Role Overview
The IOI Foundation has maintained a cooperation agreement with the Heifer Foundation since 2025. The goal of this partnership is for farms in the Tomás de Berlanga parish on Isabela Island to implement agroecological practices as part of a transition away from conventional agriculture to become food sovereign. As part of the project, participating farms receive training workshops, technical assistance, and inputs from specialists from both organizations.
The highland town of Tomás de Berlanga is about 10 miles uphill from the coastal part of town where IOI headquarters, your accommodation, social life, and the beach are located. Located on the side of Volcano Sierra Negra, the highlands are fertile, lush lands with rich volcanic soil - perfect for agriculture! Volunteers support the work carried out on the farms by contributing their time in the mornings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, working at one of the farms included in the program during their stay.
Volunteers will learn local techniques for sustainable tropical agriculture and will help to create food sovereignty, lower the carbon footprint of island life, lower waste from shipping materials, lower costs to local consumers, increase local income, and increase the availability of nutritional foods available in Isabela.
An important component of the project is ecological restoration through the reforestation of native and endemic plant species on the farms. These plants are used to create living fences, define pathways, and establish conservation areas, as well as to attract local pollinators.
In addition, these species are also planted in Puerto Villamil and in the highlands of the island, including educational institutions, public spaces, the IOI model garden, the gardens of IOI host families, and restaurants that are part of the IOI program. This effort aims to reintroduce native plants into urban areas, create shaded spaces, and stabilize the coastal line of the town.
The plants are sourced from the Juan Chávez Forest Nursery of the Galápagos National Park. In this context, volunteers work on Mondays and Fridays on these activities, which are part of a community-based initiative to restore native and endemic plant species.
Requirements:
- Conversational+ level of Spanish is ideal.
- Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
- Flexible schedule that accounts for the day to day needs of working with a local institution.
- Physical ability to work outdoors with potentially high sun, element, and temperature exposure.
- Volunteers will be provided with materials they need.
Accommodations Accommodation is provided by one of our carefully selected host families or in our volunteer housing. In both types of housing, volunteers have their own room, a fan, bed, desk, dresser, and bathroom, as well as warm water and drinking water. In our volunteer housing, breakfast is not included, but you have access to our fully equipped kitchen facilities to cover your needs. Lunch and dinner is provided at your choice of various restaurants in town, which are usually open-air seating with local cuisine. You simply sign for your meal and we’ll pick up the bill at the end of the month.
Our host families have experience with outside culture and international living and provide an amazing immersion experience. All host family houses are nearby the IOI offices and the local schools in the beach town of Puerto Villamil. Homes are fairly simple, clean, and welcoming. You will have breakfast and dinner with your family. Lunch is at the above mentioned restaurants.
We at IOI pair you with your host family and we are available at any time to help if any issues arise with the restaurants, your host family, the volunteer site, if you get sick and need to visit the doctor, etc.
Participation Fee
The program fee is necessary to cover your cost of living and logistics. Our overhead is covered by other means so 100% of any funds that exceed your direct cost will go towards the project you participated in.
To book you need to pay a Reservation Deposit.
That deposit WILL BE DEDUCTED from your program fee.
What’s Included
Cost includes food, full room and board, permits, Transient visa, local coordination and training at respective facility, local transport, full access to our facilities, etc.—everything minus personal expenses, travel insurance, and your airfare to Galápagos.
Please contact us for more info.
