Summary Report

“Overall, my experience at the Center was life changing. By the end of the project, I wished I could have spent more time at the center, as I felt I was only just starting to understand how everything functioned. My month volunteering there went very quickly and I feel the friends I made will be lifelong. The project itself definitely fulfilled its goal of making a positive impact on wildlife conservation. Because we worked so closely with the animals, the project was thorough at educating us on how to work appropriately with the needs of each animal. We learned about their diets, behaviors, injuries, and ages until maturity. Each day, we would clean the enclosures and center in the morning, making sure it was hospitable and comfortable for the animals we were rehabilitating, as well as presentable and welcoming for the visitors who keep our center running with their tickets and donations. Everyone working on the project cared deeply for the animals at the Jaguar Rescue Center. In addition, the permanent staff working on the project, had the skills and knowledge to educate us on making the most meaningful impact.

At the outset of the project, one challenge I encountered was understanding the routine of the center. Although volunteers come and go, it’s imperative that you get into the routine immediately so that the center can run as efficiently as possible. However, because the staff is so helpful and the longterm volunteers know how the center functions, this challenge was achievable. After just a few days at the center, I felt I knew what I had to do at any given time, even if not assigned a job. Another challenge I faced was understanding the specific behaviors of a variety of species of animals. On our first day at the center, Nerea, the chief operations officer, warned us about the fact that the animals we would be working with were wild and potentially dangerous if we did not know how to handle ourselves properly around them. Coming from New York and knowing little about such exotic species as sloths, howler monkeys, and toucans, I was originally a little worried. Because each animal is different, their body language and ways of showing distress are different as well. If uneducated on the behaviors of an animal, it is extremely hard to understand when they need something or are in pain, etc. However, as I began working more closely with the animals and taking careful note of all of the information Nerea would give us, I grew a lot more comfortable working with the animals. It was no longer a mystery why certain animals reacted in certain ways once I understood their background and why they were at the center. For example, Txantxi, the center’s collared peccary, is an extremely intelligent animal who needs a lot of attention and care. Because she will eventually grow to be much larger but cannot be released, we had to work closely with her to set limits on her actions and make sure she was safe roaming the center independently.

One success I am proud of is going into the forest with the center’s monkeys and watching over them as we let them explore the forest. Usually, volunteers are not able to go into the forest until the end of their trip because you have to understand the monkeys and know how to behave around them. For example, the female volunteers have almost no control over the adult monkeys, who want to exert their control over the females. In addition, we had to be very aware of the wild monkeys that come visit the center’s monkeys while we were out in the wild.

Because we had two days off per week, I was able to explore places outside the center. I spent a lot of time in Puerto Viejo exploring, going to the farmers market, and eating at local sodas. In addition, I visited Cahuita National Park, a beautiful park with a trail that lines the Caribbean shore.
Overall, the project surpassed my expectations. Never did I plan on having baby monkeys climb on me every day or observing sloths hungrily eat their veggies. We worked so much more closely with the animals than I expected and I know I would never have the opportunity to do something like this back home. I would definitely recommend the project to friends who have a passion for animals and are looking for a way to learn about wildlife conservation.”

Primate and Sloth Rehabilitation project in Costa Rica

My first report on the Sloth project

“I am currently a student at Duke University, going into my second year. I am majoring in environmental sciences and hope to work closely with the environment and species that comprise it. I was researching online for an opportunity to volunteer over the summer in a place that I could work hands on with animals in their natural habitat. When I discovered the Primate and Sloth Reintroduction program through Global Nomadic, it was both flexible enough to fit my schedule and looked like a rewarding, eye opening, and worthwhile experience. Because I am studying wildlife conservation, I hope to work in close proximity to the animals and understand their niches and behaviors. Growing up in New York I never had the opportunity to be immersed in a natural animal habitat as complex and fascinating as the Costa Rican forest and was excited about this opportunity. In addition, the reintroduction part of the project also sounds extremely interesting, as we will be attempting to re-incorporate rescued and rehabilitated animals into their natural environment. I hope that the project will teach me how to care for such exotic creatures as toucans and sloths, as well as learn about their environment and how we can all contribute to preserving a safe environment for these beautiful animals.

