Volunteer Orphanage Program in Ecuador
The program takes place in different locations in Ecuador and most of the orphanages are managed and run by catholic nuns. The children end up in the orphanages for many different reasons and there are many sad stories involving drugs, abuse, alcohol, poverty and young girls that cant take care of a baby. The orphanages take care of the children in the best way they can by giving them food, education and a roof over their heads. As the government don't give support the orphanages need to get contributions from private people of organizations to survive and the nuns do a tremendous job. They rely love the children and do whatever they can to give them a better chance in life.
The children are from less than 1 year up to about 14 years old but they don't all live in the orphanages as they sometimes helps other children in the area as well. Of those children some are from poor families in the neighborhood and they stay over the day to get lunch after school and help with their homework so the parents also can work. Other children they try to help if they can are children that lives in prison with their mother due to that the father might be gone and no other relative can take care of them so they have sometimes the chance to go to school and stay in the orphanage over the week days.
Volunteers are needed to help with the daily tasks in the different centers such as keeping an eye on the children, play with the children, help with homework, help with laundry, help with meals for the children by for example cooking /serving food / feeding smaller children, make games, play games, dance, sing etc. Exactly what they will do depends on a number of factors like if the children have school holyday or not, from project to project in general, what the volunteer can and feel comfortable to do, the age of the children etc.
In general the staff in the projects needs the volunteers as they in many cases are to few in the projects to actually spend enough time playing with the children but also its fun for the children to see another adult from another country that maybe have some new games to teach them or just to be with as many children lack of affection and social connection to adults.
| Program Information |
Program Requirements Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the beginning of the program. Volunteers need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference. Basic to intermediate Spanish recommended. Project Location The project is located in Quito the capital of Ecuador, Cuenca, Ambato. |
| What we provide |
Airport Receive/ Transfer: Volunteers are picked up from the Quito International Airport by the local coordinator or representative. Those volunteers who are arriving overland or are already in Ecuador will be picked up from the bus station or at a meeting point decided beforehand. Orientation: A half day orientation will be provided by the local staff. Areas like culture, greetings, locations, transportation, safety and volunteer placements are given during the orientation. Volunteers are given a local tour of Quito city on the first day. Lodging: Accommodation is provided with a local Ecuadorian host family. All volunteers are provided with separate rooms in most cases. However, in a some cases you would be sharing the room with a fellow volunteer. All host families are carefully selected and approved by the local staff and have past experience oh hosting international volunteers. All accommodations have running water and electricity available. Food: The host family provides two meals per day (lunch and dinner). Lunch and dinner will be rice, a bowl of soup, fried meat (chicken, beef. pork or fish) and a lot of vegetables. Ecuadorian food is light and healthy and is not very spicy and hot. Insurance: All participants are covered for full comprehensive Travel and Medical insurance for their time of stay in our project. To view a copy of the Insurance Coverage provided, please click here In – Country travel assistance: Volunteers are assisted by the local staff and coordinators for any kind of assistance they need for their travel arrangements. Pre-departure information: After we receive full and final payment all participants are provided by a pre-departure information booklet which will have all vital information about your program. The Pre Departure Information Booklet provides the complete details of the country, project locations, Visas, Immunizations, Things to Pack list, Accommodations, Contact Information etc. |
| Fee & Start Date | ||||||||||||||||||
Start Dates Program Costs |
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Progam Fee - Ecuador Volunteer Program - ( Prices in Pound )
Please note: An application fee of £130 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.
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What are you Paying For ? » 24 hrs Assistance and support from VS Staff » Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information » Airport Pickup » Orientation » Food » Accommodation » Travel & Medical Insurance What's NOT Included ? » Airfare » Visa and Visa extension fee » Airport taxes »Local Transportation » Any personal expenses |