Ciaran Willcocks in the Amazon

Ciaran and other volunteers with children in the rainforest

Amazonian volunteer

An expedition into the depths of the Amazonian rainforest in Ecuador saw Ciaran Willcocks from our Birmingham office working alongside a remote indigenous community.

Over 160km from the nearest town, in an area only accessible by plane, Ciaran – the only engineer in a team of conservationists – designed and constructed a drinking water collection, storage and distribution system. Ciaran also produced plans for the clearance of over 2000m² of jungle to allow for the extension of the community’s airstrip, resurfaced damaged runway sections and created 800m of marker trails across the site of a new eco-lodge, which is to be constructed.

The site will act as a hotel for the environmentally conscious traveller, providing a collection of basic dispersed huts with a communal eating and toilet area. With no access to machinery, Ciaran relied on manual labour, with constant risk from the aggressive wildlife in one of the most bio-diverse areas on the planet. Ciaran also worked with Quito University to collect research data and raise the scientific profile of the area.