Quick Facts
Program code
EC-VOL110
Category
Volunteer Work, Child Care
Country
Ecuador
Location
San Cristobal Island, Galapagos Islands
Program start
flexible start and end dates all year-round. The project is closed from end of January to April and between Christmas and New Year.
Recommended arrival day to the Galapagos Islands is Sunday or Monday. Before the onward journey to the island, at the latest one working day in advance, an orientation talk takes place in Quito.
Minimum duration
2 weeks (maximum 8 weeks)
(maximum permitted stay on the Galapagos Island is 60 days)
Minimum age
18 years
Contact us
Happy to help you
(+1) 954 762 7607
(+56) 9 7516 9816
(+49) 7735 425 339
skype: chileinside
8 am - 4 pm EST
Program details
Galapagos is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world and many dream of spending a few days in the impressive archipelago. With South America Inside, you can even stay on the Galapagos Islands for several weeks while participating in our volunteer childcare project.
This volunteer project supports day care centers on Isabela island. The institutions are aimed at parents who have to work full time and cannot look after their children during the day. So that the one to three year old children do not remain unsupervised at home, they receive safe and caring care in the day care centers.
The main goal of the project is to ensure the provision of children's educational, psychological and physiological needs. Despite the lack of resources, staff and toys, the centers have managed to create a friendly and loving environment that enables the children to be happy.
If you love working with children, you've come to the right place! This is your chance to leave a lasting impression in the life of Ecuadorian children and to bring variety to their everyday life in an isolated place like the Galapagos Islands.
Tasks
Between 40 and 70 children are looked after every day in the day care centers on the Galapagos Islands. Since often only one educator is available for a large group of children, support from volunteers is particularly valued.
The most important thing is to be a role model for the children, to always act responsibly and to demonstrate values such as tolerance and respect.
By dividing the children by age groups, you as a volunteer will assist in various areas of the facility and in a variety of activities.
One of the most important tasks is to support the local educators in activities such as playing, singing, painting, drawing and dancing, as well as holding conversations with the children. Help is also needed for eating and washing time and for teaching hygiene.
The work in this volunteer project mainly takes place in the morning hours (around 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.). In the afternoons, the children take an afternoon nap and the volunteers prepare activities for the next day or use the time to explore the island.
Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, weather, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.
Accommodation
One of the priorities of our volunteer programs in Ecuador is offering full cultural immersion. The best way to learn more about Ecuadorian culture and customs, and even to practice your Spanish skills, is to live in a homestay. With this in mind, all of our volunteers on the Galapagos Islands stay with local hosts. They provide you with a welcoming home and three meals per day. All homestays are located either within walking distance from the schools or are only a short bus ride away.
Volunteers will have a single room or share the room with another volunteer, while the bathroom is always shared. The accommodation provides all of the basic services, including a telephone in case of emergency, electricity, and clean water. Not all homestays have hot water, but the year-round climate on the islands is warm and humid.
Most homestays have internet.
Location
The Galapagos Islands are made up of various large and small islands. They are located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, directly at the equator. San Cristobal and Santa Cruz are the main islands of this East Pacific archipelago. Both islands have a port and an airport (in Santa Cruz via the offshore island of Baltra), each a small town and several small villages. The island of Isabela is the largest island of the archipelago but has the smallest population with only about 2300 inhabitants.
Our volunteer project is located on the San Cristobal Island.
Language skills
Spanish at communication level. For optimal preparation for your volunteer work in Ecuador, we advise you to take a Spanish course before the program starts. This gives you the opportunity to slowly get used to the language, culture and mentality.
You can book your Spanish course in Ecuador directly with us!
Requirements
- Spanish skills (book your Spanish course in Ecuador!)
- Minimum age 18 years
- Application at least 4 weeks before the desired start of the program. Read more about our application process here.
- Completion of a foreign travel health insurance (get your travel insurance here!)
- Participation in an orientation session in Quito before arrival on the Galapagos Islands
Pre-departure and in-country support
Before arrival, our experienced team will be at your disposal to assist you throughout the booking process and travel planning. With the booking confirmation you will receive our 24-hour emergency number, so that you can reach us 24/7 in case of emergency.
In addition to the assistance given by our office staff you will be supported by the program coordinators in Quito.
Furthermore, there is a volunteer coordinator on-site.
Costs & Services
Our volunteer project in Childcare on the Galapagos Islands includes:
- Single or twin room in local Homestay
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Airport pick-up in Quito and 1 overnight stay in Quito
- Introduction meeting in Quito
- Airport drop off in Quito for flight to the Galapagos Islands
- Airport pick-up on San Cristobal Island
- Issuing the permit to stay on the Galapagos Islands
- Advice from our experienced staff
- On-going support via WhatsApp, phone or mail
- Elaboration of your application profile in Spanish
- Your placement in the volunteer project
- Pre-departure information
- Packing list
- Country handbook
- Intercultural guide
- Orientation upon arrival
- On-site volunteer coordinator
- 24/7 emergency number
- Advice on travel insurance
- Certificate of participation
Not included: Entry fee to the Galapagos Islands, approx. US$ 200 plus airport tax approx. US$ 20
Costs
Application fee: US$ 150
Program fee: US$ 1,175 (minimum stay 2 weeks)
Extra week: US$ 275
*surcharge for single room US$ 70/week.
(maximum permitted stay on the Galapagos Island is 60 days)
Additionally, you can book:
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Volunteer Guide
Find valuable information about volunteering abroad in our program guides. Find out about all the benefits, possibilities and challenges, that a stay abroad offers you. Read more about the great opportunities that South America Inside has at your disposal.
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