Nursery Development & Education Internship in Ecuador

Support the development of a rural nursery and vibrant education for toddlers (1–3 years) from low-income Indigenous families. THE CHALLENGE In rural Ecuador, many families struggle to care for and feed their toddlers. Men often migrate to earn an income, while women balance childcare with long hours in the fields. Government-run nurseries offer free meals and care for toddlers aged 1–3, but are underfunded and lack adequate infrastructure, materials, and funds to pay staff. THE SOLUTION Make a real impact! Work with local teachers and parents to redesign and decorate spaces, run small fundraising campaigns for essential materials, or help with creative daily activities that nurture children’s learning and wellbeing. OUR METHODOLOGY Our internships use Design Thinking to co-create solutions with local stakeholders. You will learn to observe, ideate, and prototype in real contexts, building skills while supporting sustainable change. This program is also open to volunteers. During weekends—or before and after your stay—you’ll also have the chance to explore Ecuador’s incredible diversity, from the Amazon rainforest to the Galápagos Islands.