VISIONS Ecuador & Galapagos

  Ecuador

• Galapagos Islands: 
Galapagos Islands
• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Otavalo

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: June 30 - July 27

Description: Visions offers teenagers opportunities for ambitious service work and cross-cultural immersion in the United States and abroad. We work with and for intercultural communities that lack financial and other development resources. Through service, authentic experience, and active exploration, we encourage new perspectives and dynamic learning.

Visions Ecuador is a month of discovery in this beautiful country of contrasts, an opportunity to live and work on a Galapagos Island and in a traditional Andean village. With Vision's host partner Nuevos Horizontes paving the way, work on the Galapagos will include interior and exterior renovations to local schools and working with the children in the classrooms, including organizing campamento activities. We also will lend our labors to the organic farm program starting up in a nearby community.

After ten days on the Galapagos, we'll fly back to the mainland and make our way to Chaupiloma, an idyllic farming village situated on one of the many agricultural hillsides of the Andes. Chaupiloma is a tranquil magical place with breathtaking views of the clouds rolling in and out and genuinely kind and open people. We'll live in a large community center, the well-used gathering place for residents of Chaupiloma and surrounding villages who hold weekend workshops and fiestas there. We will work at the community's organic farm and on other agricultural projects. We will help expand and improve the community center through construction work. We'll assist a reforestation project near the headwaters of the spring that supplies water for the area, and we will organize another campamento and teach English to children. Our hosts will work side-by-side with us.

Ecuador extends independence to participants to interact, one-on-one, with local people in all manner of their lives and to integrate into the life of the community. Your service will engage you in agricultural, environmental, economic, artistic and social fronts in our host communities.

Highlights: Exploring the wonders of the Galapagos is the past-time priority for the first portion of the program, with boat trips to other islands and tortoise reserves, hiking, snorkeling and swimming off white sand beaches. The Andean explorations planned will lead us to the markets of Otavalo, on hiking expeditions to lakes and waterfalls. And we will participate in workshops to learn weaving and embroidery, music and traditional dance.

Cost in US$: 5300

Experience Required: yes

Two years high school Spanish or equivalent

Age Range: 14-18

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Ecuador in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 16

Scholarships are Available.

Application Process Involves:

• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Visions Service Adventures's Mission Statement: VISIONS offers teenagers opportunities for ambitious service work and cross-cultural immersion in the United States and abroad. We work with and for intercultural communities that lack financial and other development resources. Through service, authentic experience, and active exploration, we encourage new perspectives and dynamic learning.

Year Founded: 1989