I did all of my pre-departure planning myself and it was not too difficult. I just had to coordinate with the Jaguar Rescue Center to establish a start date so that I could book a flight and shuttle to Puerto Viejo. I was very happy to hear that there was a hostel next to and affiliated with the Center and I decided that would be the best place to stay. Because volunteers do not start until Monday, I stayed in a separate hotel in Puerto Viejo for two nights before moving into my current hostel, the Jaguar Inn. Luckily, I did not have to raise funds for my trip and volunteering, though I am looking for a summer job when I get back home after the project to help pay for travel expenses.

My first day at the project was relaxed, as it was an orientation day for all of the new volunteers. We were given a tour and made aware of how the Jaguar Rescue Center functions. We were shown all of the enclosures and animals as well as introduced to many of the volunteers. Although slightly intimidated by the fact that I was in a new country surrounded by unfamiliar faces, everyone was welcoming and the environment of the center was friendly and inviting. It is truly inspiring how much the staff and volunteers care about the animals and put their wellbeing and comfort in the forefront. Overall, the staff is extremely helpful and, as one of the managers of the center said during orientation, we are all expected to work together as a family, human and animal included. The hostel I am staying in, The Jaguar Inn, is very close to the center (the next building over) and is thus very convenient. The rooms are all new and the kitchen and common area is inviting and open, especially during the day with the sunlight streaming in. The only negatives are the mosquitoes that have made their way into the rooms and the slow internet speed, which is my only means of contacting others. I have already made some close friends of the volunteers at the shelter and we spend our days off and nights traveling to stores or into Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo itself is a lovely little town that I would definitely visit again.

Each day I do a variety of tasks. At the start of the day, the volunteers help clean the center and sanitize the enclosures so that animal’s habitats are well maintained and the center is welcoming to visitors. For the rest of the day, our tasks will be more specific and range from working in the sloth garden to caring for baby Howler and Capuchin monkeys to observing animals as they get accustomed to their new environment to helping do the laundry or wash dishes in the kitchen. For example, on my first day I was responsible for taking care of a baby three-toed sloth that had a skin fungus and making sure his newly washed coat would dry in the sun. One thing I find extremely interesting is how closely females work with the baby monkeys. Because most of the babies are orphaned and thus have no mother to take care of them, the female volunteers fill this maternal role. Monkeys are social creatures that need the warmth and support of another figure. Luckily, however, the monkeys do not get attached to humans and thus when they are sexually mature can be released into the wild. All of the tasks I am assigned to do have a purpose and are part of maintaining the stability and order of the rescue center. I am extremely excited for the rest of my time volunteering with the project and being in Costa Rica exploring the beaches and jungle.”

Primate and Sloth Rehabilitation project in Costa Rica

(Very) detailed weekly reports on my time in Bali!

Week 1

I arrived on Monday the 13 th of March at 3 am, Chakra came to get me from the airport. On my first day, i went with Chakra to the Alchemy Academy and he explained me that they are building a worm toilet connected to a pool and a watering system, it is a closed water cycle. A worm toilet consists of the toilet connected to an underground tank with two compartments. In the first compartment a layer of mulch and worms is put in. This compartment is aerated and the worms take the pathogens out of the feces. The liquids flow into a second compartment which is not aerated, here an anaerobic reaction takes place and the clean, filtered water flows into the pool. The amount of methane produced in the anaerobic reaction is too small to capture and is just released in the ambient air.

After that we met with two different farmers, because Chakra had some tools for them and they discussed some business. It was very interesting to see how the balinese farmers live. They do not have one big house, but at least 4 small buildings, one house for the kitchen, one where the children sleep, one where the elderly sleep and one where the head of the household sleep. Behind this area is the house-temple.

On the second day Chakra had a meeting with an American couple that wanted to buy a place and start a restaurant. They asked Chakra to consult them, about the place, the produce and the costs. I came along to that meeting, it was interesting to hear all the things that need to be considered.

After that we went back to the Alchemy Academy and we shoveled some sand, which was hard because it was very warm.

Right after that i could come along to another meeting of Chakra. He met with two other guys which are also in the rice selling business. The goal of the three men is to give the power and independence back to the rice farmers. This means that there are as less people between the farmer and the rice buyer.

