The RA Initiative welcomes volunteers as there is always  something to do in some part of a project of this size and complexity. You will learn useful skills and improve your knowledge. Here are the different projects which you might like to help out with:-

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The Farms

The land is split into two main sections by a small river. Each side has a number of fields ( called Chackras ) and growing areas along side the main paths. You would help out planting, harvesting, weeding , soil preparation etc.

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The 'green houses'

These are for either growing plants from seed before transplanting elsewhere or for growing vegetables. 

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Fish farms

There are two, with different breeds of fish and with a few turtles and frogs. Not much to do except when harvesting for the market at specific times.

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Medicinal Gardens

These need constant weeding and sometimes harvesting. The main one has painted signs showing the latin and common names which some will find interesting. 

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Bee Hives 

There are five bee homes in their original logs and a few custom built hives . We will be expanding this greatly in future as the stingless Melipona Bees are a very special variety which produces medicinal honey for our guests and general sale. If you are an apiarist you could be helpful and also find out about this legendary bee which the Mayans regarded as sacred. 

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Building Projects

The principal village for those coming mainly for Ayawaska Ceremonies has three completed casitas at the moment and there are more casitas planned as well as other buildings.  You would help out transporting the chainsaw cut wood . This is physically demanding and great exercise not to say a bit of an adventure when we go quite deep into the forest to find the fallen trees which we normally use.  We actually fell as few trees as possible and never cut  any of the rare or great trees. A principal aim of the project is to protect against indiscriminate logging and one role would be to patrol the site . If you are competent with a chainsaw that would be great , though we would need proof of certification and insurance for that . 

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Bush Wacking - path clearance

If you are competent with a machete and strong enough to pull up the roots of the small and medium sized foliage this job is for you. If you are not experienced with a machete you would be taught how to use one- safely!

 

Kitchen/ House Keeping

Our excellent cook /house keeper (Auror ) might need a little help know and then, especially if we are full or she is making her delicious Ice Cream/Lollies! Aurora is in charge of the herb garden so we eat food straight from the farm, usually the day its been picked.

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So, never nothing to do in a rainforest project like this one.

 

Here is the deal:-

 

You would agree to a minimum of one week and normally work morning shifts only, Monday to Saturday from 8.00 am till around 12.30 pm, with all of Sunday off. 

 

We ask for a deposit of $300 per person, per week, payable 30 days in advance. 

 

You would be provided with transport between Iquitos and the Initiative, meals, and accommodation in the Blue House with your own bedroom and a bathroom shared with a maximum of two people. 

 

Other activities, including ceremonies at a cost of $40 per ceremony, may be undertaken subject to availability, and work on the day following a ceremony would be undertaken in the afternoon to allow for recuperation. 

 

This is a great opportunity to work with the local people, to learn/improve your Spanish, to use and improve any skills you have and to learn new ones. Please let us know if you have any particular skill or interest or if you wish to carry out research of any kind and we will do our best to support you.

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