to the needs of the volunteers, in particular help in preparing meals. The volunteers will buy the supplies and will be assisted by a lady in the preparation of meals.
The fees also include a tour on horseback for a day, a day of surfing lessons, 10% discount in the Dive & Surf Club shop and a volunteering certificate signed by the manager and the director of the Charles Darwin Scientific Station. This fee does not include food, flights, any kind of transport, local tours, bottled water, extra drinks, phone calls or Internet.
« I appreciate that constructive criticism may be more useful to you than praise but I honestly have no gripes that I could possibly mention. I can only thank you for the experience that I really enjoyed and will undoubtedly follow-up in the coming year. »