On the third day, Wednesday, we went again digging in the Alchemy Academy and in the afternoon we went to Chakra’s rice field nearby, but it started to rain heavenly and we quickly returned home.

On Thursday we went to Chakra’s rice field and did some weeding, this means we pulled all the unwanted plants out. In the afternoon we drove for 1.5 hours to The Green Camp in the mountains and helped building a chicken tractor out of babus. Chakra showed the teachers of the odyssey school how to build the chicken tractor and the solar dehydrator. A chicken tractor is a big cage for chicken, without a flor or bottom part, this way the chicken search for food in the ground and turn the ground around and aerate the ground. This is good to prepare the ground to plant some vegetables.

On Friday we did some more weeding of the rice field.

Week 2

On Monday the 20th of March we first mulched the rice fields, meaning we put the dried rice shells from the previous harvest on the field. This prevents the new weed from growing and it brings silica to the ground, which is good for the growth of the rice. After that we went to Alchemy Academy and did some more shoveling, but this time we buried the pipe coming from the septic tank (wormery). The water goes into a little garden for trees and vegetables. In the afternoon we went to some farmers house, because Chakra was suppose to teach some women about moringa, the process of making it and the packing up. However the women never showed up, so we did the packing up. This morgina is sold in local markets, but Chakra has more Moringa trees, which he exports to Germany. After that we went to a farm, where they grow ducks and chickens and chakra bought 10 ducklings. The ducklings were released into the rice fields, they eat the rest of the weed and they have protection and food.

On the next day we went early to the green camp, because Chakra was giving some lectures to a class from Singapore. The first lecture was about the rainwater that is gathered on the rooftop of the largest building. However the rain water is too clean to be drinking water, it will absorb minerals from our body. The rainwater can be used for every other use, showering, watering plants, washing… It is important that the water is stored under the surface and the tank has a U or V shape and is sealed with a black plastic membrane. This way the water is cold and not exposed to direct sunlight, so that no algae grows. The next lecture was about the bees, in a small hanging box bees have a hive. Per hive is only one queen, then there are the drones and the works. The works decide which role new born bees take, by what they feed them with. These bees give two small bottles of honey per month. After that Chakra talked about the cows, they give 30 kg of feces per day and for four cows this can be used to produce biogas. After that the children learned about composting weed, and how beneficial it is to put it back on the ground to rot.

After that Chakra left, but i stayed for three nights at the green camp. Sadly it rained all afternoon, so we did not work.

On Wednesday on the Green Camp we planted some tomatoes and broccoli. We made a little hole in the ground and put some compost in it and then replanted the plants from a green house. After that we put some hay on the ground around the plants to protect them and to hinder new weed from growing.

On Thursday and Friday we did the same thing we replanted kale, radish, salad, turmeric, bell pepper and mint.

Week 3

On Monday we started work with weeding the rice fields. After that we went to a construction site a little outside of ubud. Chakra is helping to build an ecologic house, meaning compost toilet, some electricity is generated from a river and bamboo cement. We helped building the floors, the bamboos are put horizontally and hold by steel contruction at the end. Then cement is put around the bamboo, this way the cost of the construction is way lower and more stabile. The cement has to be put in at the same day, so the cement is more stabile.

On Monday evening we celebrated the Balinese new year.

On Tuesday was the silent day, we could not leave the house and in the evening we could not turn on the lights.

On Wednesday we went to alchemy academy and we put the worms in the compost toilet. And we planted palm trees and lemongrass on the subsurface flow area, this is where the water from the showers and the sinks comes out and flow into the ground.

On Thursday we went to a workshop, where Chakra explained to 3 farmers how to plant rice the organic way. First you have to separate the good seeds from the bad ones. This can be done by buoyancy, if the seeds float in some sugar water they are not good seeds. The bad seeds can still be planted and used to feed the chickens and goats. After soaking over night, the good seeds are first put onto banana leaves with some compost and volcanic sand. This way the seeds can grow roots but for the replanting the roots are easy to take out, they do not break. After several days the seeds are ready to be planted in the field, and for the organic rice only one seed is planted at one point, because other rice farmers put several seeds in one place. After the first weeding of the rice field a liquid fertiliser can be put on the field. This fertiliser consists of banana stem, bamboo, and some legumes. The banana stem brings the potassium, the bamboo the silica and the legumes the nitrogen. This is chopped up finely and put in the sugar water with a little bit of EM4, this is a microorganism.

