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 - Teaching Placement at a Local School 
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Booking Nº: EC125 Country: Ecuador + Location: Town of Intag or Pedro Moncayo Minimum Stay: 4 weeks Start dates: Year round Price: from 4 weeks, 595 USD |
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Task
- Teaching placement at a local school
- Prepare classes
- Facilitate educational programs / workshops
During your placement you will experience how rural schools manage education without power-point presentations and personal computers. In fact, this school is quite the opposite from any standard school in North America or Europe. This school has two classrooms, an average of one to two teachers and around twenty to fifty-five students ranging from age 4 to 11 years old. In turn, managing third to six graders simultaneously in one classroom, demands high creativity among the teacher.
The presence of volunteers helps alleviate daily pressures. When volunteers are able to take charge of just one age group, the local teacher will have additional time with the others. The total task list for volunteers includes helping run classes, working with the children of varying ages on set tasks in all the subjects, as well as providing additional English and computer tutoring for the older children. Subjects to teach include mathematics, natural sciences, languages, social skills, history, social studies and physical education. Of course those volunteers with skills in the other subjects will certainly be given the spotlight to teach, either during school or perhaps during free time in the afternoons.
Volunteers will be guided by the teachers as well as given the freedom to teach in new and creative ways. Though innovative thinking is highly encouraged, there are also specific plans to follow in regards to the national curriculum. In the afternoons, volunteers are asked to help prepare activities or conduct additional educational programs for the students. Programs such as English classes, educational games, theater or art typically keep the students productive and entertained.
School hours are from 7:30 am until 12:30 pm with a forty-five minute break for lunch. There is no obligation for students to bring classroom materials, as participation is the main concern in the schools. Freeing parents from the obligation to buy materials relieves financial pressure and allows them to afford to send their children to school. Considering this, there is a huge lack of materials such as pens, pencils and work books. Any reading books, creative materials and other supplies you can bring will help the development of a central resource library and of course spice up the classes for the kids.
Volunteers with an intermediate level of Spanish will have the option of teaching in either town of Intag or Pedro Moncayo.
Accommodation
- Homestay in local families
- Single room
- 3 meals per day
Home stays offer volunteers an incredible experience to immerse themselves completely in another family´s culture and customs. Volunteers will have a single room, though there may be an opportunity for a double room for couples traveling together, depending on the situation. Showers and laundry facilities are also available. Accommodations include three meals a day, seven days a week. Meals are typically campesino food from Ecuador, extracted from the garden or purchased at a local market. A typical meal consists of rice, meat or salad. There are also vegetarian options available, though prior notice of a vegetarian diet is greatly appreciated. Basic necessities can be purchased at a small store in the community, if there is not a store in the community, a twenty minute bus ride will bring you to more shopping options.
These particular families utilized for our home stay accommodations have been working together with the foundation for the past five years.
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 foundation that manages the farm, established in 1953, is a non-profit, non-religious Ecuadorian NGO that initiates various economic, social and environmental projects in rural Ecuador. The foundation promotes the participation of farming communities and the local population through processes of building and strengthening their identities. Projects are oriented toward improving production with an agro-ecological focus, protecting micro valleys and forests, and educating about the environment. Other activities carried out by the foundation include volunteer programs focused on promoting cultural exchange, nationally and internationally.The foundation, with partnership from the local government, manages development projects, strengthens initiatives for indigenous or campesino organizations and trains leaders to drive proposals for social development in their communities. They aim to defend campesino agriculture, land possession, and minimize the destruction of natural resources. This is done by removing dependency for funding by large corporations, in-turn, focusing on public investment in the rural sector. Their principles include understanding other cultures, exchanging knowledge, respecting nature, participating and harmonizing within the community.
Source: Google Maps
Prices
| Duration | in USD |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks |
595.- |
| 5 weeks |
745.- |
| 6 weeks |
890.- |
| Additional week |
120.- |
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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