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Children & Community Volunteer Program in Quito
Make a meaningful difference by volunteering with a community initiative in Quito that supports children and families in vulnerable situations. Assist local caregivers with educational and recreational activities while experiencing authentic Ecuadorian culture.
This program places you at a community initiative in Quito that supports children and families in vulnerable situations, working alongside local caregivers rather than running activities on your own. Day to day you help with homework and educational activities, organize arts, crafts, games and sports, and support caregivers during meals and daily routines. It suits volunteers age 18 and older who have at least an intermediate level of Spanish, since you need to communicate directly with staff and children.
Placements run for 3–24 weeks, with a new group starting every week (saturdays); the next start date is 19 Sep 2026. You stay in dorm-style rooms at a centrally located hostel about a 20-minute walk from the project, with lunch provided at the project on working days and other meals at your own cost. Prices start at $1,150, deposit included ($249). One highlight of this program is the included weekend excursion to Cotopaxi National Park with a bike tour.
- Volunteer with a community initiative supporting children and families in vulnerable situations in Quito
- Assist local caregivers with educational, recreational, and daily support activities
- Make a positive impact through meaningful interaction with children in a safe and supervised environment
- Opportunity to witness and live the local life of Quito and give back to its community
- Weekend group excursion to Cotopaxi National Park with a biking adventure
Your role on this program
- Assist children with educational and learning activities such as homework support
- Organize arts, crafts, games, sports, and other recreational sessions
- Encourage children's social, emotional, and personal development through positive interaction
- Support caregivers during daily routines and structured activities
- Help supervise children during meal and snack times
- Assist with light food preparation when required
- Share your own culture through games, music, language, or creative activities
- Help create a welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable environment for the children
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
Volunteers assist local caregivers and project staff with educational and recreational activities and are never left in sole charge of children; all work happens under the direction of local staff. This is a community-based day program, not an orphanage or residential facility, and volunteers do not provide medical, therapeutic, or specialist teaching services - duties may vary with the placement's needs.
A typical day and week
Upon arrival in Quito you will have your Meet & Greet to discuss your expectations, rules of the project and how to move in the city. You will receive information on how to go to the project (walking distance) on the first working day, usually on Mondays.
Volunteers typically work Monday to Friday from approximately 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with lunch and snacks provided during the day. Each morning begins with a welcome and briefing from the local project staff, followed by educational support, creative activities, and interactive sessions with the children. Throughout the day, volunteers may assist with arts and crafts, games, storytelling, homework support, and recreational activities designed to encourage learning, confidence, and social development. Volunteers also help during meal and snack times and may provide light assistance with daily routines or food preparation when needed. The afternoons usually include structured group activities, cultural exchange, and one-on-one interaction with the children before ending with a short wrap-up meeting with the project team. Since the program responds to the daily needs of the children and the community, activities may vary from day to day, making every volunteering experience unique and rewarding. Weekends are generally free for volunteers to relax or explore Quito and its surrounding attractions, with an included group excursion to Cotopaxi National Park on selected Saturdays.
This is a tough project so please be patient, your volunteer work is extremely valuable and helps to keep the project running. You will learn a lot and at times you may get frustrated of the way things work in Ecuador. Organization and the pace at which things run may be very different to what you are used to but please take into account that these are cultural differences that you should respect.
Show initiative that you are willing to work hard, be happy and motivated and you will get the most out of your time as a volunteer.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 18
- Intermediate Spanish required, to communicate with staff and children
- Open-minded, flexible, and proactive attitude with a genuine interest in working with children
- Clean criminal background check report, issued within 12 months of the start date
- Travel and medical insurance is compulsory (your own policy or the one arranged by Volunteering Solutions)
- Minimum stay of 3
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The placement is a community initiative in Quito that supports children and families in vulnerable situations, working through local caregivers and project staff who run the day-to-day program. Volunteers are assigned tasks based on the project's daily needs and always work under the direction of these staff, following local guidelines rather than setting their own agenda.
Because the program works with children, a clean criminal background check is required before you join, and you are never left alone in charge of a child at any point. Your contribution is additional hands for educational, recreational, and daily-routine support - helping with homework, activities, and meals - rather than a stand-alone teaching or caregiving role.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in EcuadorCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 weeks | $1,150 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,305 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,460 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,615 | |
| 7 weeks | $1,770 | |
| 8 weeks | $1,925 | |
| Each additional week | +$199 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Pick up from the airport
- Briefing
- Community Volunteering Experience
- Project Donation
- Lunch (served at the project on working days)
- Accommodation in a nice and cozy hostel close to the project
- Day tour to Cotopaxi volcano (Bike Tour)
- Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
- Certificate of Participation(On Request)
Not included
-
- Airfare
- Return Trip to Airport (Can be arranged at extra cost)
- Local Transportation
- Personal Expenses
- Visa Fees
- Meals
- Vaccinations
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
Volunteers would be picked up from the Mariscal Sucre International Airport by the VolSol staff or the in-country coordinator. Volunteers who are already present in Quito can arrive directly at the hostel accommodation.
