Information
Where does Intag work:
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Intag
Otavalo, Ecuador
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"Intagtour", an Ecotourism and Volunteer Project of Cuellaje parish, Intag, Ecuador, was formed in December 2007. We began to develop the ecotourist potential of this beautiful area, with the idea of improving local incomes and so slowing down destruction of the forest and jungle ecosystems. During 2008 and 2009 we developed a volunteer programme, providing placements in local schools, farms, and with the nature reserve rangers. We aim to bring the friendly people of this isolated part of Ecuador into contact with visitors from the outside world, with the purposes of encouraging the self-esteem of the local population, building up their appreciation of their beautiful natural surroundings, and empowering young people to follow the career of their choice without feeling limited or frustrated by their remote natural surroundings.
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Current Projects
We currently work with 5 local schools: San Antonio, Rosario, La Loma, Napoles and San Alberto, providing volunteers for the regular teachers particularly with English, but also with other subjects such as sports, music, dance, mathematics and craftwork.
We also work with the Cuellaje college in the Cuellaje town which has about 250 students aged 12 to 16. Again, the emphasis is on english teaching, with other subjects welcome according to the interests of the volunteer. Cuellaje college is in a process of expansion for a tourism school, for which it needs French and/or German teachers during the school year (april to january). The college is also looking for suitably qualified volunteers to help with an innovative refuse disposal scheme for the parish - technical assistance requested with: " zip line" installation, composting, bio-construction, tree nursery and demonstration organic garden.
We are improving pathways and facilities in the local nature reserves, so that visitors from outside can experience pristine jungle with less discomfort!
We aim to place volunteers with local families after 1 or 2 days' acclimatisation in the community guest-house, because we think that an important part of each placement is experiencing family life and daily tasks in this beautiful but little known part of Ecuador.
We seek volunteers interested in learning about the local customs and farming methods to live and work with local farming families.
Finally, we need volunteers with an interest in ecology and conservation to work with the nature reserve rangers. Tasks include : patrols to safeguard jungle and water resources; ecological education for local schools; GPS surveys and map elaboration; and for those with a biological specialisation, to carry out a survey of the flora and fauna in and near to the huge (260,000 hectare/600,000 acre) nature reserve.
Partner Needs
We would like to receive volunteers able to help in the following areas.
A) Teaching. Mainly for children, but also for adults. The principle need is for English language, as this is an obligatory requirement for the Ecuadorean Secondary education certificate that local teachers are unable to meet. But we also warmly welcome teaching in almost any subject that interests our volunteers: for example, music, cookery, farming skills, dance, craftwork, mathematics. Local schools have recently received computers and internet connection from the government, and we need volunteers able to teach basic computer and internet skills both to the teachers and to community leaders.
B) Farmwork. Here, the main object of the placement (apart from having a fantastic time!) is to share in the tasks of the host family, increasing their self-esteem and appreciation of the value of their natural surroundings.
C) Conservation/ecology. We seek volunteers to work with the nature reserve rangers in a variety of conservation tasks such as patrolling the reserve, ensuring compliance with laws to protect forests and water soureces, and environmental education in local schools. We also wish in the longer term to make ecotourism a source of sustainable income for locals in this beautiful part of Ecuador, so that we slow down deforestation, and we seek specialist knowledge in developing and marketing ecotourism in the area. Ramiro Ayala, the Reserve Ranger has also requested help from those able to carry out GPS land surveys, and consequent elaboration of maps.
D) The Cuellaje college is in a process of expansion for a tourism school. The college is looking for volunteer knowledge in the area of waste recycling, bioconstruction, "ziplines" for tourism and other uses, composting, tree nursery, and organic demonstration garden.
E) Biologist / Ecologist: To carry out a flora and fauna survey of the Cotacachi Cayapas nature reserve working with the reserve ranger, Ramiro Ayala.
Financial Needs
We would like to build an adobe guest house in the San Venancio nature reserve (see our website). We estimate the cost of the guest house to be around $800, including materials and food for the building team, and to include some labour costs.
We would also welcome financial help to improve the educational facilities of the children in the 9 local communities. We are particularly interested in providing second hand computers and educational software for the children.
In Kind Needs
We would like second hand computers and computer accessories for local schools, aswell as educational software. We would also greatly appreciate English language teaching books.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of Cuellaje parish, while conserving the delicate cloud forest/jungle ecosystem in which we are privileged to live. We aim to provide a safe, comfortable and friendly environment in which volunteers, eco tourists, students, and scientists can enjoy the experience of visiting a remote cloud forest community.