Start Your Mission Trip Ecuador

Go Abroad Ecuador, this is a non-profit medical institution whose mission is to improve health, education and welfare of children and low income people in Quito; through training, low-cost health programs and promotion of socio economic assistance to help solve the problems of the neediest.

Volunteers have the chance to rotate in the different areas of the program: 2 weeks each: General Medicine, Rehabilitation, Odontology, Clinical Laboratory, Gynecology, Permanent First Aid Course.  The main role is to observe, listen and learn from the professionals.There are enough doctors and nurses to perform the medical practices, therefore the main role is to out shadow them.

Volunteer Ecuador Quito Review John Misuki Premedical Program

Volunteers could assist doctors or nurses after a week of observation. This program requires volunteers, between 18 to 60 years old with an intermediate knowledge of Spanish or you can take Spanish Lessons Immersion Lessons while in country.

First Aid Course before the start of the program, given by a health care professional with experience. Participants will learn: take vital signs, blood sampling, suturing wounds and more (theory and practice). The course is optional, an extra unique cost of $50

Volunteering in Ecuador, this is a unique health care internship program in the north of Quito which provides free services to the poor patients with more than 300 beds available for hospitalization. First Aid Course before the start of the program, given by a health care professional with experience. Participants will learn: take vital signs, blood sampling, suturing wounds and more (theory and practice). The course is “optional”, an extra unique cost of $50 paid in country to the coordinator.

Volunteers could assist doctors or nurses after a week of observation. This program requires volunteers, between 18 to 60 years old with an intermediate knowledge of Spanish or you can take Spanish Lessons Immersion Lessons while in country.

First Aid Course before the start of the program, given by a health care professional with experience. Participants will learn: take vital signs, blood sampling, suturing wounds and more (theory and practice). The course is optional, an extra unique cost of $50

• Medical assistance at the Health Center general tasks depending on the Station where you will be working and also depending on your interests.
• Volunteers will have the chance to choose the station depending on interests, experience, availability and also depending on the language skills.

Go Overseas Ecuador, this orphanage, located about an hour outside of the city, provides a safe place for local children who have suffered violence, physical and psychological or other risk to their lives.  Created to have a family environment, with emphasis on education, the children are provided with a positive outlook on the lives.

The objectives of the foundation::

• Strengthening family ties within the home system. - A house or apartment where 30 children living accompanied by an “aunt or mother”. A space where is created a favorable environment to develop and grow the deepest feelings of the human being: love, solidarity, truth, justice and equity.
• Education.- the orphanage believes that education is a basic and fundamental element for achieving the objectives for this reason the orphanage creates a basic school of 7 grades, which is attended by children from the home and children of families living in the neighborhood of orphanage; the approximate number is 130 to 140 students. The principal aim of the school is to develop the intellectual abilities of children.

Productive technical training. This line ensures young persons to discover their spiritual physical-intellectual-psychological qualities and can freely and responsibly decide their productive contribution to society, that’s why the orphanage has implemented some laboratories such as agriculture, bakery, making uniforms, carpentry, etc.

Volunteer will help organize recreational activities, support the kids with homework help, encourage and teach the importance of hygiene, daily life skills and doing their daily chores at the home. There is a large garden that the children use to plant their own vegetables. This has proven to be very successful with the children and youth because they take pride in what they have planted and are always eager to learn how to improve them.

Project Notes:

• Transportation: by bus from the host family is 50 min US$1.50 or by cab from the host family is US$20 round trip (40min).
• Optional on-site accommodations may be available at the orphanage
• Spanish speaking volunteers are preferred.
• US$100 per month donation for the project site added to your program fees.

Gapyear in Ecuador, this project has been in the works since 1949 for children who have been orphaned, abandoned, or whose families are unable to care for them. The family approach in this Children's Village is based on the three following principles: each child needs a mother, they grow up naturally with brothers and sisters, and they live in their own house within a supportive village environment.

The center has a great response to the social development needs of society's most vulnerable children and young people. This center establishes facilities and programs that aim to strengthen families and prevent the abandonment of children. In Quito, the program  has 7 Social Centers that work as a kindergarten for small children whose parents are working and have no other place to leave their kids. The center gives attention towards the children, family, women and community.

