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 - Equine Therapy for handicapped kids 
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Booking Nº: EC116 Country: Ecuador + Location: near Quito Minimum Stay: 2 weeks Start dates: All year round Price: from 2 weeks, 360 USD |
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Task
- Taking care of the horses
- Assisting in riding and therapy lessons
- Cleaning the stables
- Attending workshops offered by the rehabilitation center
- Supporting mothers of handicapped children in the creation of small enterprises
- Organizing events (public relations etc.)
Volunteers take care of the horses, feed them, take them to the paddock and prepare them for the equine therapy in the morning. They assist during riding lessons and they also might have the possibility to ride themselves. Additionally, you will be asked to take care of the garden, help in the center's cafeteria and participate in different seminars offered by the rehabilitation center. Some mothers of handicapped children are jointly working on a project to raise their own small enterprises and welcome the assistance from volunteers in their project.
This project is especially interesting and appropriate for people with experience in physiotherapy so you can provide profound support to the therapists. Nevertheless, people without skills in physiotherapy are very welcome to join this project, too. Volunteers should have knowledge about horses. Those who do not have knowledge about horses will get a basic training course at the start of the volunteer program to be able to break in the horses in the mornings for the therapies.
Accommodation
- Volunteers' house
- Dormitories
- Self-catering
The volunteers are accommodated in the volunteer house which is located on the center's property close to other facilities like the administration, stables, cafeteria and indoor-riding hall. The house can sleep up to 8 volunteers. Facilities for cooking and hammocks for relaxing are provided. Usually men and women occupy different sleeping rooms, however in case of room shortage, dorms might be mixed. The volunteers cook and eat together. Food is not provided by the center but can be bought in little shops close by.
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 integrated rehabilitation on the basis of equine therapy is a new and holistic approach for mentally and physically disabled persons. Horses, donkeys or lamas are used for this therapy. Around the world, this is known as a very efficient method to rehabilitate physically, mentally and emotionally.The main objection is to improve the patients' coordination and orientation abilities, as well as his capacities to balance. The center's staff of 8 people is formed by professionals who have profound experiences working with physically or mentally disabled persons. Staff and volunteers come from the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Ecuador amongst others. The rehabilitation center's special approach is based on the interaction of equine therapy and the use of alpha waves. Alpha waves influence the limbic system, which controls a person's emotional behavior and the central nervous system.
Additionally, they can release endorphins generating calmness and happiness within a person's body and soul. Due to the therapy, the patients are distracted from physical pain and mental depression and social integration is facilitated. When riding on a horse, the patient's alpha waves rise, he/she can relax and thus increase his physical and mental abilities more easily. The center offers conventional therapies (physiotherapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy), as well as alternative therapies (theatre therapy, music and art therapy, equine therapy, and energy therapy).
The project recently opened its doors to the rehabilitation and assistance of street children in Ecuador. Unfortunately, Quito has a high quantity of children that have escaped from the poor and often violent living conditions they suffer within their families (provided that they have a family). The children then subsequently live in the streets, embarking upon a criminal path in order to survive. Many of them are addicts to sniffing glue or other cheap and easily accessible chemicals. Disorientation, anonymity, social isolation and crime dominate their daily lives. Once a week, the therapy center receives these children and incorporates them into different therapies. They mainly work with horses, dogs and do garden work to stimulate their sense of responsibility. They plant carrots for the horses, play with the animals and make crafts out of wood allowing them to spend some time away from the difficult circumstances they suffer in the streets of Quito and its surroundings.
Volunteers become role models for these children and show them how to treat other people respectfully and adequately. Contact with the animals is of great importance because it helps the children learn responsibility and always brings a smile to their faces. The Center consists of a riding hall, a cafeteria, an administrative office, a volunteer house and a therapy house. The staff constantly tries to contribute to the improvement of socially and mentally handicapped peoples' lives. Early learning for children up to six years old, social integration, equality of opportunities and rehabilitation for children, teenagers and adults are their objections.
Source: Google Maps
Prices
| Duration | in USD |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | 360.- |
| 3 weeks | 450.- |
| 4 weeks | 540.- |
| Additional week |
60.- |
One time registration fee 75 USD.
What’s included:
- Accommodation
- Orientation kit
- Local support
- 24h-Emergency Number
- Airport pick-up
- Volunteer Work Placement
- Certificate of participation
What’s not included:
- Flight
- 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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