Madre Selva   Volunteer Job Descriptions

General volunteer
Assist with works on site as to current work schedule.
You can negotiate for tasks of your interest and
skills. Supervision is available, and most commonly
staff and volunteers work together on tasks.
Tasks may include composting, weeding, sowing,
transplanting, building, machete work, pruning, fruit
sales, seed harvesting, plant trialling, visitor
education, etc.
 
Fundraiser
We are in desperate need of people to assist with
fundraising. This is a job that can be done from
within Ecuador or in your home country, either way
guidance and support materials are available.
Fundraising can take the form of writing funding
proposals, hosting events, visiting companies, or
whatever your time and creativity
allow. Many volunteers choose to do some fundraising
for project works before or after their visit to
MadreSelva. Donations are tax deductible and your
efforts will earn you good karma. We promise.
 
Seed Banker
We need a volunteer to continue the work of
investigating and conserving useful plant varieties
for this  wet tropical zone. Guidance and educational
materials are available. 
Tasks can include: Trial new plant varieties by
germination testing and trialling on the farm, collect
seed, dry, clean and store seed, package for
distribution, continue program of multiplication on
site, maintain plant register, translate information
from library and staff to plant register, maintain
seed bank, develop further educational materials.

Poultry project officer
Madre Selva is home to a huge in tact chicken
enclosure and pens that are currently not being used.
It provides the opportunity to demonstrate good
practices in poultry farming, produce food for staff
and volunteers and generate income through sales of
eggs and chickens. All we need is a keen chicken
farmer to come along and coordinate tidying up the
enclosure, planting of forage crops, purchase of
chickens and to plan and manage the development of
the project. We have guidebooks and incubators!

Aquaculture project officer
Madre Selva has a system of ponds which are currently
dry and unused. Previously existed a thriving
aquaculture system with prawns etc. It represents an
opportunity to demonstrate sustainable intensive
aquaculture, as well as producing food for staff and
volunteers and possibly (?) generating income for
Madre Selva through sales of produce. We see this as an
important element in the overall project as fishing,
prawning etc are major local industries that have a
huge impact on the local environment. We need
someone who is interested in aquaculture to research,
plan and manage the project of re-establishing the
aquaculture systems with prawns, fish and water
plants. Previous problems that need addressing are 1.
the presence of mosquitos which are a major health
hazard in this zone, and 2. lack of aeration in the
water.

Financial Business Type Wizz Person Project Officer!
We need someone to assist us with integrating and
planning for better financial management of our
project. Tasks can include: Liase with Madre Selva staff and volunteers to research current system and plans,
streamline financial system, reality test and develop
plans for income generation on site, develop a
business plan for Madre Selva. 

English teacher
Be desired! Everyone wants to learn English it seems
including Madre Selva staff who want to communicate
with foreign students and volunteers, as well as have
more access to communications with funding partners in
other countries. The students are ready!

Publications person
Liase with staff, volunteers, and CIBT to draft and
then write, layout and publish a simple introductory
pamphlet to  Madre Selva. Other tasks could included
development of various educational materials. All
informative materials are available on site.