Be a Deaf and Blind Children Care Volunteer

  Ecuador

• Quito: 
Quito

Durations of Program: 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: September to June

Description: The "Instituto Especial Mariana de Jesús" is an institute which takes care of, educates and hosts children with visual and hearing disabilities from all over the country. The children need to stay in the Institute from Monday to Friday afternoon. During the weekends, they go back to their homes to be with their families. The children come from families with limited resources and the Fundation "Amiga de los Ciegos", a non-profit organization, doesn't have enough resources to hire more people to live in the institute. Twenty-four people work in this institute. Approximately 39 children are present during the day and 24 stay to sleep there. More people are always needed to work with disabled children and, more particularly, to take care of them during the night.

Volunteer Work Activities:
The volunteers can organize recreational activities, help the children to do their homework, go with them to the museum, zoo, or swimming pool. They could also elaborate didactical material, transcript to the Braille, ect. If the volunteer sleeps in the institution, he/she can help to supervise the cleaning work of the boarding school.

Number of Volunteers
2 people during the night and 3 during the day.

Volunteering Schedule
The Institute is open from September to the end of June. We have one week of holidays at the end of each trimester.

Highlights: Ecuador Volunteer Foundation is a non-profit organization legally recognized by the Government of Ecuador, which was constituted through the ministerial agreement No.0350 on October 10, 2005. Currently it is the only organization authorized to select and supply volunteers to third party organizations providing their services in social, community, educational, healthcare and ecological projects/programs throughout Ecuador.

Qualifications:
- Only women can participate as a volunteer in our project.
- An intermediate level of Spanish is required. If the volunteer is not at this level, Ecuador Volunteer could help him/her to find the best program to improve his/her Spanish skills before starting the project.
- If the volunteer knows sign language they will be perfect for this project, but it is not necessary.
- We need people who are eager to help. If possible, we need people who know how to paint, play music, dance or do manual work to organize activities during the children's free time - in the evening and the night. We are looking for women who are 20 to 30 years old.
- To produce more efficient work, the volunteer should stay more than 3 months, this period is more beneficiary for the children at the school.

Cost in US$: free

Experience Required: yes

Braille or sign language are an advantage

Age Range: 20-30 years

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Other

Ecuador Volunteer Foundation's Mission Statement: We are Ecuador Volunteer, an international nonprofit organization founded in 1999 committed to the provision of volunteering opportunities in social, educational and community development in Ecuador. Voluntary work opportunities based around Quito and main programs offer experiences of cultural exchanges, work and help with local people. We arrange voluntary placements in the environmental or community area. The environmental involves working in nature on a wide variety of projects, the community works are about helping street children, elderly people and educating people. We dedicate ourselves to alternative solutions to these problems, to make a difference and create a better world in Ecuador.

Year Founded: 1999