Location: Various locations around Ecuador. You can choose.

Duration: Minimum 2 weeks commitment.

Cost: $480 USD for 2 weeks placement. Includes 24 hour support, all food and accommodation, airport pickup/drop off, in-country orientation. $105 USD for each additional week.

Travel: You will be met at Quito International Airport and taken to the Project HQ by a project representative. You will given 1 week orientation, and then taken directly to your placement.

Work: Improve the lives of wild animals at a Rescue Centre, rehabilitating back to the wild where possible

Introduction

Wild animals are illegally captured from their natural habitat in different parts of Ecuador and sold to collectors.  Many of these animals have been seriously neglected and are often seriously and abused.  The aim of this project is to collaborate with animal Rescue Centres', animal sanctuaries and zoos throughout Ecuador, who host a huge variety of animals, some of them victims of unhealthy and illegal situations, born with birth defects or simply animals that have been born within the centres'.  The main purpose of these centres is to take the best care possible of these animals.

The Rescue Centres in which you will work provide the animals with shelter, medical attention and nourishment. When possible, the animals are reintroduced into their natural habitats.  However, many of the animals come to the centres with permanent disabilities and as a result cannot be returned to the wild.

This project focuses on all aspects of animal welfare and is ideal for anyone interested in animal volunteer work abroad.  There are many opportunities to help and feel part of a group dedicated to creating a more humane world for animals.  You will work to improve the lives of animals at the centres' with the intention, where possible, of successfully re-introducing them to the wild.

Daily Life

You work will depend upon your choice of location.  However, while you are at a centre you will mainly be involved in the day-to-day care of the huge diversity of animals at the centre.
You will help and be involved in task such as:

* feeding and caring for the animals
* cleaning and repairing living areas
* helping to improve facilities to create a more natural environment for the animals.
* teaching the animals how to eat, fend for themselves and other natural behaviours
* monitoring their progress along the path to being re-introduced to the wild.

Accommodation

You will live with an Ecuadorian host  family who will provide a comfortable single room, three daily meals (break fast, lunch and dinner) and a weekly laundry service. All the host-families have been carefully selected by the Project Provider.

You will be received as a member of the family and will be involved in the daily activities of that family, offering you the chance of putting into practice and improving your language skills whilst gaining special insight into Ecuadorian society.

All the host families reside in short walking distance or bus ride away, in quiet and safe residential sectors of the city and close to everything such as supermarkets, cafe-internet, medical centers, post offices, shopping malls, bars, restaurants, educational centers, libraries, cultural places, historical downtown, dance clubs, bus stations, airport, etc.

Requirements

All are very welcome on this project. However, if you do have any previous experience you are particularly encouraged to apply.

* Min age 18 - Max age 60
* Minimum 2 weeks commitment - 40 hours a week.
* Intermediate Spanish (Lessons available)
* Full travel & medical insurance
* Necessary vaccinations
* Necessary flights & visas

NO commission is added to the cost of this project by Global Nomadic. We ask instead for a flat placement fee of £125 per project (paid securely via Paypal). We offer full pre-departure support, ongoing email assistance and a full range of discounts with our selected partners.

Send us an email enquiry to find out more, or click the 'Join this Project' button below if you are ready to get involved.