Youth Development Volunteering in Ecuador

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 155,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back; it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

This program is specifically interested in allowing volunteers to assist teachers working with preschoolers or teaching English to elementary and high school students. Volunteers are involved in playing education games and facilitating learning activities, as well as planning English lessons to ensure kids get the best possible education. Volunteers are expected to have a basic level of Spanish, allowing them to improve their speaking skills throughout the program as well as to effectively communicate with the children and teachers around them. Cultural exchange continues for volunteers who choose to stay with a host family, as they learn to live like a local. They also have the daily choice of restaurant for lunch, allowing them to sample the cuisine of the island.

Leave a lasting mark on communities and nature while gaining a broader perspective on global issues through our immersive program. Spanning South Africa, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, this journey offers a unique blend of community engagement, youth development, sustainability, ecotourism, expedition, and leadership volunteer initiatives. Start your 6-month adventure as a Sports Coach in South Africa, igniting a passion for sports among Cape Town’s youth. Then, fly over to Ecuador, so you can participate in sustainable community development, renovating heritage sites and empowering local communities. The final adventure will conclude in Costa Rica, known for its incredible biodiversity, where you'll collaborate with local communities on conservation efforts and community-building projects while also honing your leadership skills. Amidst thrilling activities, like surfing in Coffee Bay Beach and exploring historic Quito, you will live in scenic accommodations with panoramic views and comfortable living. This program fosters not just tangible impacts but also a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, forging a path toward global citizenship.

Make a direct contribution to positive change by supporting local organizations working to improve lives through community-based projects. Community development internships through Roots Interns take place in diverse regions such as Malawi, South Africa, Brazil, Ecuador, Zambia, and beyond, offering hands-on involvement in grassroots initiatives that focus on education, environmental awareness, youth empowerment, and social justice. Whether you’re leading activities with local youth, supporting refugee programs, or helping launch sustainable tourism efforts, your work will have a meaningful impact. These internships are ideal for students and recent graduates looking to build practical experience in areas such as program coordination, mentorship, communication, research, or nonprofit development. With placements starting at a minimum of 4 to 12 weeks, and flexible start dates throughout the year, you'll find an internship that aligns with your academic schedule and interests. From remote options to fully immersive in-country experiences, each opportunity is tailored to match your skills and learning goals while giving you a deeper understanding of social change from the ground up.

At Projects Abroad, we’re passionate about travel with a purpose. Since being founded in 1992, more than 130,000 volunteers have traveled to over 20 destinations around the world. Our programs will make you step out of your comfort zone and engage with your new friends from around the world. These are long-term projects, led by local people and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By taking part in our programs, even for a short time, you will be contributing towards a sustained effort to support the communities that host us! We believe no other provider offers the safety and security to their volunteers and interns that we do. You'll receive 24-hour staff support from our trained staff, alongside a gold standard of safety planning of your trip - so you don't have to worry about a thing. Choose a project you are passionate about from working with children to medical internship, conservation, and wildlife volunteering. We offer projects starting at one week in over 20 stunning destinations across Asia, Africa, Latin America & The Caribbean, South Pacific & Europe. Ready to make a difference? Follow the link to visit our website!

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love Volunteer! Love Volunteers is the most affordable way to volunteer and help local communities in developing countries! Why are we cheaper than other organisations? Firstly, we are just a handful of passionate people working hard to help volunteers and local communities around the world. We don't have huge overheads - no company cars, no downtown office - we're just volunteers who knew we could do a better job. Secondly, we work with local organisations wherever we can to keep administration costs to a minimum and also to feed as much money and skills into the local communities where we operate. All of Love Volunteers partner organisations have been fully vetted to ensure that, not only does a genuine need for assistance exist, but that the environments that we place our volunteers are safe and of high quality. Choose from one or more of our 200+ amazing community-based programs in 37 developing countries around the world. Every program has been personally visited by one of our dedicated staff members and is regularly audited to ensure it meets our high standards in terms of safety, sustainability, and local impact.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

This program goes beyond ordinary high school travel programs and build cross-cultural community service summer trips perfectly geared to your interests and curiosities. Whether you’re looking to contribute to authentic service projects, experience exhilarating adventure, or develop your language skills, GoBeyond will immerse you in a new culture where you can make a meaningful difference while on the journey of a lifetime. Our high school community service summer programs proudly serve in many under-resourced communities and environments throughout the world. Explore our journeys in the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Galapagos & Ecuador, Peru, Iceland, Spain, China, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Beyond experiencing the adventure of a lifetime and creating lasting memories, we believe our community service summer trips enable lasting positive change in the world. For over forty years, we’ve been transforming communities, environments, and students’ lives through meaningful, collaborative adventures and service that develop skills and a more sophisticated worldly outlook—ultimately shaping the person you become.

