Description

Ecuador's name comes from the Equator, which divides it unequally, putting most of the country in the Southern Hemisphere. It may be the smallest Andean country, but it has four distinct and contrasting regions. The Costa, or coastal plains, the Sierra, or Andean uplands, the Oriente, or Amazon jungles and the Galápagos Islands, volcanic outcrops of land 960 kilometres west of Ecuador. The Book Bus is active in all four regions of the country.

Ecuador - some of the basic facts:

Whilst education and learning to read is taken for granted here in the UK, in Ecuador the provision of public schools falls far below the levels needed. Class sizes are often very large and in rural areas only 10% of the children go on to high school. The Ministry of Education states that the mean number of years completed is 6.7. With nearly 40% of Ecuadorians living in poverty, there is a real need for educational assistance and the Book Bus project will make a real difference to many young lives.

The Book Bus in Operation
The Book Bus will work with schools in the Andes, the Amazon, the Pacific coast and on the Galapagos Islands (Book Bikes!). The Bus will be based in each region for 3 months according to the school academic year and weather conditions.

The bus will operate throughout the year and each school we visit will have a designated Book Bus Day. On this day we spend the day at the school and work around class timetables to provide resources, energy, ideas and time to listen to children read. Our visit day is often the only day when these schools will have access to a wide variety of books.

The Book Bus also provides additional manpower to allow small group reading mentoring.

Working in small groups volunteers will spend time with the children, encouraging them to read and develop literacy skills. Supplementary to this we encourage children to dramatise books they have read or even create a piece of art from it; the required resources are carried on the bus. This helps increase their understanding of literature, boosts confidence and allows them to develop new skills and most of all discover the pleasure of reading.

Children are only part of our working relationship! Working closely with the teachers we share ideas and skills to help them develop after school book clubs with the books we loan.

The Details
We are looking for volunteers with a minimum standard of Spanish to join us on board the Book Bus. It is important that you have a good grasp of the Spanish language however confidence and enthusiasm are more important than grammar and punctuation.

How are your Language Skills?

Some Spanish
If your Spanish skills are a bit out of practice and you feel you would benefit from a refresher course we have a well established language school in Quito where you can touch up your skills and familiarise yourself with the subtle differences between the Spanish language in Europe and Latin America. Extend your time at the school from 1 week to 1 year.

No Spanish
If you are new to Spanish you can learn in country at our language school in Quito or in the UK before you depart. We also have links with Spanish schools in Puerto Lopez, Cuenca and Guayaquil.

Fluent Spanish
If you are an experienced Spanish speaker then join us on board for a period of 2 weeks or up to 1 year.

Highlights

When & Where

The Book Bus in Ecuador operates all year round and you can join us on any Saturday.

The Book Bus works in 4 regions of Ecuador during the year, join any Saturday during the operating season.

Season 1. Pacific coastal project
Operating season: August to October
Joining point: Puerto Lopez
How to get there: Flight route: From London to Quito with domestic flight to Manta. Ground transfer to Puerto Lopez.

Season 2. Amazon jungle project
Operating season: February to April:
Joining point: Tena
How to get there: Flight route: From London to Quito with ground transfer to Tena.

Season 3. Andean Project
Operating season: May to July
Joining point: Cuenca
How to get there: Flight route: From London to Quito with domestic flight to Cuenca.

Season 4. Pacific coastal project
Operating season: November to January
Joining point: Esmaraldas
How to get there: Flight route: From London to Quito with domestic flight to Esmaraldas.

Travel Types

• Camping
• Homestay
• Language Immersion
• Off Road / 4X4 Driving
• Volunteering

Qualifications

No qualifications are required.

Minimum Education

High School

Languages

• Spanish

Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 999 for 2 weeks

Program Fees Include:

Included: All food, accommodation, 24 hour support, experienced leader

Not included: International flights, travel insurance, visas and travel documents.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Community Development
• Primary Education
• Volunteering

Typical Volunteer

Venturers are enthusiastic and motivated team-players with plenty of initiative and a desire to make a positive contribution to the communities they visit.

Age Range

9-99

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of maximum of 10

Application Process Involves

• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

7 days

Post Services Include

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

VentureCo Worldwide's Mission Statement

To travel to adventurous destinations is a privilege: the opportunity to work closely with indigenous communities is a revelation: the experiences you earn and memories you return with will become part of who you are. In 1999, a group of people came together to found a travel company for all those who believe that travelling is about more than simply flying to a foreign country. VentureCo was created out of a need to get under the skin of the cultures we encounter, for those who seek to genuinely understand our world and the part we play in it thorough a spirit of adventure, exploration and cooperation. VentureCo was set up by current directors Mark Davison and David Gordon. A chance conversation between Dave and Mark in a back street ceviche bar in Quito, Ecuador in 1998 gave rise to the idea of combining our experience and creating VentureCo.

Year Founded

1999