Community Agriculture and Farming in Africa, Asia and Latin America

Kaya's mission means that we consider ethical, environmental and cultural concerns in order to ensure that all of our projects are sustainable, and ultimately, beneficial for local community-members. The projects we support are small, grassroots, community-led, and genuinely appreciate the help of our volunteers and interns. Kaya participants benefit as well, growing in global knowledge and gaining real-world experience. Book with us to immerse yourself in your country, region and field of choice, and to make a difference whilst doing so!

Highlights

Expert Advising and Support - Sleep well knowing our advisors have helped you choose the right gap year for you & that we’ll have your back while you’re abroad
So Much Choice - With 250+ projects to choose from, we have ethical gap years for everyone
Non-Traditional - Travel off the beaten path in Asia-Pacific, Africa or Latin America & get to know the locals on a deeper level
Responsible, Ethical, Sustainable - All of Kaya's gap years, no matter the location or field, feature community-led, grassroots initiatives
Culturally Immersive - Part of a responsible approach involves proper preparation and education; we’ll provide you with the cultural context you need to get the most out of your trip abroad
Make a Difference - See and help the planet, get your hands dirty & make friends along the way

What's it like

A typical day on this gap year project

Learn farming and agricultural techniques from those who work in often challenging conditions. Learn from communities as they band together and create change - and lend a helping hand. Since there's no typical day on one of our agricultural or farming projects, we have decided to describe two of our projects in more detail.

Sustainable Agriculture Initiative in Nepal

Travel into the rural mountains of Nepal to join a women’s farm cooperative. As a volunteer, you will live on the farm and work alongside women farmers to help grow the organic fruits and vegetables that they, and you, will eat. You may also help out with the daily care of livestock. The project needs extra pairs of hands to help community-members with their tasks so that they can create sustainable futures for themselves and their children. The project also offers daycare and before- and after-school support for children in the community, so you will have the chance to help them out with their homework, organise activities, and teach them English as their mothers go on with their days. In exchange, you will gain experience in international development and learn about farming and Nepalese culture.

Agro Forestry and Environmental Conservation in the Mindo Cloud Forest in Ecuador

If you are interested in environmental science and conservation efforts, consider this project focused on Agro Forestry and Environmental Conservation in the Mindo Cloud Forest in Ecuador. This family-owned reserve seeks to preserve the cloud forest and restore pasture land via reforestation and agro forestry efforts. The goal of the reserve is to achieve sustainability through both agriculture and ecotourism. A mile-long canopy tour of the reserve provides a unique bird’s-eye-view of the cloud forest contained in the reserve. As part of the management plan, the local community is included in educational and community-building activities. The foundation’s mission is to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of natural ecosystems, their resources and biodiversity for future generations, through the diffusion of productive activities that are compatible with nature; supporting values of social equity and respect for natural and cultural diversity. Join this project and help with efforts focused on ecology, biology and agricultural activities and research to conserve this incredible habitat.

Project Requirements

Who would be a suitable participant?

Typically, there are no prerequisites for our gap years abroad, but some projects require a background check or a CV. Speak to one of our placement advisors for more details, since every Kaya placement is unique. They know all our projects like the backs of their hands and can give you some advice!

Project Benefits

What we can offer you

Typically, our program fees include accommodations, meals 2x/day, airport pick-up and drop-off, training, a pre-departure information pack, onsite orientation and project induction, transfer to the project site after orientation, 24/7 support on the ground, and more. Every one of our projects is listed on our website, and each listing includes detailed costs and inclusions.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are reopening limited locations that meet our strict safety standards. You can travel with a small group of tested students and volunteers! If you want to hold out and travel later, let us know and we can keep you updated on specific locations and programmes. Looking for a virtual option? We have a series of virtual internships available that include cultural components, and they’ve been a huge success.

We’re here to support you the whole way, from start to finish (and beyond!), so let us know if you have any questions about any of our offerings.