Overview
This project gives a second chance to the local street children and youth. Volunteers work in a non-profit organization for children who live or have lived on the streets. As a volunteer you can be of great help assisting the children with their homework, giving hygienic education, among other activities, and off course giving the children many hugs and attention. Many of these children have had a bad start to life such as being born to drug addicted parents, living on the streets, subjected to violence, abuse or neglect, made to work selling sweets in the street etc. One of the most important parts of a volunteer’s presence at the project is to empower the children and teenagers and this can be done just telling them a nice compliment, have fun with them with playing, art, music or sport. It is very important that they feel and realize that they are important no matter they background, race, economic or educational status.
The center helps over 100 children, although they do not all come to the center at the same time. Some come in the morning and other in the afternoon. All children receive a nutritious lunch at the center and they have to brush their teeth afterwards. The aim is to stress the importance of education as a way of breaking the circle and ensuring that these children do not fall for the same way of life and temptations that their parents did before them. With the help of funding and sponsors, the project pays to send the children to school and help out with any costs that the family may not be able to cover like school uniforms, books, materials etc.
The project created also work shops, like bakery and wood crafts. You can also share your talent with creating a work shop.
The pandemic changed a bit the daily activities; however, they remained active, helping in all the possible ways giving the circumstances prepare food packages and delivered them to 100 families that needed it the most. They did this until September 2021.
Nowadays the project is supporting around 60 kids to take online lessons, via zoom, so they continue receiving education and do not quite school, as the schools remain closed for face-to-face classes and of course they do not have internet access anywhere The children present at the project also receive help and support with their homework; most of their parents cannot help them. The Children still receive lunch, but with strict biosafety protocols, they do it in shifts.
Program Requirements
Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and have a passion for working with children. You should also be proactive and have the ability to take initiative All volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report prior to joining the program. A beginner-intermediate level of Spanish would be an added advantage for the participants in the program.
Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities
- Help children with their homework
- Help with food preparation, especially during the lunchtime which can be very chaotic and busy
- Assist the youngest children and make sure they clean up after themselves.
- Help in the carpentry workshop
- School visits (the centre needs to keep a check on the children enrolled at school and regularly visit the local schools to ask about a certain child’s attendance, grades, ability etc.)
- Prepare recreational activities to be carried out when the children finish their homework or during their breaks
- Assist in hygiene education such as hand washing and brushing teeth-Supervise and assist children when they are allowed to use the I.T. room for their homework
Volunteer Work Schedule
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.
Once you arrive at the project, you will have an orientation meeting where general information about the activities during the following days will be provided. It is also discussed what the expectations are and what talents and passions you want to use as a volunteer to contribute to the project with the aim that your time in the project makes an impact for the project and yourself.
Now is time to work… please take into consideration that not all the days will be the same, so your activities will be defined depending on the daily needs, we count on your flexibility to help at the project.
At midday, you will have a break for lunch, which is served at the project. This is a great opportunity for you to get to know the people of the community and their lives.
In the afternoon, you will continue with your duties until around 4pm. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the city. For the following days, the schedule is similar, working from 7am to 4pm from Monday to Friday.
The coordinator will indicate you where you will be most needed, and of course if you have ideas, these are always welcome!!
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.
Living
Volunteering Solutions is an established name for volunteering placements abroad. We ensure that all our accommodation and living standards match the requirements and comfort levels of our volunteers.
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.Located in the heart of the historic center of the city, Masaya a boutique hostel in Quito in a charming colonial house, a mixture of the colonial and the urban, is the perfect place to explore the largest and best conserved historic downtown is all Latin America, sounded by the most interesting plazas and streets like La Ronda, Plaza Grande, Plaza de Santo Domingo, Plaza de San Francisco, El Panecillo, the Basilica Church and lots of museums. The hostel offers incredible and generous spaces, a large garden, bright and comfortable bedrooms, to ensure you experience and stay there is pleasant.
The hostel offers facilities such as Wifi internet, large garden, multimedia zone and a restaurant.
Orientation
Our local staff will provide a comprehensive orientation session for 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. You would come to know about the culture and practices of Quito, food habits, currency and more. On the first day of the project, our volunteer coordinator will accompany the volunteer to his/her project and show them how to use public transport to and from the project. On-site, the coordinator will introduce the volunteer to the project and the local project staff and help with basic induction.
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.
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 beautifull 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 ctrater, 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.
Program Cost
Please Note: -An application fee of $199 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 4% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)
What are you Paying for?
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Pick up from the airport
- Orientation
- Project Donation
- Lunch (served at the project)
- Accommodation in a nice and cosy hostel close to the project
- Day tour to Cotopaxi volcano (Bike Tour)
- Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
- Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)
What's NOT included?
- Airfare
- Return Trip to Airport (Can be arranged at extra cost)
- Local Transportation
- Personal Expenses
- Visa Fees
- Meals
- Vaccinations
Program Dates
| Months | 2022 | 2023 |
| January | 08152229 | 07142128 |
| February | 05121926 | 04111825 |
| March | 05121926 | 04111825 |
| April | 0209162330 | 0108152229 |
| May | 07142128 | 06132027 |
| June | 04111825 | 03101724 |
| July | 0209162330 | 0108152229 |
| August | - | 05121926 |
| September | 03101724 | 0209162330 |
| October | 0108152229 | 07142128 |
| November | 05121926 | 04111825 |
| December | 0310 | 0209 |
FAQ's
FAQ's Application and Program Details
-Confirmed booking/placement.
-Application Fee is valid for a year and you can choose to do two three programs in the same year without paying an additional application fee.
-You can make the payment for program fee in parts.
Also, we abide by the first come first serve policy.
Intermediate or Beginner Level of Spanish is required.
Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project.
Participants must have a Clean Police Record (Criminal Background Check).
Volunteers need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment.
The volunteers should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.
On the first day of the project, our volunteer coordinator accompanies the volunteer to his/her project and shows how public transport works to and from the project. On the site, the coordinator will introduce the volunteer to the project and the local project staff and help with basic induction.
Flights and Visa
American
Avianca
Aeromexico
From Europe to Quito, the recommended services are:
Iberia
Taca
KLM
Health and Safety
Here are some guidelines from the project:
When using public transport keep your bag and valuables with you and not on the shelves or under the seat.
Do not bring things which are not required or are extremely expensive: jewelry, credit cards, more money than you're spending money for that day, etc.
When it gets dark, take a taxi, they are cheap here in Ecuador and will guarantee you a safe ride home.
Do not drink in the company of the strangers, until you are with your volunteer group or company.
Accommodation and Living
In Volunteer house, there is the provision of the fully functional kitchen but no meals. Volunteers can prepare meals for themselves. Meals are provided by the host family, thrice a day.
You will need to cover yourself for your personal expenses, such as local transport, telephone, the internet, shopping, weekend trips etc. However, you should carry around $50 per week for your basic personal expenses. This amount can vary and you would need a higher amount if you go on weekend sightseeing tours.
Connect with Past Volunteers
To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit the Meet a Volunteer section on our website.
