Description

Providing quality education is key to overcoming poverty and to forging healthy communities. In turn, healthy, thriving communities contribute to the overall progress of developing countries and to building a better world for all people. This volunteer project focuses on delivering quality education for children and providing vocational training and personal growth opportunities for young people and adults.

The project provides education and training to the people living in Lasso, an Andean community located two hours south of Quito.Lasso is located in a rural peasant area in the Andes, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the great snowcapped volcano Cotopaxi. At an elevation of around 3000 meters (9500 feet). The weather in the Lasso area is typically Andean, changing from frozen ground in the early morning to hot summer sun at noon. Within the same day, temperatures can range from 0 degrees Celsius (32 F) to 15-18 degrees Celsius (60-65 F).

The integrated approach of the Lasso project takes into account the whole range of children's and families' needs. It includes early childhood learning, primary and adult education, and good health and proper nutrition for the entire community. The program activities in all of these areas work together to support children and their primary caregivers; the integrated support system creates healthier families and stronger communities.

The volunteer project has a small school and Day Care Center. Presently, the school includes students up to 9th grade (10th in Ecuador). The Day Care Center receives children from 3 months old to four years old.

All volunteers and paid employees are expected to actively monitor children during all of their non-academic activities during the school day. For example, project members interact with the children when they are brushing their teeth, taking showers, and eating meal. Also, project staff interacts with students in outdoor activities, recess games, etc. Working with the children requires energetic, creative, patient and mature people. Volunteers and employees are role models for children. Consequently, the behavior and language of the project members should be that expected of professional school teachers.

Throughout the day the Center's personnel stress various skills, depending on the age of the children involved. Activities and skills include early stimulation of motor skills, cognitive and language development, fine and gross motor skills, social and emotional skills, play and group participation skills, and proper social behaviors.

The Primary School shares the same philosophy as the Early Childhood Learning Center and teaches a bilingual curriculum that includes the following subjects:

* English language (used 50% of the time)
* Spanish language (used 50% of the time)
* Mathematics
* Science
* Computer skills
* Physical education
* Art and drama
* Music and dance

The Primary School operates from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. and, as with the Early Childhood Learning Center, it stresses routines that reinforce social values and good health and hygiene habits. When children arrive at school, they shower, eat breakfast, wash their plates and silverware, and brush their teeth. A similar routine, except for the showers, is followed during and after lunch. Volunteers with teaching degrees have top priority in the distribution or re-distribution of assignments and positions. All volunteers are expected to either teach classes or be an assistant to a teacher (with same responsibilities as the core teacher). Working with children is an extremely rewarding experience; what you do and say will influence the type of adults they will become.

The School's two experienced Teachers and Assistant believe that if their students receive the best start in life they will grow up healthy and will develop lifelong learning capacities. Good health and a positive attitude towards education will help the children, their families, and their communities to rise out of poverty.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Free

Program Fees Include:

- Time volunteering: 1 month minimum. We welcome volunteers all year round.
- Project Costs: Free
- Volunteer Project Includes: Pick up at airport in Quito; free night with a host family in Quito including breakfast and transfer from host family to bus station in Quito;
- Accommodation in a volunteer house for ten people in Lasso (five bedrooms and a bathroom); most weekday meals in Lasso (breakfast, midmorning fruit snack, lunch, mid-afternoon yogurt snack).
- Not included: Administrative costs of Eco Volunteer UP; dinner meals; extra expenses; bus fares, all meals on the weekends.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Eco Volunteer UP Foundation's Mission Statement

We are a non-profit organization which is legally recognized by the Ecuadorian Government. Volunteers with Eco Volunteer UP have the choice of many worthy programs, such as vulnerable orphanages, institutes for children with disabilities, street children and local indigenous communities. There are volunteer programs located in and around Quito, the capital of Ecuador, as well as programs located in the Cloud Forest and its communities close to Quito, the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Galapagos Islands and other key places around Ecuador. We offer volunteers real immersion in the various Ecuadorian ecosystems, and the unique opportunity for learning and sharing about Ecuadorian cultures, costumes and traditions.