Financial Contribution
EcoSwell is a for impact non-profit organization and as such we do not distribute any surplus income as profit or dividends. Nonetheless, just as a for-profit organization, we have costs for our operations which we need to cover in order to be able to exist.
By being a non-profit, we can keep costs down and make our programs more accessible. We aim to keep our operational costs as low as possible by working efficiently, ensuring that we can make a real and positive impact in the present and are able to keep the organization moving forward into the future. One of our main sources of regular income are the financial contributions from our volunteers for their programs, without these we would not be able to pay our staff or sustain our organization. Your financial contribution also directly funds our sustainable development projects in the local community and across Peru. You are making an impact just be signing up, and we are grateful for your time and energy to join us on our mission.
The cost of the programme covers the operational costs of the programme as well as a once-off donation to our medical, renewable energy, water & sanitation, reforestation and ecosystem restoration projects in Peru. This giving-back component is essential to ensure the continuation of our work to support the sustainable development of vulnerable communities in Peru.
Our Allocation of Funds
Below you'll find the financial contribution information for our in-person professional volunteer program.
In-person professional volunteer financial contribution
Financial contributions for the program will depend on your period of stay with us and the position that you apply to. In all cases, the longer you stay with us, the lower the weekly contribution becomes and the more chance you have to get embedded in the projects and the community. You can come for 1 week, and stay for as long as 24 weeks. The table below shows the weekly contribution required in relation to the participants' time with us as a weekly rate and as a total. Below this, you can read what your financial contribution covers as part of the program.
*Weekly rate refers to the following positions: Renewable Energy, Water & Sanitation, and NGO/Social Enterprise Management
*All payments must be made in United States Dollars (USD$) according to the amounts shown in the table above - exchange rate fluctuations of other currencies are not considered. Taxes, insurance and financial costs (eg: costs of sending money, bank commissions, etc.) and any other extra costs (flights, visas, vaccinations, personal insurance, personal spending money, etc.) are not included. Minimum period of stay is 1 week for the professional programme. The details and information of the selected travel insurance which must cover volunteering activities, will have to be sent approved by EcoSwell, beforehand.
What’s included?
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Comfortable accommodation is provided throughout your stay at a quiet, picturesque, family-run hotel just a five-minute walk along the beach from our HQ. You’ll have an ocean-view private room with an en-suite bathroom, along with full access to our Lobitos HQ, which is equipped with UK/EU and US plugs for laptops, a fully equipped kitchen, washing machine, and reliable amenities including clean water, electricity, and high-speed Starlink internet—available 100% of the time thanks to our solar-powered system.
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Food is delicious, plentiful, and nutritious throughout your stay. All meals are included, and our wonderful local chef can cater to dietary requirements. As part of your program, one dinner per week is also included at a local Peruvian restaurant, where you’ll join our team to enjoy a traditional dish and immerse yourself in the rich gastronomy of Northern Peru—renowned for its fresh seafood and unique Asian-Peruvian fusion cuisine.
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We provide full pre-departure support, including guidance and assistance with planning your arrival in Peru and your onward journey to Talara. Transport is included within Lobitos for all project and field site activities, as well as airport transfers to and from Talara Airport.
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You’ll receive ongoing one-on-one guidance and technical support from your Director, as well as our bilingual (English and Spanish) EcoSwell team, ensuring meaningful and impactful work. You’ll also gain firsthand experience of running a sustainable development NGO in a developing country; as a small, dedicated team, we involve you in decision-making processes from day one
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We facilitate connections with key local stakeholders, including community leaders and residents, organizations, local government, universities, businesses, and institutions—tailored to the work you undertake with us. You’ll also benefit from continuous engagement with the local community throughout your experience.
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Immerse yourself in the EcoSwell lifestyle with one included activity per week, where you can choose from a range of experiences such as world-class surfing (for all levels, with lessons and equipment available), yoga and meditation sessions with a local expert, and exploring nearby highlights like the Capullanas Caves at sunset or Negritos—the westernmost point of mainland Latin America. You can also take part in pottery and art workshops, along with other cultural activities in Lobitos and surrounding coastal towns.
Additional experiences, such as swimming with wild turtles or artisanal open-sea fishing with local fishermen, can be arranged either as your weekly activity or enjoyed during your free time on weekends.
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Your program includes a personal one-off donation that goes directly to our sustainability projects—giving you the opportunity to actively give back to the local community and be part of lasting, positive change. Thanks to volunteers like you, we’ve impacted over 100,000 lives across Peru and supported more than 10 communities. To explore our impact in more detail, you can download our 2024 Impact Report here.
In order to ensure that all participant expenses are covered, the final financial contribution amount needs to be paid in USD. We do this in order to avoid exchange rate fluctuations from other currencies which may result in not the right amount being paid.
If participants decide they want to stay with us for longer during their stay, they can (subject to availability). The additional financial contribution is calculated based on the weekly rate of the total amount of time the volunteer intern has stayed with us. The longer the duration of your stay, the lower the weekly rate you pay.
How to secure your place with us and conditions
Since we have limited spaces, if you have been accepted we will need you to secure your placement by depositing a non-refundable 30% of your placement’s total financial contribution within 1 week of being accepted. Full payment will be required six weeks prior to your arrival at the latest. A refund of the 70% of the full payment (minus all transaction costs) will only be available if cancellation is confirmed 30 days before your start date. No refunds of any kind will be available within 30 days of confirmed arrival date. EcoSwell is not responsible for any personal decisions to leave before the scheduled time, nor for any breach of our safety procedures and risk assessments, for any natural disasters or health risks, for any local, national or international events or for any reasons in general of force majeure that can affect a placement time already scheduled. Payment details will be given by our team during the application process.
