Program Reviews

Volunteering with El Terreno and the Atandahua community was one of the most meaningful and beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. From the very beginning, I felt completely at home. The warmth, kindness and strength of the people there made it so easy to feel connected, like I belonged.

The children at the nursery are full of life, curiosity, and potential—and spending time with them was a true joy. What made this experience so special wasn’t just the work, but the relationships, the cultural connection and the sense of purpose I felt every single day.

Reconnecting with my roots in such a personal and heartfelt way is something I’ll always be grateful for. To anyone considering volunteering here: do it. You’ll be embraced by a community that stays with you long after you leave.

After my 8 weeks there, I left El Terreno with so much more knowledge, optimism, and confidence than I had arrived with. I was involved in a water and reforestation project, and got to work on all aspects of the project, from being out in the field planting trees to working with local engineers and experts on a research project. I got to learn so much from my mentors, Joshua, the local farmers and other interns, that I do feel like this a very one- of-a-kind experience. Joshua and the staff foster a very welcoming atmosphere, and if there is something you are interested in, they will do their best to help you explore it. I also appreciate how focused El Terreno is on ethical community involvement. You have the opportunity to work directly alongside locals, and you can really see how the work you're doing benefits the community.

I loved getting involved with the community. I loved the days up at the school, getting to know the kids, chatting, playing, working on the garden together. I loved the days we spent walking around the land, identifying and mapping the ojos de agua. I loved all of the mingas. I loved being invited along to attend the meetings (even if I didn’t understand everything!). I loved being invited to join the disfile for carnaval with one of the families.

I loved how much I learnt! From Sebastian, not only about various farming techniques, native plants and trees, how the water supply works etc but also about cultura andina, traditional methods, beliefs, medicines and how integral it is to the communities. I learned so much from Joshua and Karina about life in Ecuador in general - politics, culture, places! From the communities about life in the Andes.

Seeing real progress. Although not complete, we planted in the garden and only had some parts left to finish. With the reforestation project, we mapped, observed whilst Sebastian coordinated where and when with the community and then planted in the minga!

I loved the structure of the project. Daily check ins were great to get energised, feel appreciation, check in with each other and to stay up to date about what everyone else was up to.

Delicious communal lunch was very much appreciated for the great food and social aspect also.

Quilico is perfect. Comfortable, beautiful surroundings, sociable. Great recommendations for local walks - the Komoot link was great! List of things to do on days off. Joshua also shared lots of info of things happening around Guaranda.

Volunteering at El Terreno in Atandahua was a really great and meaningful experience. I joined a reforesting project, helping to give and plant trees to local communities. I learned a lot about how trees help bring back natural springs, and also improved my social and language skills. The volunteer team felt like a family, and the local people were super kind. El Terreno is a place where anyone can find a project that fits them, even without any experience. I really recommend it to anyone who wants to help and learn in a friendly and safe place.

When it comes to service projects, I’ve got high standards because I’ve worked professionally as a volunteer manager for the past 15 years. El Terreno exceeded my expectations. El Terreno doesn’t impose their ideals on the community, they build relationships with the local people and truly collaborate. As interns, we were folded into that process. We were given a lot of responsibility and worked hard, but had plenty of support. Being a family of three, with our 12 year old son, we were not the typical interns. Thanks to Joshua’s thoughtful attention and innovation, we were always engaged in meaningful work. I’ve worked on other volunteer projects that didn’t feel very inspiring or impactful. Not this one. It was unforgettable.

My internship at El Terreno lasted 1 month. This month I was part of the Water a d Reforestation project. It was great to help the community and immerse myself in this life completely different from the one I usually do in Italy. Joshua is an example of dedication to work and community and it was an inspiration to see him work for this project. During my internship I met fantastic people from all over the world, I left alone a little fearful but it only took me a few hours to feel at home. I think it's an experience that everyone should have at least once.

It was an incredible experience. Not only did I find a space to work on my own project, but I was also surrounded by an inspiring and collaborative atmosphere. I loved how everyone in the house was deeply involved in their own projects as well as with the local communities.

Joshua was a great help with my photography project, connecting me with other people and communities. This project opened my eyes to new perspectives and possibilities. I never thought I could do all these things at 20 years old, and visit so many places, meet so many new people & cultures but with the trust of Joshua & everyone else in the house everything became possible!

I completed an 8-week internship at El Terreno and absolutely loved it! The project was incredibly versatile and tailored to my personal goals and aspirations. Like many of the internships, we used the Design Thinking Approach, which was an excellent method for understanding the community, brainstorming solutions, and implementing our initiatives. Joshua has a lot of passion for his work and provided exceptional support, connecting us with great mentors and offering guidance whenever needed.

There was also an incredible community of volunteers and interns, and I developed many deep and lasting friendships with the group here. The weekend trips exploring different parts of Ecuador were a great way to unwind and see the country. I enjoyed spending time around Atandahua too, from Tuesday trivia nights to making empanadas and tortillas, to watching the sunset above the clouds. I am so grateful for the opportunity to come here and would highly recommend it.

After finishing my third year of civil engineering in Canada I wanted to find an internship abroad, I had a focus on international development and I didn't want to go abroad to work with big international companies.

This internship was perfect for me as it really highlighted the community aspect, working with local organizations and farmers was a great opportunity for me not only to explore aspects of my field but also to create connections and see the impact my work is making. Our mentor, Sebastian, was extremely helpful to us, we learnt a lot about agroforestry and natural water conservation. Joshua was also very friendly and I enjoyed the close-knit atmosphere El Terreno had.

Atandahua was an extremely picturesque town and I enjoyed living with a local family there and speaking to them about their life. As for the specific work we did, we conducted interviews, followed the standard design ideation process, surveyed natural wells, compiled the data and also presented to the community. I also had the opportunity to go on trips all around Ecuador during the weekends! It was overall an incredible experience. I did this internship for 2 months and I can't wait to return to Ecuador to see how our project has evolved!

Interning with El Terreno was an incredible experience! Every aspect, from project organization to social activities and daily life, was meticulously planned and executed perfectly. Joshua, the founder, is truly one of the most inspiring individuals you could meet. He settled in the area, built everything from the ground up, is doing his best to improve the lives of not just the Atandahua community, but the surrounding areas as well—all while raising a family and personally checking in on every intern to ensure everything runs smoothly.

I often describe it as an experience of many "firsts": my first time in Latin America, my first time working in a fully Spanish-speaking environment, my first community-based project, and my first time tackling a project completely outside my expertise. And everything went exceptionally well. Life in Quilico was also fantastic, offering all the comforts we needed— a spacious kitchen, comfortable beds, excellent Wi-Fi, hot showers, and great company with fellow interns. Without a doubt, this is an experience I would recommend to anyone looking to volunteer in Latin America.