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The Arútam experience (by Kelly Schiller and Eckard College)

Experiencing Arutam from Kelly Schiller on Vimeo.

If you are interested in learning about other cultures and protecting the Amazon rainforests, an adventure waits for you in Arútam and Ecuador.
We offer volunteer placements all year round to people who actively want to engage in community development, conservation, and experience the Amazon as well as learn about the contemporary life of the Shuar Indians.

For us, volunteering is not just about the work. It is also a cultural exchange and opportunity to learn about the Shuar culture and volunteers will be living and sharing meals with Shuar families and are invited to participate in all community activities. You will also be given the opportunity to visit other Shuar and Quichua communities in the surrounding forest as well as exploring the amazing 2100 acre reserve situated right next to the community..

FUNDECOIPA differ from many other volunteer projects by being managed entirely by the local indigenous peoples. Our boards of directors as well as staff are recruited in the local Shuar communities. The vision is to achieve long term sustainability of the projects by securing full ownership to the indigenous communities as well as gaining the capacity from administrating the projects. 

Building up sufficient managerial skills is a long term process when starting out with subsistence farmers. In this process volunteers are considered a crucial and part by exchanging ideas and knowledge with the villagers as well as providing suggestions for improving the projects and general development of the indigenous communities