The center hosts more than 80 children from ages 8 months to 4 years old. There are five groups of children and their daily activities depend on age. Volunteers at the day care center can help by creating recreational activities for the children, playing with them, organizing games, making didactic material, helping with feeding and cleaning the children.

Volunteers who work here are going to work with kids who form strong bonds very quickly because they are already so vulnerable, they become attached to those they spend their days with. The children will miss you and feel sad if you do not take this volunteer position seriously by not showing up to work. It is very important that before you leave, you tell them with anticipation when you are leaving.  The volunteer position will contain lots of laughter and joy, but it is important that you are responsible, show respect and have confidence in fulfilling your duties as a volunteer here. 

Volunteer in Ecuador, fundación Abuelitos was originally founded in the year 2001. Its main goal is to promote, support and realize efficient attention to senior citizens. The foundation creates concrete actions that will promote the importance of an active, worthy, healthy, participative and productive old age.

In Ecuador, the great number of senior citizens is evident on the streets. One can see that many are beggars or how they are living in a very poor economic situation. There are more than one million elderly people in Ecuador that live without social aid and suffer from abandonment of their families and society in general. The program offers services to this class of people in areas such as: physical aid/therapy, personal growth, recreation and occupational therapies, medical attention, education and various workshops, among others, that enable the elderly to greatly improve their quality of life.

Volunteers will be able to assist in all the activities planned by the foundation. It all depends on your experience, effort, interests and the capacity of your love and care for the elderly. In general, the day starts with some physical activity and a short human development workshop before sharing breakfast. Then the activities begin. For example, dancing, theater, narratives, chorus lessons and activities in the bakery and handcraft workshops. At the end of the activities, they share lunch together.

There is an average of about 100 senior citizens per day that visit the foundation between the ages of 60 -75 years old. Your help is greatly appreciated in anyway.

Volunteer in Ecuador, this project was created in 1995 with the main objective to offer rehabilitation and integrate recreational programs through therapies with horses for children, youth, and adults with mental or physical disabilities.

Riding therapy or equine-assisted therapy and canine-assisted therapy with dogs is recognized worldwide as an effective method for physical, mental and/or emotional rehabilitation. It transmits to the patient a sense of balance, coordination, orientation and rhythm.

The movement of the horses back is used therapeutically.  Equine-assisted therapy uses horses as therapeutic instruments and prepares the patient for other physiotherapeutic functions, but offers huge psychological benefits.

Volunteers will handle the horses during therapy sessions 3 or 4 people are necessary. Volunteers are more than welcome to help with feeding of the horses, preparing them for each therapy session, cleaning the horses afterwards and other general tasks during the therapy sessions.  In addition, the volunteer can also help with horse-back riding lessons for the general public and in the administrative area, as well as garden maintenance. It is also possible to participate in the canine-assisted therapies.

Required:  
US$100 Hippotherapy fee paid with your program cost (from 1 to 12 weeks program).

Volunteer in Ecuador, the hospital was founded in 1973. This public hospital offers the best service and technology of all public hospitals in Quito. It provides services for all areas of health to people who don´t have any medical insurance.

The hospital has over 240 beds available and more than 10,500 patients are treated every year. The hospital has 4 basic specialties and 29 subspecialties like Cardiology, Neurology, Pulmonology, etc.

The hospital invites almost all medical students from Quito, and around the country to practice medicine here. Volunteers have the chance to do so as well by rotating through the different areas of the hospital such as emergency room, pediatrics, surgery and more.  The main role is to observe, listen and learn from the professionals.  There are more than enough doctors and nurses to perform the medical practices and the volunteer can shadow and assist, gaining valuable hands on experience that a regular classroom or lecture hall cannot teach.  

This is a great chance to improve your skills, build your resume by learn about medicine in a developing nation and improve your Spanish. We recommend our language immersion option for those less than proficient in Spanish (be able to talk 8 hours a day in Spanish with the local staff). However, translator are available (extra $40 per day/5hours) to help you get acclimated into the project.

