Kallari Association - Grassroots Indigenous Cooperative

Tena | Ecuador

Ecuador-003

The Kallari Association markets unique Amazon handcrafts, organic cocoa beans, and free trade chocolate. Their goal is to increase family incomes without sacrificing natural resources. Options to work in product development, apparel design, marketing, business development, community development, etc. Second year university Spanish required. More preferred.

Internships Details

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.

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. Serious candidates should read the book Good to Great prior to arrival. Interns are required to present their work to the Kallari Association prior to the end of their internship.

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)

Projects that recent interns have engaged in: develop a business plan for Kallari to grow their chocolate and cacao incomes [By channelling more of their cacao harvest into processed chocolate, the rural organization has an opportunity for fourfold income over simply selling their raw material on the commodity markets]; community extension work visits; tree nursery work; plant transport; chocolate production, transportation and sales; loan application for the organization; work with leaders to approximate their harvest and do production flow plans to accomodate their cash flow needs; etc.

# of Positions per term

2

Start Dates

anytime

Duration of Internship

10 weeks to 6 months

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 Ability

Completion of 2nd year university level Spanish (minimum). More preferred.

Other Requirements

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

Internship Costs

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE3 Program Fee

The program fee* for the first term of any internship is $2950 - $3150. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE3 page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

*The program fee noted above reflects the anticipated fee increase that will go into effect for the Fall 2010 term and will apply to all terms thereafter.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type Price
International Travel $1100-$1300
Visa Fees $0-$180*
Recommended Immunizations $500

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type Price/month
Housing $372
Food $50
Local Transportation $50
Recreation $50
Personal Expenses $50

Compensation

None.

Additional Expense Information

Interns normally spend 2-3 days in Quito for orientation at the Kallari apartment. Employer-arranged housing in Tena, Ecuador with a homestay family for $12/day for the duration of the internship. Housing includes 3 meals per day, some laundry, potable water, etc. and is within walking distance of the Kallari office. Students should budget about $50/month for meals out and an additional $150/month for local transportation, recreation in Tena and personal supplies. Interns can arrange to spend a few days in the communities in the Amazon for a fee. Interns may want to budget additional funds for travel throughout the country.

Interns staying in Ecuador longer than 90 days, must apply for a Volunteer Visa prior to departure for Ecuador. Costs associated with the visa application process are $180 at this time.

Last Updated on Aug 14, 2008