Volunteer at Ecuador Orphanage

  Ecuador

• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Cuenca

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: Flexible, year-round

Description: This orphanage in Cuenca, Ecuador houses approximately 60 girls aged 5 to 13 years old who have no family or have been abandoned, abused or otherwise rescued from a bad situation. Thanks to the center, the children are given a chance to study and to have food on the table and a roof over their heads. The main goal of the center is to provide the orphans and other street children with the opportunity for a better future.
The donation of your time, care and sense of fun with these young girls can make an immeasurable difference in their lives.

As a volunteer you will get involved by helping the kids that attend school with their homework in the afternoon, leading exercises to improve their self esteem, preparing material with the rest of the staff for the children to be used on weekends when the kids have their free time, organizing activities like sports, arts, and music to do after school, playing games with the children and getting involved with repairs including painting and light construction.

Highlights:
- Homestay with carefully screened and welcoming Ecuadorian family
- Three meals daily
- Orientation upon arrival in Quito, overnight stay included
- Assistance with travel to Cuenca
- Full accident and medical insurance
- Supervision by experienced and friendly staff in the U.S. and in Ecuador
- 24 hour emergency support

Qualifications: Volunteers must love children and enjoy working with them. Teaching experience is helpful, but not required. An intermediate level of Spanish is required; Spanish lessons are available for an additional fee prior to beginning the project.

Cost in US$: Starts at $900

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: CCI participants are flexible and open minded, and genuinely interested in cultural exchange.

Age Range: 18 and over

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

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Center for Cultural Interchange's Mission Statement: Founded in 1985, the Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of cultural understanding, academic development and world peace. Based in Chicago, Illinois, CCI organizes cultural exchange programs for participants of all ages, including high school abroad, independent homestay, internship, language study, eco-tours and volunteer programs in over thirty countries around the world.

Year Founded: 1985