Volunteer in Ecuador, this is a public kindergarten that offers education, nutrition, health and affection to 220 children from 4 to 6 years old distributed within 8 classrooms. Most of children come from poor families. It is located inside of the Itchimbía Park in Quito’s central area. The most important skill needed to work with these children is patience.

The volunteers have the chance to work with the teachers as an assistant during the classes.  On Thursdays and Fridays they will assist the English Teacher and on Monday and Wednesday (this can change each semester), they can assist the Music Teacher, or another subject.  Other activities may also include the creation of didactic material, help during meal time, and recreational activities with the children.

Working with these children is a fulfilling position.  Many of the children make strong bonds with those they work with very quickly, so it is important that you do not take them for granted and take full responsibility for your actions, words, and work ethic.  It is advised that you also tell the children how long you will be working with them and when you will be leaving in anticipation so that they do not get let down when you leave.

Volunteer in Ecuador, this day care centre was founded in April of 2006 to improve children’s quality of life of those who work at the waste dump yard.  They work there each day recycling what they can. Years ago, the children would spend their time with their parents at the waste centre in the harsh elements of weather, not to mention the uncleanliness, making the children very prone to getting sick. Now with the help of many volunteers, the children are healthier, clean, and safely being cared for in this centre.

The centre also acts as a medical dispensary for the children and parents at no extra cost.  

The center hosts more than 40 children from ages 8 months to 4 years old. There are three groups of children and their daily activities depend on their age. Volunteers at the day care center are able to help by creating various recreational activities for the children, playing with them, organizing games, creating didactic material, helping during meal times and teaching the children about personal hygiene.

This project enables the children to learn how to live according to their own culture and religion, while also being active members of the community. The center helps children to recognize and express their individual abilities, interests and talents. They ensure that each child receives the education, skills and training they need to be successful and contributing members of society.

Volunteer in Ecuador, The super quality of its services and the professional and extensive experience of its teachers provide the right combination for a unique language learning program. Our mission is to promote the outstanding natural and cultural diversity of Ecuador to the international community through teaching Spanish.

Over the years, we have built up a team of talented and experienced tutors who offer the perfect Spanish learning experience that suits your individual needs.

Our schools in Quito  offers a varied fun extracurricular activities, such as tropical dancing, cooking or cocktail lessons, movies, soccer games, as well as lectures about the culture, history and idiomatic expressions of our country, and many others. Out of town trips to other cities, towns and national parks are organized during the weekends.

Volunteer in Ecuador, our School is an institution that was previously hosted by the International Foundation Lyceum, which offers a bachelor of science through a dynamic curriculum. The school is based on a sustainable criteria through a team of teachers all committed to meeting institutional goals, sense of community, and care of the environment that promote diverse problem solving skills.

The institution takes hold as the main educational center of the parish Zámbiza, forming leaders, innovators, and creative graduates based on a quality education that promotes the formation of youth in achieving academic skills, a framed care of nature that allows social and economic development of the nation.  More than 150 young people attend this institution founded in 2003, all young people who come from the same parish.

At the high school you can help by teaching English to all grades. You will aid the English teachers and any suggestions or ideas you have are welcome. It is important that you are committed and responsible.  These youth are very affectionate, sensitive and vulnerable, becoming attached to those close them quickly.  It is important that you take your work serious, show up on time, each day, and tell the youth with anticipation when you will be leaving.

Volunteer in Ecuador, this is a public hospital that offers the best instrumentation and technology of all public hospitals in Quito. The hospital specializes in providing dental health care services. Within the hospital is the general dental area with two different patient assistance rooms and has there dentists. In the near future, the hospital will be expanding the number of patient rooms in order to serve many more people.

The patients that receive the services provided by the hospital have very low incomes and cannot afford to go to private clinics, or more expensive dentists. They come from both far and away in order to get the appropriate attention they need. The services given by the is free, as well as all medications and materials a patient may need after being seen. Normally, the hospital sees anywhere between 50 - 100 patients each day, Monday through Friday.

Video Review Volunteer Miranda Paterson Ecuador Quito Dental Program

The following services are provided to patients: general dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, and maxilofacial consultations and surgery.

