EcoSwell

I spent four weeks in the summer of 2018 with EcoSwell. My role included working on a range of projects EcoSwell are involved in, such as reforestation, and waste management. As an NGO management intern, I also learnt a great deal about the running of the organisation, and how NGOs operate. I was given a high degree of autonomy over projects, such as being asked to write a grant application, and responsibility for the maintenance of a 200 tree forest nearby. EcoSwell achieve a great work-life balance, with plenty of time to surf, explore and relax. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience; everybody I lived and worked with was lovely, driven and inspirational. The location is phenomenal, the scenery stunning, the wildlife spectacular, and the experience incredible. I would thoroughly recommend an internship at EcoSwell!

My experience at EcoSwell was truly incredible. I learned so much, met some amazing people, and was able to experience a completely new and unfamiliar place and culture. The sense of community in the organization was strong; we all lived in the same EcoHouse so everyone was always working together and having interesting and eye-opening conversations. The Directors were almost always available to discuss any questions about projects or tell stories about EcoSwell's past or teach us about the community and culture of Lobitos and Peru in general. I never felt unsafe; the Lobitos community is extremely friendly and the Directors know many people in the community that I got to meet and interact with. I led my own project to build a solar still, and learned a lot about how to effectively lead a hands-on project, create realistic goals and expectations, and crowdfund! Interning for EcoSwell is truly an immersive experience; I would recommend it to anyone who is adventurous, wants to become more mindful of their environmental footprint, and work with an incredible, lively, and hard-working team to help the community of Lobitos become more eco-conscious while bettering their quality of life.

This experience was a career-defining and made me rethink my lifestyle and my values. I don't use those words lightly but EcoSwell has definitely won them. I enjoyed living at the EcoHouse for 3 months and have many good things to say about the organization. Professionally, they gave me an amazing opportunity to develop a wind turbine project. Through it I gained enormous amount of experience as an engineer and I still wow many employers with my story. Personally, I learned how to live a sustainable life in a health and environmental perspective. The weekly planting day, the many ingenious way they implement sustainability at the house and the team's enthusiasm about sustainability made me fell in love with sustainability. Lobitos is a wonderful place also to explore various interests. Surfing is big there but the unique environment lends itself also to hikes, chill gatherings outdoors and exploring the interesting history and culture of the place.

I spent three weeks in Lobitos with the EcoSwell team. Upon my arrival, the first thing I noticed was how quickly the new arrivals were assimilated into the EcoSwell life and routine. Within a few days of living and working with the directors and the other volunteers it felt like I had been there for months. Overall, my time at the EcoSwell house was life changing. I learned more about sustainability than I ever did in a classroom in college. I had been working in Washington DC for a year prior to my time in Lobitos and the three weeks I spent there were exactly what I needed to reinvigorate my passion for living sustainably and doing my part to ensure the future of this planet. Lobitos is a magical place and the work EcoSwell is doing will help to ensure a bright future for Lobitos and many other places in years to come. I give my highest recommendation for this program for anyone out there who is interested in NGOs and how they operate as well as anyone looking to make a positive impact on this planet we call home.