Description

Established in 1953, the foundation that manages the farm is a non-profit, non-religious Ecuadorian NGO that initiates various economic, social and environmental projects in rural Ecuador. The foundation promotes the participation of farming communities and the local population in processes of building and strengthening their identities. Their principles are cultural understanding, exchange of knowledge, respect for nature, community participation and harmonization.

During your placement you will experience how rural schools manage education without power-point presentations and personal computers. In fact, this school is quite the opposite from any standard school in North America or Europe. This school has two classrooms, an average of one to two teachers and around twenty to fifty-five students. Students range in age from 4-11 years with very few options to divide the students into two classes. In turn, managing between three and six grades simultaneously demands high creativity among the teacher.

If you have a creative mind, ability to multi-task and interest to really experience the power one can truly make, we invite you to get involved with this rural Ecuadorian school!

Highlights

There is no obligation for students to bring classroom materials, as participation is the main concern for the schools. Further, this lack of obligation to buy materials relieves financial pressure from parents to be able to afford sending their children to school. Considering this, there is a huge lack of materials such as pens, pencils and work books. Any reading books, creative materials and other exercises you can bring will help the development of a central resource library and of course spice up the classes for the kids!

Volunteers with an intermediate level of Spanish will have the option of teaching in either town of Intag or Pedro Moncayo.

Accommodations:
* Homestay in local families
* Single room (double rooms possible for couples)
* Shared bathrooms
* Laundry facilities
* Three meals per day

*These particular families utilized for our homestay accommodations have been working together with the foundation for the past five years.

Qualifications

* Language: English and Spanish

* Skills: No special skills are required

* Vaccination: Please ask for medical advice in your home country and check check the general entry regulation that apply for your home country

* Insurance: Full travel & medical insurance for Ecuador

* Visa: Tourist visa (90 days, not extendable); for longer stays volunteer visa (valid for 6 months)

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

see our website for exact prices

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support

Program Fees Include:

What's included:
* Accommodation
* Three meals per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
* Orientation kit
* Local support
* 24h-Emergency Number

What's not included:
* Flight
* Airport Pick-up
* Medical Insurance
* Visa (if necessary)
* Personal expenses
* Local Travels

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Volunteers should be enthusiastic, creative, communicative, energetic, organized and open-minded to new cultures.

Age Range

18+ years

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

Flexible

South America Inside's Mission Statement

Our programs are addressed to the humanitarian traveler, whether you are a student, professional or retiree. Anyone who wants to explore Latin America not as a mere tourist, but rather as an insider through an experience that goes beyond the ordinary, we invite you into our community! We organize Spanish and Portuguese courses as well as internship and volunteer work positions in nearly all countries of Central and South America. We help in organizing language courses, internships, volunteer work projects as well as in choosing the right country for you. We aim to select partners who are just off the beaten path and/or entail unique and special features to make your experience unforgettable!

Year Founded

2003