Volunteer in the Amazon Rainforest

The Chinimp Tuna Station is a young project owned and managed by a local shuar/kichwa family. In order to develop the station and the ideas and skills at the station, volunteers play a crucial part. Capital is scarce among the indigenous peoples and much conservation work therefore depends on voluntary efforts. The Chumapi-Shiguango family has therefore seen the benefits that international volunteers can provide and decided to offer volunteer placements in order to help strengthen the station.

The Chinimp Tuna Station is located on the boundary of Quichua and Shuar territory and is a truly bicultural station that offers a unique opportunity to experience two different cultures.

Volunteer Activities

These will vary according to both the needs of the project and the interests and capabilities of each volunteer. Most practical work is physically demanding, while other work requires a high level of mutual communication. The extent to which a visitor can develop their role as a volunteer as opposed to a tourist depends on their inspiration, knowledge, skills and commitment. The usefulness of volunteers increases exponentially throughout their stay as they develop the relationship of mutual respect and understanding with the family that is an essential basis to initiating projects which will last longer than the stay of a single volunteer.

There are many tasks which are ongoing on which volunteers will work alongside members of the Chinimp Tuna Station.

• Establishing and maintaining trails and tourist infrastructure

• Cultivation of broom fibers and other marketable crops

• Helping in the traditional farming of yucca, sweet potato, plantain, bananas, papaya, pineapple, chickens, pigs and others.

• Assist with the cultivation of ornamental and medicinal plants.

• Assist with the construction of typical houses.

• Helping with the cooking when there are many volunteers.

• Making pottery (women)

• Teaching English

• Participating in mingas on Mondays (community work day)

• Developing a garden for new crops such as peppers and cucumbers

• Installation and maintenance of a rubbish system.

Prices

The prices for volunteering is 75 USD per week and 12 USD per additional day.

We have a minimum level of commitment of two weeks for the volunteer program.

How to get there

Location

Once you arrive to Puyo, you will have to get off the bus and go from the main terminal to a different bus Terminal called the "Terminal Mariscal" and catch the bus going to Sucre/Chico Copataza. You can catch a cab from the Main bus Terminal to the "Terminal Mariscal" and it will cost about a dollar.

After you get on the bus to Chico Copataza it will be about an hour and 45 mins before you arrive to Chinimp Tuna. The project is located approximately 1 km before arriving at the Chico Copataza community and you will need to tell the driver to drop you of a little before the 2nd bridge (there is a sign saying Proyecto Chinimp Tuna). The bus driver and nearly everyone on the bus will know where you are wanting to go. Not many tourists/foreigners travel on the bus and usually only the community members use this bus. When you get off the bus at the Chinimp Tuna station, you will most likely be greeted by a family member, if not it will be a family friend.

There is a second option to get to the project form Puyo if you can not make the bus. It is a little more difficult though. From Puyo you can take any bus heading towards Macas from the main terminal. Get of at km 38 in the village Simón Bolívar. From there it's another 11 km to Chico Copataza and the Station. You can ask around for cars or taxis heading towards Chico Copataza and tell them to drop you of at the 2nd bridge. Hiring a car alone costs 10 USD. If you get a hitch, they normally charged according to the number of passengers (10 USD between all passengers). If you can't find a car, you can sleep for 4 - 5 USD in the Residencial Puerto Azul in Simón Bolívar and wait for the next direct buses. The buses pass the center of Simón Bolívar. Ask around for help. It's a small village and most people are friendly.

What to bring?

Essential items

• Sleeping bag

• Raincoat or poncho

• Rubber boots (can be purchased in Quito or Puyo)

• Flashlight with spare batteries

• Insect repellent (there has been no known cases of malaria in the area but there are many mosquitoes and other biting insects)

• Water bottle

• First aid kit- including generous supplies for dressing wounds against infection. Spare supplies will always be welcomed by the community.

• Sunscreen

• Candles

• Work clothes. It is good to have clothes which will never be needed to be clean again. They should be light weight and quick drying, but also sturdy enough to protect you from insects, sun and vegetation.

• Respectable clothes- it is not acceptable to wear dirty work clothes at community parties or in the school

• Dry-bag or plastic sealable bags (good for protecting equipment such as a camera or first aid kit from humidity and water)

Other practical items

• Mosquito net

• Sunscreen

• Binoculars

• Camera

• Toilet paper

• Candles

• Swim suit

• Pocket knife

• Sun glasses

• Washing soap (Bio-degradable