Welcome to the Volunteer program of VOLUNTARIOS DE OCCIDENTE
in association with
FUNDACION UPECUADOR and
FUNDACION AMIGOS DE SUR AMERICA.
The aim of our program is to help poor people to break the poverty circle, working in three main areas: social, education and culture.
First, we help to improve the living conditions of children so they can go to the school and avoid that become street children. Second, we help to improve the educative level of these children. Finally we try to give a better cultural background, making them able to find better living and job conditions in the future.
We are three SMALL Charities
with BIG Projects in Ecuador.
We are working together in order to offer more and better opportunities for volunteering in diferent places of Ecuador.
In this program you can volunteer in the Pacific coast, in the Ecuadorian Andes or in the Amazon basin.
We offer you twelve years of experience.
With us you can have a challenging short term, low costs, volunteer experience.
just choose the best opportunity that fits to your plans.
In some special cases we have placements free of cost and internships.
This is an immersion program, the best opportunity to practice and improve your Spanish.
You can live with a local family or in one of our project homes and share the true life of a poor community.
Please read carefully our
Volunteer Opportunities.
Interested? Then, Apply and become one of our smiling volunteers.
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VOLUNTEER WORK IN ECUADOR
VDO volunteers' mission is to help poor people in rural communities in South America to improve their living conditions by means of the improvement of the basic conditions, the quality of the Education and the Culture.
Near to 70% of the Ecuadorian children in the rural areas have never touched a computer or received an English class. 80% of the rural families in central Ecuadorian mountains do not have a bathroom or latrine. 90% of poor children in rural communities has never read a book different than school books.
VDO offers short-term volunteer opportunities on a low cost basis and through an easy and fast application process. VDO volunteers have the opportunity to serve poor communities in a developing country while improving their Spanish abilities and getting to know the country and its culture.
OUR PROJECTS
Our office is located in Ambato, in the Province of Tungurahua.
Our main projects are:
- Rural Ambato
Location: A rural community 15 km. south from Ambato.
Activities: Social work and Cultural activities.
Type of project: This project is available the whole year with a break from 15 December to 10 January.
Groups of volunteers: No. Only one or two volunteers at the same time. This is an immersion opportunity to share the true life of the community and to practice the Spanish.
Accomodation: With local families in basic conditions.
Meals: Two meals with the family, breakfast and supper. Lunch at project location. From Monday to Friday
Lenght of participation: recommended one to two months.
- Techo Propio Ambato
Location: A suburban zone 5 Km away of Ambato with 3.500 inhabitants.
Activities: Social work, Education and Cultural activities.
Type of project: This project is available the whole year with a break from 15 December to 10 January.
Groups of volunteers: No. Only one or two volunteers at the same time. This is an immersion opportunity to share the true life of the community and to practice the Spanish.
Accomodation: In a house of VDO in good conditions.
Meals: Two meals in the house, breakfast and supper. Lunch at project location.
Lenght of participation: recommended one to two months.
- Sangolqui
Location: A transition urban-rural zone 20 away from Quito.
Activities: Education and Cultural activities.
Type of project: This project is available from 10 January to 30 June and from eptember first to December 15.
Groups of volunteers: No. Only one or two volunteers at the same time.
Accomodation: Volunteer must look for an independent accomodation in Quito or Sangolqui, hostal or family homestay
Meals: Lunch at project location.
Lenght of participation: recommended one or two weeks.
- Tena, Amazon basin
Location: An small village, port over the Napo River, 25 Km away of Tena.
Activities: Education and Cultural activities.
Type of project: Group activities starting in April, May, June, September and October.
Groups of volunteers: Yes. Minimum five confirmed volunteers for to start activities in this place with each group.
Accomodation: In a house of VDO in basic conditions.
Meals: Two meals in the house, breakfast and supper. Lunch at project location.
Lenght of participation: one to two months.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
SOCIAL WORK
- Volunteer co-ordinator for experimental project with street children.
- Volunteers for construccion of houses in the rural area.
- Architects and engineers for drawing, design and consult.
- Volunteer for schools and houses reparations and painting.
- Social workers for helping children to improve their living conditions.
- Doctors, Nurses and students in medical areas for working in Health Centers, schools, campaigns and children care.
EDUCATION
- Primary School Teacher in English Language, Basic Computing and Sports.
- Co-ordinator for recreational activities with childrren and organisation of camp days and special activities.
- Art, Drama, Ecology, Photografy or Special Subjects Teacher.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
- Artist for teaching arts and for mural painting.
- Volunteer for reading to small children.
- Volunteer for organizing drawing and reading contests.
- Volunteer for the administration of and small Library.
- Volunteer for organizing festivals.
- Volunteer to bring books by boat to isolated schools in the rivers of the amazon basin.
PROGRAM FEES
- Rural Ambato
Application and confirmation fees: US$130, one month in prior to arrival, includes pick-up in Quito and transport to Ambato by bus.
Food and accomodation fees: US$270 per each month.
- Techo Propio Ambato
Application and confirmation fees: US$130, one month in prior to arrival, includes pick-up in Quito and transport to Ambato by bus.
Food and accomodation fees: US$270 per each month.
- Sangolqui
Application and participation fees: US$60
Food and accomodation fees: No. This is by your own. Lunch at the school is free.
- Tena, Amazon basin
Application and confirmation fees: US$190, one month in prior to arrival, includes pick-up in Quito and transport to Ambato by bus, one or two nights in Ambato and transportation by bus to Tena and the project location
Food and accomodation fees: US$360 per each month.
- There are no hidden fees.
- Volunteers cover all their travel, insurances, transportation and personal expenses.
- For volunteers actually in Ecuador and staring immediately to work in Ambato there are no application and confirmation fee.
- Volunteers with advanced level of Spanish, two months commitment and working as computers teachers has FREE food and accomodation fees.
- Volunteers working at the office as web masters, translators Spanish - English and Writers of articles and papers has INTERNSHIP opportunities with free food and accomodation and an small stipend.
- Permanent assistance, emergency advice and advice on tourism and side activities.
- A certificate when the program is well completed.
REQUISITES AND OTHER CONDITIONS
- To be above 20 years old, in very goog health conditions.No upper limit.
- To have an functional working Spanish level (intermediate).
- Staring date is flexible according to your travel plans and the project location.
- To have a genuine interest in serving others, taking very seriously the volunteer commitment, as a real job, not as a vacation or voluntourism.
- To be helpful, adaptable, creative and enthusiastic people.
- To be able to accept and to adapt to a challenging living different conditions.
- To be able to work sometimes as a team, sometimes independently. You can live alone or with other volunteers. We can not guaratee that you will find many other volunteers at the same time.
- To be able to immerse in the program from Monday to Friday. Weekends are free time for you.
- To be polite, educate and diplomatic people with the communities and loyal with the organization.
- To have lots of enthusiasm and to loves working with poor children.
- To be self responsible about the preparation of your work.
- To be willing to help to the organisation (there are only two in the staff) in the preparation of some special events or in the co-ordination of some activities in the office or in the schools.
- To have a valid International Health and Travel insurance.
- To be an independent person. You are responsible of yourself!
Interested? Then Apply
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MORE INFORMATION
IN OUR MAGAZINE
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Volunteers' TestimoniesProjectsVolunteer opportunities
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