Volunteer: Plants, People, and Healing: Discovering Ecuador s Amazonian Ethnobotany

Overview

Volunteer: Plants, People, and Healing: Discovering Ecuador\’s Amazonian Ethnobotany — a volunteer program hosted by Global Nomadic. The program offers immersive experience in the Ecuadorian Amazon, focusing on medicinal plants used by the Kichwa and local communities, ethnobotany, and traditional medicine. We offer a unique and transformative opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and rich biodiversity of the Amazon.

Experience / Responsibilities

• Work with traditional healers, medicine men, and local specialists to learn about medicinal plants, pharmacopoeias, and how they reflect local epidemiological concerns.
• Study the medicinal plants used by the Kichwa people and understand their cultural significance.
• Explore benefits of cultivating medicinal plants in home gardens and understand knowledge determinants within Shuar and mestizo communities.
• Contribute to projects that support local medicine men and healers in education and cultural preservation.
• Daily activities include working at agroforestry farms, cultivating medicinal plants, and participating in plant inventories to gain practical ethnobotany experience.
• Live with host families to fully immerse yourself in the local culture.
• Evenings/weekends include activities like sports, teaching English, and exploring local destinations to enhance cultural exchange.

Logistics & Duration

• Duration: Minimum 2 weeks (cost: 1000 per week; minimum booking 2 weeks, including travel time).
• Location/Transport: Fly into Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito; we arrange transport to Tena (about a 4-hour drive).
• Accommodation: Stay with a host family in a private room, with option to arrange a local hotel if you prefer.
• Support: Airport pickup and transfer to the project; all project-related activities included; Premium Support Package with 24/7 support.

Costs, Inclusions & Exclusions

• Includes: Private accommodation, all meals, airport pickup and transfer to project, all project activities, Premium Support Package with 24/7 assistance.
• Not included: Flights, visas (if applicable), vaccinations, travel insurance, personal spending and any extra activities.

Notes

Please note: all information above is subject to change. Please check the Global Nomadic website for the most up-to-date information when applying. Simply follow the link on the Apply Button above.

Qualifications

• Seniority level: Entry level
• Job function: Training, Other, and Health Care Provider
• Industries: Non-profit Organizations, Medical Practices, and Philanthropic Fundraising Services

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