Quick Facts
Program code
EC-VOL103
Category
Volunteer Work, Health, Child Care
Country
Ecuador
Location
Quito
Program start
Flexible start and end dates, year-round
Minimum duration
4 weeks
Minimum age
18 years
Program details
The health care system in Ecuador is divided into private and public hospitals. While most private hospitals and practices are well equipped, public hospitals often lack beds, staff, and financial resources to provide enough medical care to the poorer population.
Therefore, assistance from foreign volunteers is highly valued there.
Although this project is primarily aimed at medical students, physiotherapists and nurses with medical experience, volunteers without a medical background are also welcome.
Volunteers without this background are not entrusted with medical tasks, but rather take care of the well-being of the patients by giving them attention through conversations, walks, and recreational activities.
Tasks
As a volunteer for this project, you will be stationed in a public hospital, mainly caring for people who lack the financial resources to afford private health care.
The hospital offers the following services:
- Maternal and childcare
- Emergency
- Oncology and radiotherapy
- Neurology
- Nephrology
- Urology
- Gastroenterology
- Ophthalmology
- Obstetrics
- Cardiology
- Rehabilitation
- General surgeries
- Center for high-risk obstetrics
- Committee on infectious diseases
Upon the start of your volunteer work at the hospital, you will receive an orientation. This includes a tour of the hospital, visiting the different areas, and meeting the medical staff. You will then be assigned to an area to work in and accompany a doctor or nurse to observe procedures in those areas.
Depending on your experience, you may be able to help with simple tasks such as taking blood pressure or assisting during basic treatments. Medical students, nurses or experienced doctors will have the chance to observe surgeries in the operating rooms. Participants without knowledge in healthcare will take care of the wellbeing of the patients by giving them attention through games, walks, and recreational activities.
You can choose if you want to work Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 12:30 pm or 2 pm until 5:30 pm (subject to changes). You will have weekends off. The first Monday of the volunteer program is always an orientation day in Quito. All new volunteers will go on a city tour of Quito to get to know the city and learn how to get around using the public transportation system. In the afternoon, there is an informative session where you will learn about the local organization and be advised of important issues in Ecuador, security measures, accommodations, volunteer work details, and more. Your volunteer work will start the next day, on Tuesday.
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
It is very important to us that you are comfortable during your stay in Ecuador. For this reason, we offer two accommodation options:
Homestay:
If you want to completely immerse yourself into the Ecuadorian culture, we recommend living with one of our carefully selected host families. You can practice your Spanish skills in everyday situations and get to know the country's traditions and cuisine firsthand. If you have questions or need help, your hosts will always be there to assist you. You will have your own room with half board (breakfast and dinner) every day and laundry service once a week. Bathrooms are generally shared.
Residence:
If you want to live more independently with other young people, you can live in our student residence. The residence is shared among language students and volunteers. You will have a single room and share common areas and bathrooms. Food is not included, but you can prepare your own meals in the well-equipped communal kitchen. There is a big supermarket within walking distance.
Location
Quito is located in the Andean highlands at around 2850 meters above sea level. Therefore, despite the proximity to the equator, it is moderately warm all year round with an average temperature of approx. 13 °C. During the day, the temperatures reach between 20 and 25 °C. There are rainy seasons from September to November and from January to April, it usually rains around noon and then the sun shines again.
Quito is not only located in a great setting, right under the Pichincha volcano and offers a pleasant climate, but there are also cultural treasures: Built in the 16th century on the ruins of an ancient Inca city, Quito has the best preserved historical center in all of Latin America. For this reason, Quito was the first city in the world to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Quito also offers a lively nightlife, traditional markets, interesting museums and theaters as well as festivals of various kinds at certain times. Outdoor fans will love day trips to the surrounding Andean landscapes!
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 health insurance here!)
- Experience/knowledge in the area of therapy or care is desirable, but not mandatory
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 based in Quito in Ecuador.
Costs & Services
Our volunteer project in a Hospital in Ecuador includes:
- Single room in homestay (half board) or residence (no meals)
- Professional English-speaking advice
- Translation of your application documents
- Volunteer Work Placement in Ecuador
- English-speaking in-country support
- On-site introduction
- Accompanying to the volunteer project on the first day
- Country handbook Ecuador
- 24/7 emergency number
- Information about suitable travel insurance
- Certificate of participation
Costs when living in a homestay
(single room, half board)
Application fee: US$ 120
Program fee: US$ 1,020 (minimum stay 4 weeks)
Extra week: US$ 175
Costs when living in the residence
(single room, self-catering)
Application fee: US$ 120
Program fee: US$ 880 (minimum stay 4 weeks)
Extra week: US$ 140
Additionally, you can book:
- Airport pick-up in Quito: US$ 50
- Spanish course in Ecuador
- Spanish course in other countries throughout Latin America
- Travel Health Insurance
Our tips (experience more + see more = save $$)
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All our stay abroad programs can be combined with each other: So, you can combine different volunteer projects in the same country or in different countries, or you mix Working Holiday with volunteer work or Farm Stay with Working Holiday ...and so on …
Your creativity knows no limits. The longer your stay abroad in Latin America, the greater the discount you get from South America Inside. Below you can see how much you can save:
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Note: Language courses are excluded from this promotion. These discounts can not be combined with other promotions.
If you need assistance in putting together your personal experience abroad, then please contact us. Our experienced staff will help you to set up your tailor-made stay abroad.
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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