Summary: Two-year paid position to manage a community center in rural Ecuador and coordinate the intern/volunteer program that is used to staff the center and implement projects aimed at sustainable development opportunities, ecological education, and the broadening of social, artistic, and cultural horizons in the community. The ideal candidate is a versatile and resourceful leader, age 24-32, preferably with some education experience and food-growing experience, fluent in English and highly proficient in Spanish, with a lot of initiative and passion.
Background: A few years ago a small group of American and Ecuadorian conservationists founded a nonprofit organization, purchased several hundred acres of rainforest and cloud forest in coastal Ecuador, and established an ecological reserve. In the middle of the reserve we built a sustainable research station, which is affectionately called the Bamboo House. Once we had our feet under us in the reserve, we partnered with a local family to establish a learning center and volunteer house in the nearby hamlet of Camarones. There we pursue sustainable community development and education for children and adults. From these two project sites we are working for a locally appropriate model of sustainable living. Our goal for ourselves is 100% food self-sufficiency within ten years, primarily through the use of agroforestry and permaculture land management techniques. For the surrounding communities we seek livelihoods based in economically and ecologically sustainable alternatives to logging, hunting, and cattle ranching, which are the major threats to this endangered habitat. Our flagship program in the community is the guidance of a local Youth Group as they develop their own small-scale organic farm, as means for local youth to gain skills in leadership, personal initiative, group work dynamics, entrepreneurship, and a strong sense of character, in addition to providing an ecologically-friendly economic alternative. Job Description: For a complete job description, please visit our website at: http://www.3malliance.org/index.php?id=527 Here you can download a PDF file of the job description, which also includes application instructions. The ideal start-date is October 15th, although there is some room for flexibility. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we are eager to fill this position quickly, so if you are interested, please apply as soon as you can. We look forward to hearing from you! Isabel Dávila, Laura Randall, and Jerry Toth Third Milllennium Alliance www.3malliance.org
