Anthropology & International Development Internship in Rural Ecuador

Design & deliver a hands-on, personalised Internship in Culture, Anthropology & Development to improve your resume and gain real-world experience, while making a real difference to rural communities in the majestic Ecuadorian Andes.

Research key development needs of low-income indigenous communities, and propose integrated solutions that also preserve their culture.

Benefits

Design and deliver a unique internship based on your career aspirations and local needs, supported by an experienced international team.

Advance your career, develop your skills, and improve your résumé through a hands-on project with 1:1 mentoring from a professional in the field.

Make a meaningful difference to low-income populations who lack the education, support, and resources to make the changes themselves.

Immerse yourself in another culture and experience a different way of life through family homestays, cultural activities, and life in a small rural community.

Set off on adventures and make lifetime memories with other interns and volunteers – climb mountains, hike through the jungle, and explore indigenous communities.

The Challenge

Guaranda is one of Ecuador's poorest and least developed regions. With a large indigenous population, the rural communities struggle with high poverty rates (40%), child malnutrition (48%) and teenage pregnancy (up to 50%).

500 years after the Spanish colonisation, the forces of globalisation threaten the native language and cultural heritage of these communities, as many young people leave in search of better opportunities in the cities and through illegal migration to the US.

The Solution

We need diverse cultures and indigenous ways of thinking if we are to survive on this planet, but may only have a generation or two to achieve this in Guaranda. Fortunately, enough ancestral knowledge survives for their traditions to be revived within the diverse global community in the 21st century.

Our mission is to deeply understand these cultures, enabling us to develop regenerative solutions that not only preserve and promote local pride, but also improve the quality of life for the communities in Guaranda.

Find Out More

Interested in developing your career while making a meaningful impact in low-income communities?

What's Included

Free Discovery Call & Plan
Flexible Start Date & Duration
Educational Documentation Support
Pre-Arrival & Travel Support
Shared Accommodation with WiFi
Lunches Monday to Thursday
Weekly Professional Learning/Mentoring
In-Person Coordination
Materials Budget
Cultural Immersion
Free-Time Recommendations
Certificate of Completion
Written Reference

Optional Extras

Private Room within a Local Family Homestay
Spanish/Kichwa Classes (before or during visit)
Private Transfer from Airport
Additional Professional Mentoring Sessions

What's Not Included

Flights, visas, vaccines, or any other expenses to reach us
Travel, health, and work insurance
Other meals
Leisure time activities & Spending money

Feedback

"I Had an Amazing Experience at El Terreno"

"I participated in their Culture and Anthropology internship and learned more than I could ever have expected. The support from the team throughout the process was outstanding and my experience in a homestay and with the other volunteers and interns was absolutely amazing. I am so blessed to have had this experience and would strongly recommend to anyone else who is considering"

- Naomi from the USA (Culture, Anthropology & Development, 2023)

Ready to Begin Planning Your Adventure?

Schedule your free discovery call and begin co-creating your personalised internship in the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes.

Start Dates

Flexible - all year round.

Pricing

$145 per week (when booked before January 2024)

We are a small independent organisation and receive no external funds for our programme and therefore there is a cost to the programme, which is used to exclusively to deliver you the best internship programme possible!