As a volunteer on this programme you will be working out in the poorest areas of Quito, helping to make a difference in the society. We work with two different projects in the south and countryside suburbs of Quito. These focus on child services such as outreach, community service and school support. Your placement or the extent to which you will work in any of the areas will depend on availability, the time of the year and the length of your stay. You will receive information during your orientation about the specific project to which you will be placed.
Option A:
This day care centre was first opened to the children in the April of 2006 after it initially started as a small kids club for the children from the area surrounding the dump site. Once the site was closed to dumping in 2005 the club was developed into a day-care centre that is now maintained by non-profit organisations and fully funded by generous donations. The centre is there to provide a clean, safe environment for the children whose parents work nearby in the city dump. Some 40-50 children now attend the day-care centre on a regular basis. They receive one balanced meal and two nutritious snacks, as well as clean clothes and baths, and basic pre-school education. Volunteers will be helping at the day-care centre giving support in educational activities, arts and crafts, games, songs, serving meals, taking care of the younger children and more! Volunteering on this project could be a life-changing experience!
Responsibilities may include:
- Provide care and support for the children and make sure they stay with the group.
- Plan activities in advance and ensure all materials are ready on the day of the project.
- Participate in activities and help children successfully complete projects.
- Ensure the children adhere to the programme rules.
- Help children with assignments and homework.
- Supervise children during break time.
- Aid the teachers with in class activities.
- Ensure all children wash their hands
- Aid the staff during snack and meal times.
- Organize the children to clean up at the end of the day.
Option B:
This programme was founded in 2003 by a Dutch woman who also originally worked in Ecuador as a volunteer. It offers education services to under-privileged children and works in accordance with the department of Social Welfare. Classes, homework supervision sessions, educational activities and more are offered to children of marginalised areas. The children at the centre are happy and playful and greatly enjoy working with the volunteers, you may help plan activities in areas such as Art, Painting, Music, English Reading and Writing and will be playing an active role in these activities.
A normal day may consist of starting at 8am and finishing at 4:30pm, however, there is an option for volunteers to do a half day, with the afternoon off, the programme price will remain the same with this option. The children have three meals a day with an afternoon nap after lunch. There are five groups within the school and one volunteer is assigned to each group where there is an accredited and educated teacher already placed.
The programme has been created to provide the children with strong educational support, which many families cannot provide themselves and is also proud to provide a programme for mothers who make crafts that are then sold in the Netherlands, the profit of which goes back into the project.
A lot of the families are not even aware of the importance of education. Many live in poverty and face problems, such as illiteracy, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and migration and are therefore incapable of providing adequate care for their children.
You will help to give these children a chance to enjoy learning and to keep up in school. This will also show the parents that there are positive results from their children receiving a good education.
Responsibilities may include:
- Take a daily attendance
- Improve hygiene by ensuring all children wash their hands and brush their teeth
- Ensure the children adhere to the programme rules
- Help children with assignments and homework
- Choose and create activities for children to do once homework is complete
- Supervise children during break time and ensure they do not distract other children who are still working
- Organise the children to clean up at the end of the day
- Communicate with parents about the progress of their children
Volunteers are expected to be flexible with their responsibilities and provide support in which ever area it is required most.
If you choose to do 8 weeks or more on option B you will also have the opportunity to take part in following project as well.
Street Children Outreach Programme
The outreach programme is an important project, which assists children and their families, who live or work in the streets and who are socially disadvantaged. Most of the parents’ time needs to be spent selling products in the street markets of Quito, as a consequence the children become neglected and get little attention, you will help to provide the children with the chance to play and develop to their full potential. Volunteers are essential to the success of this project, as they have the ability to give the children the care and attention that they really need.
As a volunteer you will be placed at one of the four different markets that we are involved in. Each market may take three to five volunteers at any one time and is focused on community service, education, psychology and the local clinic. Through activities, such as teaching moral values, painting, playing games, and providing medical support and education, you will provide the children with the chance to play and develop to their full both at elementary and high school levels. This excellent programme may also give you the opportunity to work in the local clinic and dental surgery and work in a programme for kids with behavioural problems. Some of your time will also be spent communicating with the children’s parents and informing them of their children’s rights and the obligations that they themselves have as parents. The aim is that eventually the children and parents will have a better relationship.
*Please note that during the summer months the children tend to be between 3-12yrs and during the academic year they may be younger.
Volunteer Responsibilities may include:
- Collecting the children from their parent’s market posts to go to an indoor classroom or park for educational activities
- Ensuring all children wash their hands
- Helping children identify colours, numbers and objects
- Providing care and support for the children and making sure they stay within the group
- Identifying children with dental problems
- Assisting in the arts & crafts classes for mothers
- Helping with administrative tasks in the local office
- Planning activities in advance and ensuring all materials are ready on the day of the project
- Participating in activities and help children successfully complete projects
- Making sure all children get returned to their parent’s market posts
Volunteers are expected to be flexible with their responsibilities and provide support in which ever area it is required most.
Please note: itineraries and activities are subject to change.
What’s Included in the Programme
- Accommodation
- Breakfast and Dinner
- A detailed orientation on arrival
- An airport pickup and drop off on arrival and departure
- 24 hour Emergency help
- Full support prior to departure from your personal travel adviser
- Detailed information pack prior to departure
What’s Not Included in the Programme
- International flight
- Lunches
- Personal travel insurance
- Visa extensions
- Items of a personal nature
- Additional activities over and above the planned itinerary inclusions
Prices and Durations
Ecuador Street Children Care and Education - 2 weeks $959
Ecuador Street Children Care and Education - 4 weeks $1,429
Ecuador Street Children Care and Education - 6 weeks $1,909
Ecuador Street Children Care and Education - 8 weeks $2,149
Ecuador Street Children Care and Education - 12 weeks $3,099
