Community Work with Children in Rural Ecuador

  Ecuador

• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Tena

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: multiple start dates year round

Description: With urban areas bursting at the seams, Ecuador's meagre resources get to the rural areas via the big cities and what's left leaves little scope for large scale improvement. Unfortunately this forces people to move to the city looking for a better life and the problem only gets worse. One way of avoiding such a situation is for volunteers (who won't use up resources) to help create opportunities in the countryside and give the people a chance to build a life there. This project does just that; it's a day care centre which works with children to give them the best possible start in life and plays a positive role in community development.

*Project details:
There are two potential projects that you could be based at the first being the Guarderia Pepito de Oro which was opened in 2005 and has approximately 30 children aged from 6 months to 5 years old. The children are split into three groups according to age; 6 months to 2 years, 2 to 3 years and 3 to 5 years of age and there are 3 teachers at the center. Parents normally leave their children at the project while they go to work. The day care center is funded by the National Government but this does not cover the additional help that is needed.

The second project in the Kinder Garden which started in 1999 and is located in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Tena, Barrio San Jorge. There are approximately 18 children from 4 to 6 years old attending the Kinder Garden who come from very poor families. 10% of the children attending the Kinder speak Kichwa as well as Spanish, an indigenous native language from the area. Also, in most cases, the children have divorced parents or are from single parent families.

*Why the project needs volunteers:
For both projects the parents only pay a very small monthly fee a month for this day care service for their children and so the daycentre does not have the economic resources to hire enough staff. At Intillacta the "mamacitas", or mothers of the community, who help there are almost volunteers themselves, so volunteers are needed to support the mamacita's efforts to give their children the best possible start in life.

Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html

Highlights:
* Learning about the challenges facing rural communities in Ecuador and making a positive impact on the lives of children here
* Experiencing the rural way of life in this fascinating country
* Practising your Spanish and making friends for life in the community

You will be making a huge difference in the lives of many young people.

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
A love for children is needed for this project, especially given their liveliness! As this is working with young children who may need feeding and cleaning, you should also be prepared to get dirty at times.

Your role as a volunteer:
These projects offer participants a great chance to have a positive influence on young children's lives. The activities will vary, including working with the older children, preparing them for kinder garden, prepare didactic material, help care for the smaller children (feeding them, looking after them), possibly start teaching songs or basic English to the older children, and playing with the children.

Cost in US$: USD 1,865.00 for 4 weeks, USD 220.00 for every week thereafter

When you go on an i-to-i volunteer program we want you to have the best possible time abroad, so we include these important services.

Before you depart we offer:
- detailed information on your project and country
- fundraising advice and support
- visa instruction
- vaccination recommendations
- advice on health, safety & culture shock
- English teacher training course (TEFL)
- contact details to pass along to your family

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: If you are interested in immersing yourself in another culture while giving your time to a worthy cause, then you are a typical i-to-i volunteer. We invite you to join the i-to-i community of dedicated volunteers aged 18-80 who are working on community development, building, teaching, and conservation projects across the globe. Together, we make a lasting impact that changes lives and helps preserve the planet through hundreds of worthwhile projects around the world.

Age Range: 17-80

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

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 50,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 400 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994