The work of a volunteer involves: writing down medical history, assisting the dentist when necessary during a patient visit, assistance and observation for maxilofacial consultations, and aiding with medicine and supplies. Any volunteer in this position will gain valuable experience in this area of health care.

Required:
US$180 Hospital fee paid with your program cost (1 to 12 weeks program). This will help buy supplies for the hospital.

Volunteer in Ecuador, this project is based on Isabela Island, the largest of the islands of the Galapagos. Here volunteers have the opportunity to support the conservation efforts and land turtle support projects on Isabela Island. Current research is focused on ensuring that ecosystem restoration proceeds towards a more pristine condition – this requires ensuring that any introduced plant species do not out-compete the native vegetation.

Volunteer work is about 3-5 hours per day, 5 days a week. Volunteers will help in light construction tasks, reforestation efforts and help with eradication of non native plants. Much of the work is outside working in the Galapaguera greenhouse. This program lets you do a little bit of everything pertaining to providing support of sustainable conservation efforts on the Island. This is a great opportunity to discover the wonders and wild life of the Galapagos by offering hands on contributions to their sustainability. Expect to get your hands dirty and work different schedules based on the project needs. This project begins and ends in Quito.

*Volunteers are responsible for the R/T intra-island ferry costs between Santa Cruz / Isabela. Approximately US$90 payable locally in cash. Bring new US$ dollars in low denominations US$10-20)

Volunteer in Ecuador, at a community day care/nursery school center on Santa Cruz Island.   There are about 35 children daily from 2 years to 5 years old. The program provides an integral aid in the education of the children on this island.  Many of the children at this center come from families of immigrants who have gone to Galapagos looking for a better future for their families and kids.  The project hours are 8:00am - 12:00am Monday to Friday.

Volunteer tasks including changing diapers, upkeep duties at the facility, recreational and educational needs for the older children. This is a fast paced, active program with a lot of daily activity.  This is a great opportunity to volunteer in the Galapagos while still having time each day to explore the local community and share time with your host family.

Volunteer in Ecuador, have the opportunity to teach conversational English at a public school in Santa Cruz. The school has over 650 children from 4 years to 14 years old, in the areas of pre-school up to primary 7th grade. Volunteers will help in areas of English lessons, recreation and also developmental needs of the children. Classes are held Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 1:00pm.

Opportunities also available in a multilingual education facility that was created in order to give educational services to the children from the islands, especially for those that have migrated from the indigenous communities with their families. School has 30 pre-school students and 100 children in basic education. Ages 4yrs to 11 years old.

Program Vacations (Closed): February 9th to April 16th (approx.)

This institution was born in December 1984 with the authorization of the Ministry of social well-being; the institution focuses its work in the areas of: Physical therapies, technical help, occupational therapy, language therapy, medical services, and protection of the rights in benefit of the disabled persons.

Basic in Spanish is required for all healthcare placement. This project can be combined with our Medical Language Immersion.

Volunteer in Ecuador, if you ever wanted to learn Spanish why not consider a Language Immersion program. This is a wonderful opportunity to take Spanish lessons and also volunteer in a local community project. By living with a local Ecuadorian family, having daily Spanish lessons and interacting with locals you will be amazed how quickly you can learn.

Language Immersion classes can be combined with any of the Quito based volunteer project: teaching, medical, orphanage support, pre-medical. Lessons are provided by licensed instructors. Focus will be on pronunciation, grammar, and conversation/dialogue.

Volunteer in Ecuador, undergraduate students (medical/nursing/public health) are welcome to join our health related project in Quito. This local facility provides services to impoverished families/children. The center's mission is to provide medical attention to both children and adults with all types of acute illnesses, chronic diseases and rehabilitation therapies for children with special needs. There is a day care center for babies and toddlers, rehabilitation services for children with Down's, cerebral palsy and other disabilities, as well as health checks and treatment.

Volunteers assist administrative needs, engage the children in rehabilitation games, physical therapy support, language instruction, early stimulation techniques and support the medical staff with general medicine checkups.

• Proficiency in Spanish is required for all healthcare placement.
• This project can be combined with our Language and Cultural Immersion.

