Volunteering in Ecuador
Ecuador, a small South America country, is bordered to the north by Colombia, to the east and south by Peru, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. The country is divided into four distinct regions; the Amazon, the Highlands, the Coast, and the Galápagos Islands.
Compared with many South American countries, Ecuador is very small. Nevertheless in this limited area there are at least 50 types of natural terrestrial vegetation, diverse ecosystems and an immense variation in wildlife. Ecuador is one of 17 mega diverse countries in the world according to Conservation International. With 1600 bird species (some 15% of the world's known bird species) in the continental area, and 38 more endemic to the Galápagos. There are also 25,000 species of plants recorded; it has 106 endemic reptiles, 138 endemic amphibians, and 6,000 species of butterflies. Today, Ecuador remains a multiethnic and multicultural nation, where more than 14 indigenous groups maintain their own traditions and ways of life, to the delight of visitors.
The country has a plentitude of national parks, wildlife reserves, natural springs, volcanoes and ecological reserves and beautiful cities. Ecuador gives the tourists a mega bio-diversity and a chance for great adventures in the mountains, volcanoes, jungle, white beaches and exotic islands.
Although in recent years Ecuador has benefited from a rise in tourism offer some economic relief, millions of people live below the poverty line, mainly children. Governmental statistics estimate that over one million children work to survive and maintain their families. Growing poverty, lack of education and limited governmental resources further worsen the problem of street children and orphans in Ecuador. A government study* concluded that 45% of the population between the ages of 10 and 16 are working, 60% of the children under the age of five are malnourished and a third of the population has not completed the first part of their basic education. (*First Congress on Nutrition Development, Quito 2000)
Our volunteer projects allow you to help street children and orphans in Quito, teach English in a local Andes village, work at one of the numerous ecology/conservation bio stations or animal welfare reserves located throughout the Amazon, coastal and Andes regions. Our programs allow you to discover the wonders of Ecuador, while doing meaningful community work. This is a great opportunity to enhance your Spanish knowledge, live with the locals and realize one person can make a difference.
Volunteering with us and see A Broader View of the World.
“You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you" - Anonymous.
Locations
Quito
Quito is the capital of Ecuador and the countries second largest city with an estimated population of about 2.1 million people. The beautiful, bustling city sits high in the Andes Mountains an altitude over 9000 ft. Quito's Old Town is a wonder with neighborhoods lined with colonial architecture, some of it dating to the mid 1500s when the Spanish founded the city. With its rich cultural treasures, large open plazas surrounded by cathedrals and stately public buildings, Quito has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a place of delicious food, friendly people, wonderful Andean music and colorful marketplaces.
Nearly 60% of Quito’s population lives in extreme poverty. These areas often lack such basic services as electricity and running water. Many of the urban poor are migrants from rural areas who come to the city in search of a better life. Unfortunately, there are few opportunities for employment. Poverty can lead not only to malnutrition, illness, delinquency, alcoholism and domestic violence, it also worsens environmental contamination.
We offer orphanage and teaching placements throughout the city.With our volunteer program we allow you to discover the wonders of Quito, while doing meaningful community work.
This is a great opportunity to enhance your Spanish knowledge, live with the locals and realize one person can make a difference.
We offer the following programs in Quito:
Program Length : 1 week to 12 weeks
Program Date: Flexible Start & End Date
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 hour per day
Accommodations: Local guesthouse or homestay
Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day
Requirements: 18 years + , Basic Spanish knowledge, an able body and caring spirit.
Program Includes:
Accommodation with a local host family. All meals daily. Airport transfers on arrival and departure. Our local Project Coordinators will provide orientation & city tour with lunch, introduction and placement in a volunteer work project. Half day (4 hours) Spanish language lessons. The project coordinator is available 24/7 in case of emergency, health-related or otherwise. They can assist in arranging sightseeing excursion before, during or after the volunteer program.
Volunteering in the Galapagos Islands
We have social welfare programs, as well as environmental/conservations programs on the Islands. In Santa Cruz our social welfare programs will allow you to work with very small children, babies, toddler and also pre-school and higher education. On San Cristobal our environmental projects focus on sea turtle, marine iguana and sea lion conservation efforts.
For both projects volunteers begin and end their journey in Quito. You will spend the first 2 nights in Quito (with meals) receiving your program briefing and orientation. You will be provided roundtrip airline tickets to the islands and be escorted to the airport in Quito. Flight time is approximately 3 hours. Once on the Island you will be met by your host family at the airport and they will accompany you to their home. All transportation at the end of the program, back to Quito, including airfare, is included in the program fees.
Galapagos programs
Esmeraldas
The northernmost of the coastal provinces, Esmeraldas is also the lushest, riddled with estuaries, mangroves, and flooded tropical forest. The province of Esmeraldas is a lush tropical region famous for its friendly and lively Afro-American community. The region is made up of beaches stretching from the Colombian border to Ayampe. Besides the beach resorts, other worthwhile attractions are the world's largest remaining Mangrove forest, abundant wildlife and seasonal whale watching in the waters of Machalilla National Park and the world's only tropical dry forest. Esmeraldas is a busy port city surrounded by natural beauty, the unique cultural mix makes this an interesting place to visit and volunteer.
