Overview
Street Children Volunteer Project in Ecuador has been able to successfully help many a child and their families. Currently, this project supports around 250 children. The children who come to this center for support usually have traumatic past marred with experiences like living with drug addict parents, living on the streets, abused by others, subjected to violence and a lot of mental torture.
One of the main problems facing those who have left behind their addictions and life on the street is finding employment due to their lack of education and skills. As a result, the project has created a carpentry workshop as well as a bakery that young people and adults can come and receive training and various courses.
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
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 would be picked up from their locations. Inform your coordinator about your plans beforehand.
Accommodation
There are two types of accommodation options available to volunteers in Quito. Volunteers can choose to stay either with the host family or at the volunteer house. Participants who want to stay with the host family have to inform about this before the placement. On arrival to the project, on the first night, all-volunteer will stay in the volunteer house and the next day those who chose host family would be sent to their accommodation. Volunteer house has a same-gender shared accommodation. Both host family and the volunteer house are fully furnished; however, do carry your own towels and toiletries.
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
Meals are provided from Monday to Friday when you stay with the host family. The daily menu would generally include
- Breakfast: American type breakfast: eggs, fruit, toast, coffee/tea, juice
- Lunch: Soup, Main dish (rice, chicken/meat/fish/vegetarian option, vegetables), dessert, juice
- Dinner: Can be soup, or bread, or a salad or a smaller version of lunch
Families can comply with specific needs, such as gluten allergies, vegetarian diet, vegan diet, etc.
- For volunteers staying at the volunteer house a fully functional kitchen is provided where they can cook whatever they like. There are multiple restaurants around the accommodation and volunteers can grab a quick bite outside as well. This will give them to socialize and interact with the locals and taste some delicious local delicacies.
During your Free Time
There is a lot to do in Quito and not all can be covered in a day. You will have free time during the evening and during the weekends which you can divide between things to do and places to visit in Quito. You can start with the Old Town, Iglesia de San Francisco, La Compañía de Jesús, and Casa Museo María Augusta Urrutia. Keep in mind that a lot of public attractions remain closed during lunch, you can rest in the afternoon or head to El Panecillo for panoramic views of the city and have a hearty meal there, take a break and start again. How you want to end your day, depends on you. You can explore the nightlife or just settle for a light dinner.
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)
Please add $100 extra per week for host family accommodation
What are you Paying for?
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Pick up from the airport
- Orientation
- Weekly cocktail & Salsa class in Quito
- Food (2-3 times a day only when staying in host family)
- Accommodation
- 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
- Visa Fees
- Vaccinations
Program Dates
| Months | 2021 |
| January | 09162330 |
| February | 06132027 |
| March | 06132027 |
| April | 03101724 |
| May | 0108152229 |
| June | 05121926 |
| July | 0310 |
| September | 04111825 |
| October | 0209162330 |
| November | 06132027 |
| December | 0411 |
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.