A Broader View Volunteers thrives on the efforts of our volunteers. All of whom contribute to the current needs and ongoing health initiatives. Whether you're assisting a new mother in the hospital, giving health education to teenagers, observing surgery, your experience allows you to better understand the Ecuadorian healthcare system as well as contribute to the improvement of health conditions in the capital city of Quito.

We partner with local centers of health such as hospitals, clinics, ambulatory care and specialized care centers, such as rehabilitation and therapy centers throughout Quito. To maximize your contribution, ABV will tailor your experience based on current needs, your interests, Spanish levels, training, and amount of time that you spend with us on-site in Quito Ecuador.

Volunteers are needed in an under-funded government run health center located in a south Quito neighborhood which serves 150-200 patients per day. The health center needs volunteers with experience and medical knowledge (licensed healthcare professionals) but nursing/medical students are most welcome to apply.

Spanish proficiency is recommended, but not required by ABV Volunteers. However, volunteers traveling to Quito will find having Spanish comprehension will enhance interactions with medical staff, patients, and their host families. This program is suitable for licensed doctors and nurses, physician assistants, EMT trained volunteers as well as currently enrolled medical and nurse students.

Volunteer in Ecuador interested in teaching can help in a local pre-school and kindergarten school. The school has over 150 students daily who are 4-5 years old. Volunteers lead English lessons, and help the teacher with other lessons. Play time and arts and crafts and games can be introduced as well.

• This program can also be combined with the Language and Cultural Immersion program.
• Program Vacations (Closed): February 2nd to 15th (approx.)

Volunteer in Ecuador, Focuses care and attention to children up to 4 months old, the children receive stimulation as a method of learning where they can develop all the senses, games, songs and learn to have independence. The children are provided care while their parents, mostly single mothers can work. This is a very upbeat project with many small children eager for attention!

Nursery and day care center has about 90 children that attend on a daily basis. Volunteers will help with feeding, playing with the toddlers, putting kids down for naps, helping staff with meal preparation, and other necessary chores.  

• This project can be combined with our Language and Cultural Immersion.

Volunteer in Ecuador, this School is an institution of social help located in Quito’s old town and working in benefit of its students during 129 years. It gives educational services to 382 kids from kinder garden to 2^nd year of high school. The schedule is from Monday to Friday since 07:15 AM to 13:30 PM

This program can also be combined with the Language and Cultural Immersion program. Program Vacations (Closed): February 2nd to 15th (approx.)

Volunteering in Ecuador, this institution of social help located in Quito’s old town and working in benefit of the poorest persons of the city of Quito, this institution offers a service of immediate assistance according to the basic needs of the beggars of the city (feeding, clothes and bath), most of the persons who are in this institution have been abandoned by their family and they are persons who have suffered of problems of alcoholism or drug addiction. The schedule is from Monday to Friday since 08:00am to 13:30pm.

Activities

Computer Class, Help in the area of social work, give support in the area of Psychology, give support in the workshops with the purpose of providing an occupation, Organizing recreational activities, to talk with them, and help with the meals.

Volunteer in Ecuador this is a community located in eastern Ecuador in Napo province. The community is inhabited by 40 aboriginal families, each with an average of 8 members, with an approximate population of 350 inhabitants.

The population is engaged in agriculture especially seeding of coffee, cacao, banana, corn, cassava. The coffee and cocoa are traded in areas near the community, while cassava, green bananas and corn are for domestic consumption. The community has an ecological reserve of 1,300 hectares. They have electricity and piped water. Families are also working on making handicrafts using native materials in the region such as seeds, straw hat ribbon, string, etc.

This program is an area located in the southern zone of the province of Manabí, containing a population of approximately 5,000 habitants. It is in a dry tropical forest, with mostly primary vegetation. The plants from the Cactaceae (cactus) family standout, like the candelabra and the mulatto.  There is also the lignum vitae, or ‘wood of life’, locust trees, and madero negro, a tropical hardwood.  All of these plants have a great commercial and medicinal value.

You can combine volunteering in the Education/teaching, Construction, Community development and conservation programs, this program is for proactive volunteers, self motivated and that can overcome any task.