Internship Description

About the Organization:
 The Kallari Association markets unique Amazon handcrafts, organic cocoa beans, and free trade chocolate in over ten countries, spanning four continents. This coalition of over 1500 artisans (representing 760 families) set out to establish economic alternatives to rain forest destruction/logging practices in the communities of the Napo Province, located within the Ecuadorian Amazon. The goal is to increase family incomes without sacrificing natural resources. In addition, the cooperative has proven to be an excellent mechanism for inspiring Kichwa youth to learn and practice traditional harvesting, weaving and carving techniques and the international markets for organic cocoa have motivated the Kichwa people to control their own markets and improve the quality of their products.

The Kallari Association currently sells over $100,000 per year of organically produced agricultural products, such as cacoa, and original crafts (jewelry, accessories and home decorating accents). It needs to access additional markets, undertake innovative business research and develop attractive promotional strategies for use in North America and Europe. 

Local Activities:
Due to Kallari's successes, additional communities have been waiting up to one year to join the cooperative. Kallari is expanding present markets and researching market potential for organic herbal teas, organic & fair trade chocolate, rain forest fruits, medicinal plants, musical instruments, natural dyes and mordents, as well as fiber apparel. A priority for the cooperative is locating new overseas markets for 100% natural rainforest products, expanding current markets, and improving their systems. They have future plans to research wood markets: especially guitars, reeds for wind instruments, mixed-species flooring, and decorative accents for the home.

Kallari owns and operates a small organic cafe in the tourism area of Quito, and is looking at additional retail outlet opportunities within the Quito airport or in the Amazon town of Tena.

Job Description:

This internship offers interns a great deal of freedom as well as responsibility. Therefore, interns need to be very self-motivated and innovative. The Kallari Association Development cooodinator and elected Association Leaders will give interns general guidance about their work plans and products, but will not provide oversight on a daily basis.

Interns will focus on one or more of the following project areas:

• Product development
• improvement of production of high quality, organic, fair trade chocolate (March - July is the cocoa production season)
• development of handcrafts and fiber apparel
• development of ecotourism programs
• Business development (helping Kichwa communities understand international markets, assist with the development of their business activities, research potential distribution links, process organic certification)
• Development of marketing materials (packaging, web design, brochures, business cards, writing magazine articles, etc.)
• Research potential markets in North America and Europe
• Conduct Environmental Impact Studies
• Community development (work with communities to find economic alternatives to rain forest destruction and to preserve their cultural traditions)

Additional Information:

For general country information check web page: http://www.ecuadorexplorer.com
Check web page: Kallari Association
Click here to read: Jeff Mecredy, Quito, summer 2006 or Becca Roebber, Tena, winter 2008

Start Date:
any academic term; for summer term, apply early

Duration:
3 months, or longer preferred. (note: students staying in Ecuador for longer than 90 days will need to apply for a Volunteer Visa and present in person at the San Francisco consulate).

Number of Positions:
2 per terrn

Intern Qualifications

Academic Background:
Food Science (focus on chocolate or gourmet foods preferred), Hotel/Restaurant Management, Business, Economics, Marketing, International Business, Graphic Design, Ecotourism, Art, Merchandising Management, Apparel Design, Market Analysis and Research, Textiles, Resource Management, Sustainable Agriculture, Environmental Studies, and many other majors

Skills/Experience:
Useful abilities include: production of high quality chocolate or other gourmet foods, handcraft production, ecotourism experience, business or marketing experience, web-site construction, web marketing, graphic design, familiarity with Adobe Illustrator

Language Requirement:
Proficiency in Spanish equal to at least end of second year university level

Other Requirements:
Interns need to be very self-motivated, flexible and willing to adapt to the indigenous culture of Ecuador.

Internship Costs

Program Fees:
The program fee includes tuition, internship site development and placement, pre-departure orientation, international health insurance, internship monitoring and follow-up.
Click here for application information, including the program fee, for your school.
Note: The program fee does not include airfare, housing, living expenses or any other estimated costs noted below.


Note:
Any financial or in-kind support provided by the host organization is explicitly indicated.

Compensation:
None.

Accommodation:
Interns will spend 2-3 days in Quito for orientation and will be housed in the Kallari Association apartment. Employer arranged housing in Tena, Ecuador for $3/day for the duration of the internship. Interns can arrange to spend a few days in the communities in the Amazon and pay $10/day for room and board.

International Travel:
Approximately $1200.

Cost of Living:
Approximately $250-$300 per month for food, incidentals and recreation.

Budget Note:
Applicants should use these estimates for preliminary budgeting purposes.
IE3 will issue an official budget after acceptance by the host organization.

Application Information

Academic Credit:
Up to 12 credits available as per arrangement with supervising department.

Application Materials:
IE3 is a program of the Oregon University System.
Students from participating partner universities are also eligible to apply.
Click here for application information and select your school from the list.

Created/Revised:11/15/07