Getting to Esmeraldas is quite easy, TAME airlines offers daily flights from Quito. There are also buses available for about US$10 for the 6 hour trip from Quito.
We offer orphanage and teaching placements throughout these coastal regions. With our volunteer program we allow you to discover the wonders of Ecuador, while doing meaningful community work. This is a great opportunity to enhance your Spanish and knowledge, live with the locals and realize one person can make a difference.
Cuenca
Cuenca Situated in Ecuador's southern Andes, Cuenca is the capital of the Azuay province. In addition to being the cultural Mecca of Ecuador, Cuenca is the third largest city in the nation, and the economic center of the southern Sierra region. The city's cobblestone streets, towering cathedrals, and marble and whitewashed buildings give it a colonial air.
It is a dream walking along its cobblestone streets among the historical architecture. The domes of its many churches take you bank to the colonial era, among winding rivers. This is why it was declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1999. Cuenca is known as the city with the greatest cultural production in the country.
The beautiful Cuencan handicrafts come in many different styles, like embroidered blouses, wool sweaters, detailed jewelry bathed in gold and silver and "ikat" textiles. Travel to Cuenca is quite easy, TAME airlines offers 3 daily flights from Quito. There are also buses available from Quito; the ride is long about 10 hours and typically overnight schedules. We offer orphanage, teaching and healthcare placements throughout Cuenca. With our volunteer program we allow you to discover the wonders of Ecuador, while doing meaningful community work.
This is a great opportunity to enhance your Spanish and knowledge, live with the locals and realize one person can make a difference.
Amazon
The Ecuadorian Amazon region commonly known as "El Oriente" is formed by several sparsely populated provinces only about 5% of the countries population live in this vast area.
Programs
Education / Vocational Programs:
Teaching English is an educational program designed to help children of poor families obtain their principal right to an education, which would otherwise be difficult to obtain. The centers are located in very poor neighborhoods with scarce economic resources. These programs give a primary education to over 100 children between 3 and 12 years of age. Right now the schools are understaffed and appreciate the assistance of our volunteers. Volunteers are needed in the areas of art, music, ceramics, handcrafts, culinary and sports. Basic/Proficiency in Spanish is needed, as well as a positive and flexible attitude.
Orphanages / Community Day Care Centers:
These programs located throughout Quito are helping the poor, underprivileged children or those with handicaps (blind and deaf children), as well as residential orphanages. These shelters typically care for 40-50 children from 2 to 16 years old, providing them with meals, a place to live, and an education for a temporary time. Volunteers help with providing the basic needs such as teaching basic math, Spanish, English, providing emotional support in a loving, caring surrounding. Arrange games, day trips and basically teach the children to be “kids” again. Proficiency in Spanish is needed, as well as a positive and flexible attitude.
Medical / Healthcare Program:
Experienced professionals and medical students are welcome to volunteer in a large hospital in Quito. The hospital can receive about 300 patients and has an occupation of 70%. The majority of patients are in seen in the Emergency, Gynecology and Pediatrics departments. Your placement in the hospital will be determined by you skills, knowledge and the need of the patients. Medical volunteers assist the local staff in whatever capacity they may need, such as taking medical history, checking vitals, assisting with medicine and supplies.Medical and nursing students are accepted as well. Proficient Spanish knowledge is required. This is a great opportunity to gain first hand medical experience in a foreign country while donating your time and skills. Healthcare volunteers must be in the medical fields or studying (EMT training preferred), and provide their credentials or university enrollment letter.
Language & Cultural Immersion:
Delve into a new language! We provide you the chance to fully immerse into Ecuadorian culture and learn Spanish.
Spanish is taught on a one on one student teacher ratio or up to three students per group, focusing in conversation practice, grammar, readings and the vocabulary according to the student level and needs.
The program is based in 20 hours per week, 4 hours per day from Monday through Friday. Students at all levels are welcome. The school is located in the center of town. You choose morning or afternoon classes. The remainder of your day you will volunteer at a local orphanage, in the medical clinic or a pre-school setting. The total immersion is offered from 1 to 4 weeks, program includes:
- Home stay with Ecuatorian Family includes private bedroom and bathroom
- 3 meals a day
- Cultural weekend activities (cooking classes, dance lessons, & more)
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- Orientation and sightseeing day
- Local project director available 24/7 hr
- Volunteering opportunities within the community
Galapagos
Volunteering in the Galapagos Islands
We have social welfare programs, as well as environmental/conservations programs on the Islands. In Santa Cruz our social welfare programs will allow you to work with very small children, babies, toddler and also pre-school and higher education. On San Cristobal our environmental projects focus on sea turtle, marine iguana and sea lion conservation efforts.
For both projects volunteers begin and end their journey in Quito. You will spend the first 2 nights in Quito (with meals) receiving your program briefing and orientation. You will be provided roundtrip airline tickets to the islands and be escorted to the airport in Quito. Flight time is approximately 3 hours. Once on the Island you will be met by your host family at the airport and they will accompany you to their home. All transportation at the end of the program, back to Quito, including airfare, is included in the program fees.