On Friday we went with Chakra to his rice fields in the west of bali, Jatiluwih. Chakra had a meeting with the farmers working on his fields. We went for a walk around the unesco heritage protected rice fields and it was very beautiful.

Week 4

On Monday in the morning we did some weeding and cut gras where the chickens live. In the afternoon we went to bought some young bamboo and plant it with lemongrass on the subsurface flow. Here you should not plant trees with fruits, as the water is not 100% clean. It’s the water from the sink and the showers. We also got some hay to put in the compost toilet for the worms.

On Tuesday the Balinese prepared for the next day, Galungan. So we did not work on Tuesday.

On Wednesday in the morning we went to the temples to celebrate the balinese revolution against ‘the mad king’ in the 12th century. In the afternoon we drove north to consult a water catchment system at a hotel. They have a compost toilet, but the rainwater hinders that the compost toilet works correctly. After that we went to see a hydro powered pump. It is very basic, but it works.

On Thursday we went north to the Beratan Lake to consult farmers on how to plant raspberries and how to get organic certificated. Their fields are in a slight slope, so they should plant in a perpendicular manner to the slope. This way the rainwater does not do any damage to the field.

On Friday was not much work to do, so Chakra showed us some pictures and videos of his projects. He build different types of compost toilets, dry and wet and different compositions. He explained us how his oven for drying the rice works, plus how it also treats bamboo. He also showed us pictures of hydro powered and wind powered generators. It was very interesting.

This week were three days of celebrations: the day for preparation, Galungan and the celebration of the rice field harvest. So we did less work this week.

By Claire Heuschling 2017

Environmental Internship in Bali

Making a difference in the Amazon

“Before coming to Ecuador to intern in the Amazon, I had no experience working for an NGO nor had I ever done any real long term work for a non-profit organization. Sure, I had volunteered. I was the treasurer of the biggest club in my high school. We worked with the homeless population. I volunteered at elementary schools in Nicaragua and Guatemala and in bioconservation in Costa Rica. However, in all my experiences I always felt as if something important was missing. I was there, bearing witness to the devastation of the longstanding hemispheric imbalance of North and South – an imbalance which has put the South through a downward spiral, resulting in economic dependence, depleted resources, and erosion of culture. My past volunteer experiences were positive because I learned more than I could have ever imagined and walked away with a completely changed perspective of the world we all share. Yet, outside of gaining insight and providing temporary support, I did not leave feeling I had left a permanent impact. I did not provide much long term support to the people where I was volunteering. I helped the stressed out teacher by splitting the class in two so she could focus on the kids that needed more attention. I helped out the tired and relentlessly dedicated turtle conservationists, who had their first break from nightly seven hour patrols because we were able to take over their duties for a week. However, these were short term, small drops of positive impact, and although certainly worthy, did not provide longstanding benefits to the organizations which is what I was yearning to learn how to do.

Although my past experiences with volunteering were eye-opening and great in many ways, I walked away troubled that the work I had done would not be of value after I left. As my experience in the Amazon winds down to a bittersweet end, I have had time to reflect on the incredible adventures and meaningful work I have done. From arriving to the shared intern house at eight in the morning after a sleepless night, exhausted, scared and sweaty, to my last days here, the road I traveled did not only serve to benefit my own understanding of the world, but gave me the opportunity to truly make a positive impact.

The first project I was really able to dive into was the complex, and at times difficult, mission to work with guayusa (tea) farmers to organize community banks. I attended dozens of community bank workshops where representatives from different rural communities would meet with each other and Runa staff to develop systems for finance, investment, and problem solving. My favorite part of these workshops was always the end, when a farmer would stand up to express genuine gratitude for how we were able to help them. It was because we worked alongside the farmers, giving them the tools to develop their own means of organization, that these workshops were so effective. Instead of throwing money at them or initiating our own projects, we helped to implement a method of community investment that was sustainable, even once we were gone and our work was done. I always left those meetings with a feeling of fulfillment, and an understanding that to have the positive impact that I had desired when I was in Costa Rica the month before, you must start small.

