This sustainable education center is a place that seeks to put forward ideas about a future that is not only sustainable, but regenerative and resilient. The objective is to make the human and natural world healthier and more diverse, which includes social equality, freedom, and tolerance. The organization works in four main areas: research, teaching, activism, and living. In research, they ask questions about sustainable technologies, adoption, and social structures, and they seek to publish this research in accessible language so that others might learn and adopt sustainable livelihoods. In teaching, they incorporate experiential learning and hands-on work, as well as scientific research. As activists, they work with local and international networks to help build connections and support political movements. Finally, in their own living, they use low technologies, self-produce food through permaculture and regenerative animal agriculture, and live a low-consumption life.
The center considers both the challenges faced in the social, ecological, economic and political realms, and then considers a diverse set of solutions to those presented problems. They draw from ancient ideas and practices through modern inventions. No idea is off limits for discussion and debate in order to reach the ultimate goal of making and re-making a sustainable future.
Industry: Development & Sustainability; Education & Teaching; Food & Nutrition; Business & Consulting
Sector: Nonprofit Organization
Location: Montevideo, Uruguay
Possible Intern Roles:
FUNDRAISING INTERN
This project will be primarily focused on fundraising and grant writing in the field of sustainability. The intern will seek out funding opportunities through various organizations that overlap with the center’s mission. The intern will then be in touch with staff to discuss which of these funding opportunities fit with the organization and then will follow up in applying to specific grants. In this project, the intern will also be reaching out to volunteer abroad programs at universities across the United States in order to see if they would be interested in organizing a trip to Uruguay with the Sustainable Education Center.
Suggested Spanish level: Basic
Candidate requirements: Interest in social justice and sustainability. Strong writing skills required.
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS INTERN
In this project, the intern will be pursuing two research areas. The first research area is sustainable turfgrass management. The center is interested in finding out who are the leading thinkers in making sports fields sustainable and if there are academic or other organizations that have done research on this topic. Then, the intern will get in touch with people doing this kind of work to find out if they would be interested in partnering with the center, either through a research project, or by organizing a class with a group of students that work in this area. In the second research project, the intern will be working on an ongoing investigation regarding a type of architecture. The center has conducted 25 interviews with people pursuing this type of earth construction, and the intern will be doing research work of coding these interviews for relevant themes. The objectives to explore: Why do people pursue sustainable activities like these? What kinds of things do they learn taking part in such an activity? How can we learn from people doing this kind of work to develop a more sustainable future?
Suggested Spanish level: Basic
Candidate requirements: Interest in sustainability and social justice. Strong research and writing skills required.
In the words of past interns:
“I feel so grateful that I was able to work so closely with the founders and directors. I do feel that my work was valuable to the organization’s overall mission and work and was grateful for the freedom and flexibility I was offered in shaping my work. I also got to learn about Earthship Biotecture (a form of architecture used throughout the world), write about food systems in the U.S. and Uruguay, and reach out to universities and turfgrass specialists across the U.S. and Latin America.” - Emma B., Research and Development Intern, from Cornell University