Come and volunteer with Fundación Runa in the Amazon jungle, Ecuador!

Runa offers volunteers a unique opportunity to directly experience the cultural, environmental, and organizational elements of our work in collaboration with our diverse team of professionals. We both engage in and actively support the traditions we represent, and work hard while having a good time.

In Amazonian Ecuador, Runa’s unique combination of environmental, social, and business allows volunteers to receive a unique opportunity to participate in diverse range of activities that support the growth of this budding social enterprise. From trekking into the depths of the jungle to harvest guayusa leaves, to working alongside our technicians and engineers to develop and understand new agroforestry methods of growing guayusa, to participating in cultural exchange events and guayusa tea ceremonies, volunteers will experience first hand the breadth of Runa’s organizations and the indigenous Kichwa culture. Additionally, volunteers will also have the opportunity to develop their own research projects.

Runa’s work is highly collaborative, cutting edge, and adventurous at every turn.

We invite you to join us in the Ecuadorian Amazon!

Volunteer Activities:
• Harvest Guayusa leaves
• Plant Guayusa trees
• Deliver Guayusa trees to farmers
• Search for new Guayusa mother trees in the jungle

• Search for new trees/plants for agroforestry research
• Work in the Guayusa nurseries
• Work in Guayusa factory
• Assist on research projects such as Agroforestry System Design, Community Development and Agricultural Economics
• Assist on Forest Conservation and Watershed project in Colonso forest
• Give English classes

Optional Activities (not included with room and board):
• Spanish Classes
• White Water Rafting
• Homestay in one of the farming communities
• Participate in a guayusa tea ceremony

Living Arrangements:
Interns and researchers live in "Casa Runa" in Tena, Ecuador. Interns and researchers will be responsible for their own food. Ample low costs restaurants and markets are available within walking distance, and interns frequently cook meals together to limit food costs.

Costs:
$220 per week (includes accomodation and program)
1 week minimum stay

Please contact our Program Manager, Cassandra Walker at volunteer@runa.org for more information