Program Photos
Early Childhood Education and Youth Mentoring / Summer Camps
Location: Ecuador: Puyo
Program Duration: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Year-Round, Scholastic Year (Sept - May) with summer camps during June - August
324 E. Oak St Fort Collins, CO 80524 United States
Call Us
Phone: 877.909.ECEX (3239)
Description
Assist teachers in a child care center in the indigenous community of Lumbisi that gives kids, age two to five, the tools, skills, and confidence they need to get a head start to success in elementary school. In a country often plagued by teenage pregnancy, drug use, and gang activity, the volunteer's contributions to youth development can really make a difference in their day and their life. In the afternoons, the facility is converted into a Learning Center for youth aged 5 to 16 who need academic tutoring and mentoring, among other after school activities, including sports, theatre, music, arts, dance and more. Volunteers can also help in this organization's organic gardens which provide fresh vegetables for the kids and the elderly in the community. Volunteers live with native, host families to get a sense of daily life in a traditional, picturesque Andean village, from the typical food to communal festivals, while still accessing all the culture, amenities and nightlife of historic Quito, just thirty minutes away by bus.
* Role of Volunteer
Volunteers assist the teachers in their daily education and entertainment activities for the kids at a newly constructed center in the community. Volunteers will also help the community mothers in preparing and serving lunch to the little kids in the group comedor, making sure they have enough energy and sustenance to help them learn. The center is open from 8 a.m. till 12 noon. It re-opens in the afternoon as the Learning Center.
Highlights
Ecuador is one of those rare destinations in the world that seems to have the unique combination of natural beauty, intriguing history, and vibrant culture. Nestled along the Equator in the northwest corner of the South American continent, much of the country still remains wild and uncharted. It is home to the highest active volcano in the world, pristine Pacific beaches, and virgin tropical rainforests as well as ancient Incan history now echoed through the lively Ecuadorian culture. Ecuador is marked by its diversity. Within a territory of 120,000 square miles, one can travel from sea level to 12,000 feet of altitude within a six-hour drive, visit a fishing town and see a highland village within the same day.
Qualifications
- Must be 18 and over, with valid passport and health insurance.
- Volunteers should be open, flexible, patient, creative and come with a spirit of collaboration and solidarity.
- Experience in early childhood education or any of the arts is a plus.
Languages
- English
- Spanish
Cost in US$:
950 for two weeks
Cost Include Description:
Airport pickup, homestay accommodations with three meals/day, health/safety/cultural orientation, program supervision, local excursions, and 24 hour staff support.
Fees do not include airfare, insurance, any VISA fees. And optional Spanish classes can be arranged at additional expense.
Credit Available
no
Volunteer Types
- Arts
- Childcare/children
- Community Centers
- Cooking
- Drama
- Education
- English Teaching
- Primary Education
- Recreation
- Social Services, Social Work
- Teaching
- Tutor
- Youth
- Youth Development
Age Range
18 yeard old and aboveThis Program is open to
Worldwide Participant.
Typical Living Arrangements
- Home-stays
Participants Travel to Ecuador
Independently or in Groups
EcuaExplora's Mission Statement
To make it possible for international students, interns and volunteers to have meaningful experiences studying in Ecuadorian universities and institutions of higher education, interning in professional placements throughout Ecuador, and volunteering in collaborative projects focused on the sustainable social and economic development of Ecuador.
Year Founded
2010
