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Volunteering at Irshim
The Irshim station provides a great opportunity to experience the Amazon, its flora and fauna, and learn about the language and culture of the Shuar Indians. Volunteers can participate in a series of activities such as: Establishing and maintaining trails, helping in the traditional farming of yucca, sweet potato, plantain, bananas, papaya, pineapple and chickens, build and maintain the infrastructure for receive tourists, photo projects, capacity building on tourism, western culture, cultural differences etc., medicinal plant garden, assist with the construction of tree house, helping with the cooking when there are many volunteers. There are also possibilities to carry out your own project according to your skills and the need of the station.
The station
Irshim is the name of an enchanted beautiful woman from the Shuar mythology. Due to Irshim three people where spelled and turned into 3 different birds when trying to climb the liana leading to the world in the skies. The station took the name because the special liana as well as the three bird species is abundant in the area.
The station owns 150 hectares of land. 145 hectares are covered with primary forest and 5 hectares are dedicated to the traditional gardens and pasture for the horses. In the traditional gardens the families cultivate yucca, plantain, sweet potatoes, yam, pineapples, corn, papaya and other fruits and tubers for subsistence use.
Purpose
This project was initiated by the Tunki Yankuam family out of concern for the degradation of the environment and culture and in order to address the social, cultural and economical difficulties faced by its members and neighboring communities. The aim of the project is to create community development, preserve traditional knowledge and costumes through a sustainable use of the biological resources.
Project Background
The Irshim station is a new volunteer placement. The station was created in 2006 and the volunteer program initiated in 2007. The coordinator and head of the village Jorge Wachapa Tunki Kajekai, settled in the area around 1985 after marrying his wife Ruth Yankuam Kunamp. The land was given to him by his father in law when married. Ruth and Jorge started making their traditional gardens and graduate moved in there when the gardens started to produce.
Volunteer Activities
- Establishing and maintaining trails
- Helping in the traditional farming of yucca, sweet potato, plantain,
bananas, papaya, pineapple,
chickens, pigs and others.
- Build and maintain the infrastructure to receive tourists
- Photo projects
- Capacity building (dialogues)
- Medicinal plant garden (signs)
- Assist with the construction of tree house
- Helping with the cooking when there are many volunteers.
- Fishing, crafts and making traditional food
- Sports: Soccer, blowgun, spears
- Learning about legends and dancing
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