Working face to face with guayusa farmers and seeing measurable progress being made in real time was impressive and something I had not thought possible before. I came down to Ecuador with the dream of being a part of big change, as do many hopeful humanitarians across the world. However, what I realized is that the most effective thing someone can do is to work directly with individuals. To be inquisitive and creative about how to provide a service that allows them to create their own solution. As a Foundation Runa intern, that is exactly what I was able to do on a daily basis.

During my time at Runa, I built many deep and meaningful relationships with people from all different backgrounds. I had the opportunity to live with an Ecuadorian family for over half of my internship, which was more immersive and rewarding than anything I have ever done. The two places in the world I can say I truly feel at home is where I grew up, in Portland Oregon, and with my host family in San Pablo, Ecuador. In San Pablo I was able to see and experience first hand Amazonian life and culture. I encountered some of the difficulties that come with living in rural Ecuador, but most of all, I became absorbed in what I consider one of the most beautiful, vibrant, relaxed and friendly cultures in the world. As I get ready to say goodbye to my host family, I can be sure that I left behind a positive impact, as I am leaving as a friend, brother, son and cousin.

The Amazon is a tremendously special place that quickly works its way into your heart. I have acquired an entirely new appreciation for the endless beauty and abundance of nature, and for the importance of exploration and exchange of different cultural perspectives. I would do it all over again if I could. In a few days I will return home, but the trajectory of my life will forever be profoundly affected by my Amazonian internship and life experience. I urge anyone who feels a calling to be a part of an organization that works with locals to make a positive impact, a calling for adventure and learning, a calling to be a part of the difference you wish to make, to consider doing an internship in the Amazon.”

Agroforestry & Environmental Development Internships in Ecuador

Community spirit in Malawi

“In 2015 my girlfriend and I had the opportunity to volunteer with Phunzira, a nonprofit located in Ruarwe, Malawi. Phunzira offered something that many other organizations did not: a grassroots nonprofit, focusing on the individual as well as the community by providing aid through educational and health assistance. Phunzira’s transparency and supportive nature was evident from the beginning, and we soon felt as though we were part of something much larger, we felt as though we were part of a community.

As a community volunteer I worked primarily at Phunzira’s community resource center, Nyumba ya Masambiro, alongside other volunteers and staff in the IT department. Scheduling and conducting one-on-one daily computer lessons, I got to know many community members on a personal level. I worked with Phunzira’s staff to reorganize the resource center’s IT department, listing the functionality of each device and optimized the department’s laptops when possible. I also assisted in the tutoring of junior high and high school level students.

Although my time in Ruarwe was limited, I feel as though the work was impactful and I was able to develop a real sense of community. This combined with the picturesque setting along Lake Malawi, Phunzira is an organization I would sincerely recommend to all community volunteers.”
NGO Management Internship in Malawi

My time in Malawi

“In Spring 2015, I traveled to Ruarwe to be a volunteer teacher at Nyumba ya Masambiro after contacting Phunzira. My boyfriend and I were drawn to working with Phunzira because everything with this organization is so transparent and it is completely non-profit. We were also looking to avoid programs that charge volunteers, but give little opportunity to the volunteers eager to help a community. However, we almost immediately got the sense that the founders were open, honest, eager to help, and really cared about the community and the work going on in Ruarwe. Both myself and my partner have had a lot of experience working in African countries (at field schools and running research bases, during and after our undergraduate careers, respectively) but we had never had a chance to work with a non-profit or community center exclusively. Overall, our work at the center was a really fulfilling experience, and can even be very beneficial for future opportunities depending on what field you are in.

During my first trip to NYM I taught standard 8 (middle school/junior high school in the States) subjects, such as; environmental science, physics, mathematics, social studies. I was introduced to the headmaster of the primary school and provided with all the textbooks. The youth coordinator helped facilitate a teaching time schedule for my lessons in the community center. He and I also worked together to give art and swimming lessons, he was even willing to help me organize a fun swimming contest among the older kids. Everyone in the center was eager about our arrival and willing to help us in whatever we needed. We were just eager to help them though and they accepted us graciously. Everyone in the village is extremely warm and welcoming as well. The kids were all great and loved coming to class for extra help or participating in the activities I organized with the youth coordinator.

