Environmental Education Intern

About Para La Tierra

Fundación Para La Tierra is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of fragile habitats in Paraguay. Our vision is to change the course of Paraguayan environmentalism by inspiring people to appreciate the value of nature. We are working together with the Paraguayan government, local community members, national and international NGOs, and national and international volunteers and interns to protect Paraguay’s unique environment.

Para La Tierra achieves this mission through three primary programs: Scientific Research, Community Engagement, and Environmental Education.

We founded our Eco-Club program Voces de la Naturaleza in 2015 in order to transform the way that Paraguayan youth learn about their environment. Our curriculum is centred on our 3-C’s System. We believe that through Creativity, Curiosity, and a Connection to Nature we can provide our club members with the soft skills they need to become Eco Leaders, that is growing adults who instigate action for the benefit of the community that supports them and the environment that surrounds them.

Throughout the past 7 years, our Voces de la Naturaleza program has grown into a network of 36 Eco-Clubs that spans 8 states of Paraguay. Led by volunteer facilitators, our clubs provide a safe space for hundreds of children (aged 7-14) to engage their creativity and learn about the natural world.

About the Environmental Education Internship position:

We are looking for passionate interns who can stay for at least 3 months to help kick start our newest Eco-Club Initiative. We host a myriad of different activities that are still developing alongside our community’s needs. This means that no two days of your stay will be the same.

This program offers a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in education, while making a real difference in the world.

Responsibilities will include:

• Planning lessons, games, and activities aimed at children aged 7-16
• Be creative in coming up with new ideas to actively involve children in fun and educative activities
• Contributing to the overall design of the curriculum
• Leading activities, assisting in lessons, and chaperoning groups on excursions
• Interacting with Paraguayan children in a variety of settings (1-on-1, as a teacher in front of a class, as a tutor or assistant to small groups, as a group leader, etc).
• Cleaning up and organizing materials before and after events
• Serving as an ambassador for the PLT Eco-Club during all external events

The quaint city of Pilar is the capital of Ñeembucú, tucked away in a quiet corner of Paraguay. The lively plaza of Pilar, only three blocks from PLT, offers the great opportunity to directly jump into Paraguayan culture: meeting point to most Pilarenses, you will be able to watch one of the many cultural performances that are organised regularly at night or join the locals in drinking a refreshing Tereré. Another two blocks from our home, the rivers Río Paraguay and the Arroyo Ñeembucú that encircle Pilar offer multiple free time activities: The newly built Costanera along the Río Paraguay invites you to watch breathtaking sunsets over Argentina or join the Pilarenses in their evening walks and runs. Along the Arroyo Ñeembucú you can find a variety of nice little beaches to soak up the sun and jump in the cool water, a definite must during the hot summer months! With the regular ferries across the Río Paraguay, Argentina is only a 30-min boat ride away and weekend trips to Resistencia or Corrientes a fun adventure. Regular buses to Asunción and Encarnacion offer opportunities to spend some time in bigger cities or to travel to one of the 7 Natural World Wonders, the Iguazú Falls at the intersection of Paraguay, Argentina and Brasil.