Empower education, bridge cultures, and make a global impact. Volunteer with LIDE’s new program for University of Minnesota students. Through this initiative, UMN students have the opportunity to collaborate remotely with an international nonprofit focused on inclusive education and evidence-based policy in Ecuador. Whether you’re passionate about teaching, advocacy, or nonprofit work, this flexible volunteer experience is designed to connect students with meaningful projects while building skills that matter.

What is LIDE?

The Ecuadorian Development Research Lab (LIDE) is a research nonprofit co-established in Ecuador in 2021 by UMN PhD student Alonso Quijano-Ruiz. Our mission is to advance social science research in Ecuador, support the development of evidence-based public policy, and strengthen local capacity for high-quality quantitative research. In 2024, we expanded to the U.S. by becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the state of Minnesota.

LIDE is deeply committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2023, we launched the Young Researchers Fellowship (YRF) to provide academic training to aspiring social scientists from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program seeks to create pathways toward graduate education, thereby fostering academic inclusion for students from underserved communities. With support from the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, we welcomed our first cohort of 25 students.

LIDE has also built key partnerships with organizations to expand educational opportunities. We collaborate with DataCamp to promote data literacy in Ecuador; they have provided more that 200 free licenses to students and fellows. Additionally, we have partnered with MIT’s J-PAL office in Latin America, which offers free workshops on policy evaluation and scientific communication to our fellows.

How UMN students can support LIDE

English Language Training

English language education in Ecuador is severely lacking, and only a small percentage of students can afford private instruction. This creates significant barriers for low-income individuals—like our YRF fellows—who struggle to compete for international scholarships, including those in the U.S.

While LIDE offers limited scholarships for English courses at a local language center, we currently lack the resources to support all of our students. UMN students pursuing a TESOL minor can make a meaningful impact by volunteering to provide online English lessons. Sessions can be scheduled flexibly during the semester to accommodate both students and volunteers.

Fundraising and Advocacy

To continue supporting current and future fellows, we established a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the U.S. to expand our funding base. However, we currently lack the human capital needed to design and implement strategies for identifying potential donors.

Additionally, we believe our research and training programs are making a meaningful impact in underserved communities. YRF is not our first outreach initiative—we have conducted several other training programs with similar goals. Unfortunately, due to limited capacity, we have not been able to effectively promote these efforts or communicate our impact to attract donors.

Who is this opportunity for? How do I apply?

This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in gaining experience in the nonprofit (NGO) sector, public relations, or simply making a meaningful impact in underserved communities. The volunteer role is unpaid, fully remote, and highly flexible. Volunteers must be available for weekly virtual meetings and committed to completing assigned tasks and goals.

While YRF is currently our flagship program, we are actively developing other high-impact initiatives. For example, three years ago, we launched a data education program for unemployed women in Ecuador, which successfully increased participants' employability. In partnership with DataCamp, we now aim to replicate this model for Latin American immigrants who are being deported and need to reintegrate into their home countries to continue supporting their families. You could be the next leader of this important initiative.

If you’re passionate about LIDE’s mission and would like to get involved, please send your resumé and/or a brief statement of interest to admin[at]laboratoriolide.org, with a CC to alonso[at]laboratoriolide.org.

Thank you for your interest—we look forward to hearing from you!