Program Reviews

My experience at El Terreno was truly recommendable. During my time there, I had the opportunity to participate in physiotherapy projects and work closely with the community, which allowed me to apply my knowledge while learning from the people around me. This experience gave me a better understanding of the importance of accessible healthcare, human connection, and community-based support. I appreciated the welcoming environment, the cultural exchange, and the opportunity to contribute through my field of study. It was a valuable experience both professionally and personally, and I would highly recommend El Terreno to anyone looking for a meaningful learning journey.

El Terreno was an incredible experience, one that is difficult to fully explain because it is something that can only truly be understood by living it. My time there allowed me to step outside my comfort zone, connect with new perspectives, and experience a way of life that completely changed how I see the world. Through the people, the community, and the daily experiences, I gained a deeper appreciation for simplicity, collaboration, and the value of meaningful human connections. This journey expanded the small bubble I once lived in and gave me a renewed perspective on life, personal growth, and the impact we can create when we engage with others. If I had the opportunity to relive the entire experience again, I would do it without hesitation. El Terreno will always remain a meaningful chapter of my life.

Learning traditional construction methods with native materials, and working directly with community residents provided the ideal cultural immersion and educational experience to expand my knowledge of vernacular architecture. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of how local traditions, environmental conditions, and available resources shape sustainable building practices. Collaborating alongside community members allowed me to appreciate the importance of cultural identity, collective knowledge, and hands-on learning in the design and construction process. This opportunity not only strengthened my architectural skills but also transformed my perspective on how architecture can create meaningful connections between people, their heritage, and the environment.

Thank you for this experience and for welcoming me in Atandahua. I will never forget this time. During my stay, I had the opportunity to work closely with local families on the chocho production project, learning about the agricultural processes, challenges, and traditions that are such an important part of the community. It was inspiring to see the dedication and resilience of the farmers and to contribute, even in a small way, to a project that supports local livelihoods.

Beyond the work itself, what made this experience truly special was the kindness and generosity of the people I met. Living and working alongside the community allowed me to better understand their culture, values, and daily life. I am grateful for every conversation, every shared meal, and every lesson learned. The friendships, memories, and experiences I gained in Atandahua will stay with me forever, and I will always look back on this time with gratitude and appreciation.

I spent 12 weeks at El Terreno and I really enjoyed it & found it very valuable. I was part of a project about Indigenous maternal health, and we were working with stakeholders from the community including Kichwa midwives and healthcare staff from local centres. I feel like I got a lot out of it, especially the hands-on work in a changing, unfamiliar environment and picking up new skills. At times it was challenging, but I got great support from Cristian.

Outside of the project, I also really enjoyed my time at Quilico - everybody from the El Terreno team is lovely, the intern community was great and I met lots of awesome people, and there were lots of opportunities to get involved with the local culture - you can stay with a homestay, take Spanish and Kichwa classes, and in February we even got to be involved in the annual Carnaval festival! The internship is flexible, it's self-led and you are encouraged to come up with plans and adapt them according to community needs. I found it a really valuable experience.

Specifically speaking from a point of view of an Architectural Intern, I enjoyed a lot working on the projects and gaining hands-on experience with Gina and her family. I learned so much by being fully immersed in the culture and by spending time with the people in the community. I am also grateful for the encouragement, guidance, and support that the mentors, volunteers, and other interns gave me while working on the projects.

This experience allowed me to better understand how architecture can create a meaningful impact when it is developed together with the community. Being involved in every stage of the process, from design ideas to on-site work, was incredibly rewarding. I leave Ecuador with new skills, unforgettable memories, and friendships that I will always cherish.

El Terreno is a wonderful project, created by a wonderful person. The goal is to help the community without doing the work for them: to accompany them, explain things, manage... to do what they couldn't do themselves and give them the tools to improve their quality of life. It was a pleasure working there with the people. Joshua has a big heart and needs other people like him to support this great project. Thank you for everything you do! I hope all this work continues. I wish you all the best.

Original:
El Terreno es un proyecto maravilloso, creado por una persona maravillosa. El objectivo es ayudar a la comunidad sin hacerles el trabajo : acompanar, explicar, gestionar... Hacer lo que ellos no podrian hacer y darles las herramientas para mejorar su calidad de vida. Fue un placer trabajar alli con la gente. Joshua tiene un gran corazon y necesita a otras personas como él para sopartar ese gran proyecto. Gracias por todo lo que hacéis ! Espero que continuara todo ese trabajo. Os deseo todo lo mejor

I had a wonderful time at the El Terreno Foundation. I was able to participate in several different projects, which allowed me to learn a lot and contribute in various areas. I also had the opportunity to have enriching experiences with the people of the community and learn about their culture and way of life firsthand. I met some amazing people with whom it was fantastic to share these moments, and Karina and Nelly's meals are always delicious. Without a doubt, it was an unforgettable and very special experience for me.

Original:
Lo pasé genial en la fundación El Terreno. Pude participar en varios proyectos diferentes, lo que me permitió aprender mucho y aportar en distintas áreas. También tuve la oportunidad de vivir experiencias muy enriquecedoras con la gente de la comunidad y conocer de cerca su cultura y forma de vida. Conocí a personas maravillosas con las que fue fantástico compartir estos momentos, y las comidas de Karina y Nelly siempre están deliciosas. Sin duda, fue una experiencia inolvidable y muy especial para mí.

My 10 weeks at El Terreno felt like a carnivalistic rollercoaster (we arrived just before the Carnival week, so the first weeks were literally ruled by Carnival music, dances and Pajaro Azul, phenomenal experience!!). Already after the first week I felt very at home, mainly because of the other interns and people working at the foundation but also because of the very welcoming and warm attitude of the community members from Atandahua and San Juan de Llullundongo.

Starting into the gender project was a little rough at first because of the complexity of the situation concerning maternal health in the region but also because of the circumstance that my team mates had been working on the project already for a couple of weeks so I felt like I needed to catch up on a lot of context based research in a very short time, but I managed! I cannot highlight enough how important I believe it to be to have an advanced level of Spanish (~B1) when joining this project. From interviews to field visits to the organisation of meetings and initiatives with the collaborating stakeholders language knowledge really is a decisive factor and in my case allowed me to really feel like I was capable of organizing a project independently without having to rely on the availability of others to translate for me.

Overall I would recommend an internship with El Terreno to everyone who is looking to work very independently and has a great commitment to finding solution approaches to very complex and sensitive issues that require endurance as well as openness and respect for a cultural reality that is probably different to what most interns are used to.

I really really enjoyed my time in Ecuador. In the beginning, I thought that 6 weeks was a super long time, but it was not nearly enough. I could have stayed much longer. I’m super happy with the work I managed to get done in this short amount of time! Everyone was super friendly, from the other interns to the staff and the community :) I was there over Carnaval, which was amazing to experience as part of the culture. We got to dance! I now have memories and friends for life thanks to El Terreno forever.