Accommodation
Participants are provided dorm style accommodation in a centrally located hostel.Secret Garden Hostel is one of Quito’s most popular backpacker hostels, known for its lively atmosphere, stunning views, and strong sense of community. Located on a hill just a short walk from Quito’s historic Old Town, the hostel offers panoramic views over the city and surrounding mountains—especially breathtaking at sunset. The hostel is located downtown, about a 20-minute walk from the project.
Secret Garden is also a great base for exploring Quito. Guests can easily visit nearby attractions like Plaza Grande, La Ronda, and the TelefériQo cable car. The hostel also helps organize trips to its sister property, Secret Garden Cotopaxi, which offers a more nature-focused experience near the Cotopaxi volcano.
Orientation
Our local staff will provide a comprehensive briefing to the volunteers. The orientation would cover information about your project, routes, and buses or public transport that you can take to reach your project site.The orientation would take place usually on Sunday, the next day after your arrival.
Meals
Participants are provided with lunch at the project. Other meals can be taken at the hostel restaurant by paying directly. Meals are not included in the program.The hostel offers social spaces and activities for guests (there is no communal kitchen), and volunteers receive a 50% discount at the restaurant.
During your Free Time
Quito offers a lot of things to do and it is full of nice places to see like parks, museums and plazas. Its large historic center is a great place to spend a couple of afternoons, visiting its historic plazas, churches, and beautiful colonial streets; you can also take the cable car to go up the Pichincha volcano, where you can have amazing views of the whole city. You can also visit the Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world), Pululahua volcano´s crater, and much more! During the weekends you can go to the rainforest, to the very popular Mindo town or north to the famous Otavalo indigenous town.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Ecuador
Airport pickup
You are picked up at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) by Volunteering Solutions staff or the in-country coordinator; if you are already in Quito you can go directly to the hostel.
First night and Meet & Greet
You settle into the hostel and have a Meet & Greet briefing covering expectations, project rules, and how to get around the city.
Orientation
Orientation usually takes place the next day, typically a Sunday, and covers the project, the route to it, and the buses or transport you will use.
First project day
You start at the project on the first working day, usually a Monday, walking there from the hostel; the day opens with a welcome and briefing from local staff.
Ongoing support
The in-country coordinator and local project staff provide day-to-day support, with a 24-hour emergency contact throughout your stay.
From volunteers in Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually do each day?
You assist local caregivers and staff with homework support, arts and crafts, games, sports, and other recreational activities, plus help during meal and snack times and light food preparation when needed.
Do I need Spanish or prior experience with children?
An intermediate level of Spanish is required so you can communicate with staff and children; no specialist skills or qualifications are needed, but patience and flexibility matter.
What are the working hours?
Volunteers typically work Monday to Friday from approximately 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with lunch and snacks provided at the project.
How long can I volunteer and when do programs start?
Placements run for 3–24 weeks, with new starts every week (saturdays); the next start date is 19 Sep 2026.
What does the price include?
Prices start at $1,150, deposit included ($249), covering airport pickup, hostel accommodation, lunch on working days, briefing and orientation, 24-hour support, and the weekend Cotopaxi excursion; insurance is available at extra cost.
Where do I stay and what about meals other than lunch?
You stay in dorm-style rooms at a centrally located hostel about 20 minutes on foot from the project; lunch is provided on working days, and other meals are at your own cost at the hostel restaurant.
Will someone meet me at the airport?
Yes, Volunteering Solutions staff or the in-country coordinator meet you at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO); if you are already in Quito you can go straight to the hostel.
Is the placement safe and supervised?
You work under the direction of local project staff at all times and are never left in sole charge of children, with 24-hour emergency support from the local team.
Do I need a background check, visa, or vaccinations?
A clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of your start date is required for this childcare placement; visa and vaccination guidance is sent before departure since it depends on your nationality.
Who is this program suited for?
It suits volunteers age 18 and older with at least intermediate Spanish who are flexible, patient, and comfortable working alongside local caregivers in a community setting rather than leading activities independently.
Is this an orphanage?
No, this is a community day program supporting children and families in vulnerable situations, not an orphanage or residential facility.
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