Help the children of local Ecuadorian communities and work as a volunteer teacher. You will have the opportunity to prepare classes and run educational programs and workshops.
Programs Abroad
ECUADOR - Community Project 
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Booking Nº: EC128 Country: Ecuador + Location: north-western Cloud Forest Minimum Stay: 2 weeks Start dates: All year round Price: from 2 weeks, 410 USD |
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Task
- Caring for the children
- Constructing play equipment
The community requires your creativity and support in different ways:
Child Care: You will help in the Under Fives Day Care Center. It urgently needs volunteers' help to provide a caring and stimulating environment for the children (babies up to 6 years old). You don't need experience, however if you have any special skills or experience (e.g. arts and crafts, music etc,) that could be relevant please let us know in advance. A basic knowledge of Spanish is required.
Handicraft work: Volunteers are needed to paint walls and build play equipment for the Under Fives Day Care Center. Experienced people who can work independently are needed as well as people who assist to the experts.
Usually, people work from Monday to Friday for eight hours a day, beginning after breakfast at 8 am. Please understand that working hours might differ according to workload, weather conditions and unexpected situations.
Accommodation
- Volunteer house down in the valley
- Rooms for two, four or eight people
- 3 meals per day
Accommodation is provided 7 days a week in the volunteer house down in the valley. However, the project is run by an Eco-lodge up in the hills. The lodge is in the heart of the cloud forest at an altitude of 6,200 feet. It has an incredible panoramic view of the surrounding cloud forest. The volunteer house is also surrounded by very beautiful countryside at a lower altitude than the lodge. Beds and bed-linen are supplied, so you do not need to bring a sleeping bag. There are rooms of different sizes which will be shared by two, four, or eight people. Please note that some of the dorms might be shared by men and women!
Three meals per day are provided and vegetarians or other special dietary requirements will be respected with prior notification. The volunteer house has electricity from the public network. You can spend the weekends relaxing, swimming, playing sports, hiking, watching birds or participating in activities with the local community. There are also frequent parties in various towns nearby.
Requirements
Language:Spanish skills required (you can book your Spanish course in Ecuador with us!)
Skills:
No professional skills or experiences required.
Age:
18+ years
Vaccination:
Not required. Please consult us and your doctor for specific recommendations.
Insurance:
Full travel and medical insurance is required. You can purchase a full coverage, no deductible health and travel insurance at a special rate for our participants by contacting your South America Inside representative.
Visa:
Tourist visa valid for 90 days. For further information regarding visa requirements please contact us and the corresponding embassy or consulate in your home country.
Details
The conservation and eco-tourism lodge is located in the mountainous cloud forests of the Choco-Andean bio region of northwestern Ecuador. This area is a global 'hotspot' in terms of biodiversity with over 1,500 species of tropical plants including orchids, bromeliads and other epiphytes. Over 390 species of birds and a variety of other exotic animals, including the endangered Andean spectacled bear, live here as well.The lodge was first formed as an agricultural cooperative over 30 years ago, with the objective of providing land for local peasant families who otherwise had no possibility to grow crops or raise cattle. Over the years however, it became obvious that the remote cloud forest was ill-suited for agriculture and the forests were more valuable if left intact. The lodge is now dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of the natural resources. Eco-tourism has been developed as a means of providing a sustainable income while protecting the forest.
The volunteer program has played and continues to play an essential role in enabling the development of this eco-tourism operation and other conservation and local community projects. The inhabitants are eager to welcome visitors from other parts of the world and share not only the beauty of their cloud forest and its diverse wildlife, but also their friendship, their lively folk-music, their enthusiasm for nature and their joyful outlook on life.
Volunteers work alongside members of the local community allowing plenty of opportunities to make new friends, to get in touch with the rural Ecuadorian culture, improve your Spanish while learning about the cloud forest and helping to conserve it.
Source: Google Maps
Prices
| Program Duration | in USD |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks |
410.- |
| 3 weeks |
610.- |
| 4 weeks |
810.- |
| Additional week |
190.- |
One time registration fee 75 USD.
What’s included:
- Accommodation
- 3 meals / day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Orientation kit
- Local support
- 24h-Emergency Number
- Volunteer Work Placement
- Certificate of participation
What’s not included:
- Flight
- Airport pick-up
- Medical Insurance
- Visa (if necesary)
- Local Travels
Country
Country Information Ecuador |
 Ecuador, appropriately named after the equator, holds a massive imaginary line running directly through its middle. Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America with an area of only 100,000 square miles. Ecuador borders Peru in the southeast, Colombia in the northeast and the Pacific Ocean splashing along the entire west side. The population of Ecuador is 14 million with the capital city of Quito holding 2 million residents.
Though Ecuador lacks bragging rights in its size, the country surely stands proud of its breathtaking landscapes, lush vegetation zones and varieties of climate. The climate, mainly determined by altitude, changes from tropical sun and heavy rain in the Pacific coastal area, to temperate dry climate regions in the Andean highlands. Further, the Amazon basin on the eastern side of the mountains shares the climate of other rain forest zones. Ecuador is one of eighteen mega diverse countries in the world with thousands of different animal and bird species. The famous Galapagos Islands, a very special spot on earth, is located about 620 miles away from the mainland and is home to unique flora and fauna such as the giant tortoises. The islands are also historic for being the birthplace of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. When exploring deeper into the 100,000 square mile piece of land, you will find diverse attractions for tourists and volunteers alike. Some highly recommended areas of exploration are the Amazon jungles, the Amazon basin, Andean Mountains, volcanoes (active and dormant), tropical forests and a variety of beautiful beaches. The Pacific coast is a perfect place for ocean diving, relaxing on the beach and enjoying hours in the sun. For those backcountry lovers and nature fans, rest assured the terrain of Ecuador offers much in both silent and adrenaline driven activities. Due to Ecuador’s geographical diversity of ocean, mountains and island chains, whenever you choose to travel, one section of country will be in peak season. June through September are typically the drier months. The general high peak season for festivals, fiestas and crowds lie between mid-December through January and then again from June through August. When traveling to Ecuador you will be absolutely amazed by the unique and natural beauty of this country. Keeping in mind that this country is one of poorest regions in South America, you will be surprised by their friendliness, efforts to help you and elements of preserved culture. UNESCO declared Quito, the capital city, a World Heritage Site in the 1970’s for having the best preserved and least altered historic center in Latin America! No doubt, you will feel comfortable and at ease while enjoying this open-minded and hospitable society.
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