[Remote] Water & Sanitation Internship

EcoSwell is a surfing-inspired sustainable development non-profit (NGO) driving the development of poor Peruvian coastal communities through a path of sustainability. We develop environmental, educational, infrastructure and socio-economic projects working hand in hand with local communities and international volunteer interns.

Water is a scarce resource in Lobitos. Many families do not have access to flushing toilets and the local sewer system has been collapsed for years, exposing open drainage points that threaten the health of the local community. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative sewage treatment and disposal methods. As an organization we have been working to improve the sanitation conditions here in Lobitos:

• In 2015 we installed a biodigester at the artisanal Fisherman’s Guild, making the fishermen empowered leaders of this change. The biodigester treats wastewater and reuses it for irrigation purposes.

• The construction of our dry toilet was completed in March 2018 which helps us to save water whilst producing fertiliser for the garden plants. In one year this unit has saved around 18,700 litres of freshwater and has produced around 800 litres of organic fertilizer (compost) for our reforestation efforts. We hope to make this dry sanitation widely available to the community in Lobitos through the construction of more public toilets.

• We have developed a pilot desalination unit (Solar Distiller) for turning seawater into freshwater and are constantly improving it to turn it into a practical and viable solution for water access.

• We are implementing bio-remediation/phytoremediation techniques using special plants (vetiver, Chrysopogon zizanioides) floating hydroponically to treat wastewater spills.

• We are carrying out research into potential uses of groundwater as alternative water sources for reforestation and community use.

We need hard-working volunteer interns with a strong interest and/or background knowledge in water management and sanitation to support us with these ongoing projects in northern Peru by taking part in our online volunteer internship program.

The financial contribution you make as an volunteer intern helps us plant a tree with community families in Lobitos with the volunteers at EcoSwell and the families engaging as well. 

As a water & sanitation volunteer intern at EcoSwell, you will be given ownership of the projects, working alongside the community and the EcoSwell team. The daily activities will vary depending on the progress and stage we are at of each project. The online activities for this project may include (but are not limited to): 

• Feasibility studies 
• Research into new sustainability solutions 
• Data monitoring and/or analysis 
• Reports and/or grant/fund writing 

• NGO/Social enterprise creation and management 
• OutReach and Business Development 
• Marketing (digital and promotional) 
• Sustainability perspectives from a local "on the ground" development organisation 
• International environmental and social sustainability standards 

• Water Treatment

Besides the Solar Distiller, we are currently implementing the vetiver system (a special grass capable of water/soil treatment) to contain and removing toxicities & pathogens from wastewater spills which are prevalent in the towns of Piedritas and Lobitos where we work. Interns can get involved with the research into more floating hydroponic devices for vetiver (pontoons) and other water treatment initiatives and technologies like solar distillers & biodigesters. 

• Groundwater 

Volunteer interns will also be able to get involved with our ongoing groundwater research for community use in Lobitos, as well as plan and design potential applications.

Our online program is flexible, volunteers can work on their tasks during their own time. Schedules would be set with your EcoSwell supervisor.