Description

It's a sad reality to see children, often as young as three years old, working upwards of ten hours a day in the markets, streets and countryside of Ecuador to support their financially struggling families. This intervention program takes a very proactive approach, traveling to the markets around greater Quito to approach children and their parents to talk to them about the importance of education and early childhood development. Additionally, the staff and volunteers set up tents at the markets where they offer opportunities for thematic early childhood education, including recreation, health/hygiene, values, identity, and education. By meeting these children on their turf, the program has achieved incredibly success in recruiting and maintaining attendees to the pre-school programs, along with ultimate reduction in the children's work hours and matriculation in public schools. Volunteers get to work directly with the over 160 children enrolled in this program and witness first-hand the consequences of a globalized, market economy that has made the struggle for poor, subsistence communities even more of a challenge.

* Role of Volunteer/Skills Required

With appropriate support and teacher training, volunteers will assist the full time staff in developing lessons and teaching the weekly education themes. UBECI uses dynamic methods, including song, dance, art, and movement to create a healthy, educational environment for the children and to engage the whole family. The organization visits two markets a day at regular intervals, with both morning and afternoon sessions of about two and a half hours each. Volunteers would travel to the work sites, assist in setting up the pop-up tent schools, and play/learn/interact with the children. Social workers are also brought in to counsel the families, as often these children come from backgrounds of physical, sexual or emotional abuse or live with family members who abuse substances. The organization also has intense summer programs with engaging arts, dance, music, sports, etc. for the underserved community in its environs. Volunteers should be open, flexible, patient, caring passionate, creative and come with a spirit of collaboration and solidarity. Interest in social work, early childhood education and social justice a plus.

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

Volunteers must be 18 and over, with valid passport and health insurance.

Intern Types

• Camp Counselor / Trip Leader
• Education
• Psychology
• Social Work

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

950 for two weeks

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country staff support

Program Fees Include:

- Airport pickup
- Homestay accommodations with three meals/day
- Health/safety/cultural orientation
- Program supervision
- 24 hour staff support

Fees do not include airfare, insurance, any VISA fees. And optional one on one Spanish classes can be arranged through the Center at USD6 per hour.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

18 years old and above

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

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