After I left Malawi a former student of mine wrote me a letter to thank me for tutoring him and to let me know that he passed his exams and could go to form 3. Unfortunately, many of the students’ families struggle to pay school fees. I wanted to be able to help him and the other students in Ruarwe so I developed a memorial scholarship in honor of a friend who passed away. Phunzira and NYM were great in assisting me with reaching my goals. With my scholarship program, I helped that student for the first year (2015-2016). With the help of the founders and another colleague who has a scholarship program in the area I could arrange for all the sponsored girls in that program, and my own, to receive reusable sanitary supplies so they wouldn’t miss school (2016-2017). I was also able to send 10 students to secondary school this year (2016-2017) with the help on Phunzira, NYM staff, and the other scholarship program I collaborate with.

I returned to Malawi January to February 2017 to visit my sponsored students and teach at the center again. Getting off the ferry was one of the most heartwarming experiences of my life. Many of my colleagues turned friends from NYM, along with some of my students, were paddling out in canoes to greet us as we departed the ferry. It truly felt like I had returned to my home away from home. Whilst at the village I realized some children in primary school went without an education because they couldn’t afford uniforms. Yet again the NYM and Phunzira helped me facilitate a plan to use my scholarship funds to buy students uniforms and it was a great success. This upcoming school year (2017-2018) I will be sending approximately 15 students to secondary school and purchasing more uniforms.
The point in sharing my aspirations for my project and what we have been able to accomplish is not to make anyone feel they are obligated to give donations or raise money when volunteering with NYM and Phunzira. My objective in sharing my story is so it is known that everyone associated with Phunzira and NYM are passionate about their work. They expect nothing from volunteers but to help in the center, but they enthusiastic and flexible when it comes to volunteers wanting to go beyond that. Everyone is welcoming and honest as well. If volunteers are truly looking for an experience where they will actually be able to help, actually be able to put forth knew ideas and suggest projects, and actually feel welcomed and appreciated – then volunteering with Phunzira and NYM is definitely the place to go!”

NGO Management Internship in Malawi

Supporting Livelihoods and Creating Value Chains with Farmers in the Amazon

“I found my internship program through googling everything about South America, craving for new adventures. When I found the opportunity to create value chains for rainforest products to support indigenous people and the sustainable use of the nature, I was hooked.

The house interns live is huge, with chickens living in the yard and a small river for your morning bath right behind the house. The first few days we did orientation and learned tons about Ecuador, Kichwa-culture, and how the organization works. Not to forget all the epic nature hikes, waterfalls and jungle adventures we were immersed in from the very first moment.

As I had studied International Business, my main activities as an intern were creating business plans and doing marketing research for possible products Kichwa-farmers could produce and sell from their agroforestry-systems. I was mind blown during the first weeks as I learned tons about agriculture, food production, and the problems current ways of producing food has throughout the world. Usually, I spent three days a week doing research and writing in the office alongside the program staff and other interns, and two days visiting communities and agroforestry farms to conduct surveys, observe meetings, or investigate a project. Weekends were saved for epic adventures around the Amazon and beyond.

The biggest challenge was definitely learning and using the Spanish language, since I really did not speak any when I arrived to Ecuador. Luckily, the work in the office was mainly in English and the people working in the organization are extremely qualified, which made the whole experience even more fruitful for my future studies and work. The lack of Spanish skills made me feel that I did not get everything out of the local culture I could have, however that just sparked my motivation to study harder and learn the language. Now, after my time interning, I feel very comfortable with Spanish and can even give presentations and participate in meetings all in Spanish!

Whether you study business, logistics, the environment, biology or medicine, this internship will definitely fulfill your expectations. After this experience I have a clear vision what I really want to study and do in the future, which is the reason I jumped into this learning adventure in the first place!”

Agroforestry & Environmental Development Internships in Ecuador

Best placement ever with a feel good factor

“I was very hesitant to go on my own to Tobago even though I have travelled extensively. I was very impressed with the whole set up from the get go. The team were very professional and actually cared about our well being whilst on the program. I would love to go again and am planning my next experience already. It exceeded my expectations without a doubt and I can honestly say I loved every minute of the experience! I felt so good and positive leaving as I felt I had done my bit for the animals in an amazing place. I would recommend it to anyone over 50 wanting a new challenge and to do some good at the same time.”

Veterinary Internship in Trinidad & Tobago