Farming Volunteer Quest in Ecuador

Please help me volunteer at Hacienda Tranquilla, an organic farm in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador for two weeks!

I was recently accepted to volunteer at the farm through the United Planet organization. At the farm, I will collaborate with the local community to work on organic agricultural projects, help eliminate invasive plant species, and restore native and endemic species. There are also opportunities to work at a reforestation and community development project where I will mentor children one day per week. Activities with the children include hippo therapy, gardening, environmental education, and field trips to the farm.

I am very interested in sustainability, and in my high school, I have created an environmental sustainability publication to raise awareness about the importance of conservation. After high school, I seek to study and work in the field of sustainable food systems. Working on environmental preservation in a country such as Ecuador will provide valuable experiences for me that I can bring to my future pursuits!

Attending the United Planet Galapagos Islands Quest will enable me to make an impact by working on agricultural projects and mentoring children about gardening and environmental education, so that they will be equipped with the same nutritional knowledge that many others in more privileged countries have access to. Through this program, I hope to gain experiences in a country that is dramatically different from America. I believe that environmental preservation is a global issue, and I hope to learn about preservation in a completely different setting than I am used to.

The trip costs $4000 in total (flight, meals for two weeks, program fee). Any donation helps! I am working multiple summer jobs to earn money for this trip...but I am also a high school student and only earn minimum wage...

Thank you for your consideration!