The ABV Galapagos program include the following services:
- Airport meet and greet in Quito
- 2 night accommodation/meals in Quito
- Orientation, project briefing in Quito
- Airline ticket Quito to Galapagos
- Entrance fee ($100) Galapagos National Park
- Ingala ID card
- Meet and greet on Santa Cruz/San Cristobal
- Host family accommodation and 3 meals a day
- Volunteer project placement 35-40 hour per week
- Transfer to airport at end of program
- Airline ticket Galapagos to Quito
- Airport reception in Quito
- Final overnight/meals in Quito
- Departure transfer to Quito
Volunteers will not have any out of pocket expenses once in Ecuador for the program. Flights, park fees, and all transportation costs are included in program cost. Budget $200-$300 a month for incidental spending.
Child Care / Nursery in Santa Cruz:
Volunteer at a community run day care /nursery center in Santa Cruz. The children range in age from infants to 5 years old. There are approximately 100 children at this center daily. The program provides feeding and integral education to aid some of the poorest families on the island. Many of the children at this center have single mothers who cannot pay for day care while they are working. This is a safe haven for parents to take their children.
Project hours are 730am - 4 pm daily. Volunteers are provided lunch at the center. Volunteer tasks including changing diapers, upkeep duties at the facility, kitchen help, recreational and educational needs for the older children. This is a fast paced, active program with a lot of daily activity.
Program Length: 4 weeks
Program Date: Flexible Start & End Date
Work Schedule: 35-40 hours per work
Accommodations: Host Family
Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day
Requirements:
18 years+
Conversational Spanish & comprehension
Arrival Airport: Quito (Code: UIO)
Education / Teaching in San Cruz:
Volunteers have the opportunity to teach conversational English at a public school in Santa Cruz. The school has over 650 children from 4 years to 14 years old, in the areas of pre-school up to primary 7th grade. Volunteers will help in areas of English lessons, recreation and also developmental needs of the children. Classes are held Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 1:00pm.
Opportunities also available in a multilingual education facility that was created in order to give educational services to the children from the islands, especially for those that have migrated from the indigenous communities with their families. School has 30 pre-school students and 100 children in basic education. Ages 4yrs to 11 years old.
Volunteers are assisted by the local teacher, and focus is on language comprehension and speaking. Volunteers should come with basic lesson plans for teaching numbers, letters, basic salutations, colors.
Project closed: Mid-December to beginning of March (summer break)
Program Length : 4 weeks
Program Date: Flexible Start & End Date
Work Schedule: 35-40 hours per work
Accommodations: Host Family
Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day
Requirements:
18 years +
Conversational Spanish & comprehension
Arrival Airport: Quito (Code: UIO)
Environmental / Animal Welfare in San Cristobal:
Volunteers have the opportunity to support the conservation efforts and wild life on the Galapagos. This program focus is sea turtles, marine iguanas and sea lions. Volunteers help with conservation
needs such as animal monitoring and tracking reports, beach patrols, recording on new births, as well as working in the Galapaguera greenhouse. This program lets you do a little bit of everything pertaining to providing support of sustainable conservation efforts on the Island. This is a great opportunity to discover the wonders and wild life of the Galapagos by offering hands on contributions to their sustainability.
Program Length : 2 week or 4 week placements
Program Date: Year round, Flexible Start & End Date
Work Schedule: 35-40 hours per work
Accommodations: Host Family
Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day
Requirements:
17 years +
Proficient Spanish
Arrival Airport: Quito (Code: UIO)
Volunteer Application Process
- You select your travel dates. Program fees based on 7 night increments (example 1 month is 28 nights = 4 weeks)
- Fill out the online application form or print and send it in by mail or fax.
- Submit your $120 deposit. We accept personal Check, Money Order, Credit Cards or Paypal in US currency. (this reservation fee is included in the total price of the program)
- Email, fax or mail us a copy of your resume/CV. Since we do not know you, or your interests, we found that a resume/CV can provide enough information to allow for a successful placement.
- After review and acceptance of the application (1-2 days), we will email you a detailed Orientation Guide.
- Upon receiving the Orientation Guide, it is time for you to book your flights, check your passport expiration and obtain travel/medical insurance coverage. Flight arrangements are the responsibility of the volunteer; however we offer assistance with your planning.
- Email, fax or mail us your flight details and a clear copy of your passport ID page.
- Pay the balance for the program fees, due 45 days prior to your departure (you can only pay with personal check, money order or wire transfer).
- Upon receipt of your payment, we will send your program details with the placement and accommodation information (1-2 days).
Volunteer Abroad Service
Before filling out the Volunteer form please read and Agree with the following Volunteer Service Agreement and then you can go to the Form.
By clicking on the "I Agree" button, or by downloading, copying, accessing, or otherwise signing for our services, I expressly consent to be bound by its terms and conditions and grant to A Broader View Volunteers the rights set forth herein. [download pdf]
(1) 215 780 1854 (1) 866 423 3258
(020) 8123 9781
(02) 8003 68 07