Ecuador Community Development Quests
United Planet offers several community volunteer projects in Ecuador.
Short-term Community Development Quests (1-12 weeks)
Day Care Quest
Minimum Stay: 1 week
Volunteers needed: Year Round
Requirements: At least 16 years old, Basic Spanish
In a country with many people living in poverty, many young boys and girls end up on the street and can face many challenges. Your work will help give youth a focus and a place to feel connected.
This project takes place in Quito at a busy day care center that serves 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 young children and in the afternoon, school children come to the center until their parents return from work. The students in the afternoon are older. Volunteers will help teachers in caring for the infants at the kindergarten during the morning and then teach the older children English in the afternoon. In addition, volunteers will help by organizing recreational activities for the children.
You don't need to have any experience in this field. A strong interest in children and an outgoing personality could be very helpful.
English Teaching Quest 
Minimum Stay: 2 weeks
Volunteers needed: Year Round except July and August
Requirements: At least 18 years old, Basic Spanish
Volunteers are needed to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and their families through education and social support at a school in Quito. The students need help practicing pronunciation as well as developing their listening and conversational skills. Volunteers assist the teachers and help the children with their work. They can also help with the day to day tasks of the school and organize group activities. The school is very open to new projects and ideas from volunteers.
Jungle Community Quest
This project is not currently accepting enrollments.
Minimum Stay: 2 weeks
Volunteers needed: Year Round
Requirements: At least 21 years old, Basic Spanish
Volunteers will live and work in an indigenous Quechua community in the jungle. They will participate in environmental and social projects such as teaching English & environmental awareness, coaching sports, organizing games for the children, planting trees, and performing agricultural work. Work alongside other volunteers and learn about the ongoing efforts to preserve this Quechua society.
- Click here for Long-term Quests (6 months or 1 year) in Ecuador