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. 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.

Learn Spanish in group classes and volunteer in one of many projects in the city of Cuenca in Ecuador with The National Registration Center for Study Abroad. Each week, volunteers will attend Spanish lessons for 20 hours. The maximum number of students in each class is five. Group classes are organized in such a way that each will always consists of students with the same level of Spanish proficiency. Each class is 55 minutes in length. To get the maximum benefit from the Spanish course, beginner students must spend four to 12 weeks studying the language, while intermediate and advanced students must spend two to 12 weeks in classes. After at least a week of Spanish lessons, volunteers will be placed in community volunteering projects in the afternoons for at least four weeks. Placement opportunities include teaching English to primary school students, helping senior citizens in their daily routine, assisting the homeless, and serving as tour guides in national parks and reserves.

Learn, serve, and lead with Bright Light Volunteers in a country of your choice. Our Global Service Learning (GSL) program is designed for passionate middle and high school students, exposing them to various aspects, including cultural and social, of their host community. Participants not only broaden their knowledge but also develop a deeper understanding of local, national, and global issues. They gain insight into the interdependency and interconnectedness of people and communities, becoming equipped to act responsibly and effectively toward a more just and peaceful world. Additionally, they develop a range of skills outside a conventional classroom environment. If you’re interested in joining our movement and becoming a global citizen, get in touch with us today for more information.

Join us for the adventure of a lifetime! Volunteers For Peace (a Vermont-based nonprofit) can place you on a team of international volunteers who contribute to a meaningful community service project designed, planned, and hosted by local partners. We offer the most affordable projects and the best way to meet people from all over the world. Work project types vary by country but may include environmental and wildlife conservation, historic preservation, educational and language learning, archaeology, organic farming, and arts and festivals. We also have social services projects, which could involve working with children, the elderly, or refugees. Projects are designed to combine service with recreational activities and cultural exchange – whether by visiting local beaches, learning local dances, meeting local officials, or volunteering with residents at the place you’re visiting. Each project is unique, but all bring people together for the most meaningful travel experience imaginable. Please note that VFP can only place US Citizens. This is due to our agreements with our international partners.

Volunteering with ICYE UK is a transformational experience with real impact. Our ethical programmes promote peace, intercultural awareness and equality of opportunity, encouraging young people from around the world to live, learn and work together. UK residents can apply now to join us on our six or 12-month placements starting in either January or August, and work with locally run NGOs in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe on impactful projects that matter, such as: - Human rights projects - Women’s empowerment projects - Supporting people with compromised health and/or disabilities - Environmental and wildlife conservation - Sustainable agriculture projects - Providing education, care, and support for children from under-resourced communities - Sports, art, or cultural projects - Community development programmes - And many more Additionally, short-term placements of 3 to 5 months with flexible start dates are available in some of our partner countries. Whether you join us on our long-term or short-term programme, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and language, learn, grow, and make an impact! Get in touch to find out more!

Are you interested in making a difference in the world with your friends? Are you hoping to instill the value of giving in your children while they’re still young? Grab this opportunity to travel and volunteer with family or friends! ELEP Volunteer & Internship Programs offer enriching opportunities in Ecuador, a South American country straddling the equator on the west coast. We offer ideal programs for groups passionate about helping communities in need while experiencing new cultures. Our volunteer program is open to various groups: families, friends, students, teens, and retired seniors. Of course, you can also join even when traveling solo. Volunteering in Ecuador with a group is a rewarding way to spend time with family or friends, even classmates. Share valuable experiences, explore new places, and contribute while working alongside community members on service projects. These are within child care, teaching, animal care, building, conservation, health care, etc., and typically last from 1 to 12 weeks.