Volunteer Abroad in Ecuador with United Planet Ecuador Quest

Ecuador

My experience has been terrific! I feel immense satisfaction to have been a part of this Quest.

- Varun Mehta, United Planet Quest Volunteer

Experience the Exotic Wonders of Ecuador While Making a Difference:

Located east of the famous and historical Galapagos Islands, Ecuador contains within its borders a variety of landscapes and cultures! As a volunteer you will have the opportunity to stay in one of the most beautiful capital cities of South America—Quito! Located in a long, narrow valley, Quito is the perfect place to begin exploring Ecuador’s culture and landscape.

Ecuador Quests are available year-round and begin on every Monday of each month.
Up to 10 hours of Spanish lessons per week are included for all levels!
Information on Prices and Cultural Excursions can be found in links at the top of this page.

1. Day Care Quest

Requirement: Basic Spanish

This project takes place in Quito at a busy day care center that serves over 300 children in a low-income neighborhood. The center strives to better educate and develop the children at a young age.

The center has a morning day care program for children from 5 months to 6 years old; in the afternoon, school children come to the center until their parents return from work. These children are from 6 to 12 years old.

Volunteers will help teachers in caring for the infants during the morning at the kindergarten and during the afternoon they will teach the older children English. In addition, volunteers will help with other play and sports activities for the children.

For those with teaching experience, an additional community health education project is also available. The volunteer would be reaching out to single mothers and conducting workshops on reproductive and early-childhood health.

2. English Teaching Quest

Duration: Minimum 2 week commitment

Requirements: Basic Spanish

Volunteers are needed at a private High School in the historic center of Quito to teach English. The students need help practicing pronunciation as well as developing their listening and conversational skills. The schedule changes every semester, but volunteers usually work between 7:30 am and 1:30 pm. The High School asks the volunteers to teach around 25 hours per week. Volunteers can combine the teaching hours with a theater or dance workshop. Volunteers can also help the local teacher to organize one theater performance at the end of their stay.

3. Health services Quest
A. Physical Therapy

Requirements: Intermediate Spanish

This project is appropriate for physical therapy students and licensed professionals. The volunteer will assist by prepping adults for their therapy and helping with the kids’ therapy. Volunteers may also have the chance to observe prosthetics being made for the patients!

B. Recycling Quest

Requirements: Basic Spanish
This is perfect for volunteers who want some hands-on training in environmental studies! Most of your volunteering will involve the collection, classification, and cleaning of recyclable materials, facilitation of the conservation and ecological program, as well as helping with the community participation programs (publicity and graphic design).

There is no better place to do environmental work than in a country that houses the Amazon rainforest!

Map of Ecuador

4. Health Clinic Quest

Requirements: Intermediate Spanish

Duration: Minimum 2 week commitment

Doctors and nurses in all specializations are needed to help at this small outpatient clinic in the historic center of Quito. Volunteers without medical training will help as facilitators for such tasks as: patient mobilization, orientation within the center, recording patient information, and some administrative work. Medical students can support patients and may be able to observe procedures. Specialists in medicine are allowed to work directly with patients in cooperation with the local doctors.

5. Education and Rehabilitation Quest: working with children and adults with mental disabilities
Duration: minimum 2 weeks
Requirements: Basic Spanish

The aim of this project is to provide children and adolescents with mental disabilities with skills that will allow them to integrate into society. This will be accomplished through artistic activities and educational support. In this project volunteers can work as classroom and lunch service assistants. Volunteer work entails helping with homework and class activities, monitoring students during class time, watching them during recreation times, and assisting and supervising students during lunch. Volunteers can also help the children with speech by walking them through computer programs designed to improve their pronunciation. This is also a good project for volunteers with a physical therapy background. Experienced therapists can conduct workshops for kids’ parents, educating them about their children's disabilities.

6. Environmental Quest: Conservation or Environmental Education in the Cloud Forest

Availability: Available in July and from August 25th through December 2008.

Duration: Minimum 10 days but preferably 2 weeks

Requirements: Basic to Intermediate Spanish

The environmental project is located in the cloud forest, in Nanegalito, which is roughly two hours outside of Quito. Volunteers can work in the organic garden planting seeds, looking after the coffee crops, and maintaining the reserves’ protected areas. Conservation work also may include cleaning trails and keeping an inventory of identified flora and fauna. Alternatively, volunteers can support environmental education initiatives in the local community, such as improving awareness of biodiversity and conservation methods.

Volunteers live in dorm-like housing and take meals in the cafeteria. On days off, volunteers can travel to Mindo to explore its butterfly farms, or partake in outdoor activities such as tubing, at additional cost.

*Please note that Spanish classes are not offered on the environmental project.

Ecuador Visas
United Planet sends volunteers from many countries around the world. Obtaining a Visa (if necessary) is therefore the responsibility of the volunteer. U.S. citizens can visit the website of the U.S. State Department to learn more about foreign entry requirements. For citizens of all other countries, please contact your destination country's embassy in your home country or your government website. If you need a letter from United Planet to verify your participation in our program, please e-mail us with this request and we will be happy to provide one.

Health Issues and Vaccinations Ecuador boy
Some countries require or suggest that volunteers have certain vaccinations before entering the country. Please consult your country's government website for more information regarding the health of travelers. U.S. citizens can visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control to learn more about vaccinations and staying healthy while traveling. It is also recommended that you visit nearest travel clinic prior to departure.

Living and volunteering in another country, often in conditions you are not used to, can take a toll on the body and mind. In addition to the information that is provided in your pre-departure package, please research how to stay healthy in your country of destination. It could make all the difference!