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This is a hugely rewarding volunteer experience based in Ecuador’s capital city of Quito and its nearby countryside community. As a volunteer, you will work closely with the Ecuadorian people and become deeply immersed in their way of life. There are many children in Ecuador who live in poverty and do not receive the support and attention that they need. You will play a vital role in helping to improve the lives of these children.
The Volunteer Programme
Many of the children of Quito, Ecuador and their families live in extreme poverty and the support of volunteers is hugely appreciated. The aim of the programme is to help alleviate this poverty and teach life skills that will help the children and their families to make a better future for themselves.
The programme was originally developed to focus on educational assistance for children in the suburbs of Quito. However, it has grown enormously and now helps around forty children and the work has expanded to assist children with social, educational and financial problems. Helping children in the most poverty-stricken areas of Quito, the project relies heavily on volunteers who can provide extra support, which makes a real difference in their communities.
The programme is separated into two parts. For two mornings a week you will help with the ‘Street Children Outreach’ project. You will then be involved in the ‘School Support Programme’ on weekday afternoons.
Street Children Outreach
Through various activities, teaching moral values, playing games, painting and providing medical education and support, you will provide the children with the opportunity to play and develop to their full potential. Some of your task will involve communicating with the children’s parents, educating them about their children’s rights and also the obligations that they themselves have as parents. It is hoped that the outcome in the long-term will be that the children and parents will have a better relationship.
School Support Programme
The programme was started as a way of providing the children with strong educational support, as many of the families cannot provide it themselves. In fact, many families don’t even understand the importance of education. Many of the parents live in extreme states of poverty and face daily problems such as unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, illiteracy and migration and so consequently are incapable of giving proper care to their children.
Your help will allow these children to have a chance to enjoy learning and to keep up with their lessons in school, despite their disadvantages. In the long-term, it is hoped that their parents will come to understand the positive results of their children receiving a good education.
Volunteers Tasks and Responsibilities:
- Help to Improve hygiene by encouraging the children to wash their hands and brush their teeth.
- Take a daily attendance register.
- Make sure that the children keep to the programme rules.
- Help the children with their school assignments and homework.
- Devise activities for children to do once their homework assignments are finished.
- Supervision of children during break time, ensuring that they do not disturb other children who are still working.
- Oversee the children during clean up sessions at the end of the day.
- Pass on information to parents about their children’s progress.
Programme Age Limit
Minimum age is 18 years; maximum is decided on potential participants’ health.
Programme Support
All throughout your stay in Ecuador you will receive the full guidance and support of the project staff. You will be given competent assistance and help with any problems or provided with any advice you might need during your stay.
In addition to this, we give you our 24-hour emergency number in the UK so you can get in touch with our UK staff in an emergency should you need to.
Programme Orientation
You will receive a complete orientation on arrival. This will give you detailed information about your region and Ecuador. The orientation will include information about your programme, together with safety issues, to make sure you feel at ease with all aspects of the project.
Accommodation and Meals
You will stay with other volunteers in a nearby house owned by a host family: it is located in a safe and convenient area. You will be sharing a room with one other volunteer, and have shared bathroom facilities. Two meals a day will be provided, usually only breakfast and dinner, as you will be out at your programme during the day. You will have access to laundry facilities at the house.
The house is situated near to the bus station, so that you can very easily catch the bus to the programme site. The bus station will be pointed out to you during your orientation.
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