Learn and help to change Street Children's lives in Ecuador.

  Ecuador

• Quito: 
Quito

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Outreach Program: closes for Holidays: December 15 to January 5th (minimum 24 weeks)School Support Program: closes for Holidays: December 15 to January 5th and Summer Months: July and August

Description: Every child deserves a chance to be successful. There are many children in the streets of Ecuador lacking education, proper nutrition, and caring. Help give them a chance to be successful. Experience the joy that comes along with giving a child a chance.

Lead Adventures works with three different organizations that focus on Street Children in Quito. The placement of a participant in these organizations depends on availability, the time of the year and the length of the participants stay. Once the volunteer has arrived, the participant will be part of a comprehensive orientation that will cover important information about the project, the touristy areas in Quito, ways of transportation, safety tips and more. Volunteers in this program will be helping in the poorest areas of Quito at the North and South sides of the city. These program focus on OUTREACH and SCHOOL SUPPORT. The Outreach Initiative works with children who have the need to work in the streets. Most of their parents work in the street markets in Quito, selling different types of products to generate some income for the family. Volunteers will provide attention, care and support through their outreach to these children. The school support initiative helps children who come from difficult backgrounds (alcoholic parents, parents who have migrated to other countries, emotionally abused etc.) to raise their self-esteem and to provide them with a high quality education so that they can have a better future. Volunteers will be involved in classes, homework supervision, educational activities and more!

Highlights:
Location: The projects are located in the North and South side of Quito in residential neighborhoods. It's an urban project.

Volunteer Role:
Outreach Initiative
* Collect the children from their parent's market posts.
* Ensure all children wash their hands.
* Provide care and support for the children and make sure they stay with the group.
* Plan activities in advance and ensure all materials are ready on the day of the project.
* Participate in activities and help children successfully complete projects.
* Make sure all children get returned to their parent's market posts.

School Support Initiative
* Improve hygiene by ensuring all children wash their hands and brush their teeth.
* Ensure the children adhere to the program rules.
* Help children with assignments and homework.
* Aid the teachers with in class activities.
* Supervise children during break time.
* Aid the staff during snack and meal times.
* Organize the children to clean up at the end of the day.

Location: The projects are located in the North and South side of Quito in residential neighborhoods. It's an urban project.

Accommodations and Meals: Volunteers will stay at a host family. Host families are located in good residential neighborhoods in Quito. Home stays have been selected after an application process to make sure they have everything participants need. Breakfast and dinner is included in the host family's home.

In your free time explore the different activities that the islands have to offer:
* Enjoy the Old Town-churches, government, squares and shopping. The historic old town of Colonial Quito is the jewel in Ecuador's crown. The city was designated the first UNESCO World Heritage City in 1978 in recognition of the importance of its colonial architecture (ahead of cities like Bath and Venice). Quito is the city that has the best-preserved, least altered historic center in Latin America. The monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, with their rich interiors, are pure examples of the 'Baroque school of Quito', which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art.

* Visit the "Middle of the World City" where the monument that divides the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern is located. It was built during the XVII century when a French Expedition defined the precise location of the equatorial line. The Ethnographic Museum can also be visited.

* You can't miss the Teleferico, this is a cable car that takes passengers up the flanks of Pichincha Volcano to the top of Cruz Loma. The view form here is spectacular.

Cost in US$: From $310/week

Experience Required: no

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

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

LEAD Adventures Ecuador's Mission Statement: Since its creation in 2004 LEAD Adventures has been extremely successful launching programs in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and establishing mutually beneficial partnerships abroad. Up to date we have efficiently managed over 2,000 inbound participants individually and in-group programs. Our programs are targeted to young minded people from all over the world that want to experience the great destinations Ecuador and South America have to offer. Our programs are targeted to young minded people from all over the world that want to experience the great destinations Ecuador and South America have to offer. Why choose our programs? In country support: As a South American based company we have the local contacts and resources to offer superb and efficient services to our participants. Our bilingual, experienced, and young minded in country staff are here to help you get the most of your time here. Security and Experience: We have the local knowledge and contacts to offer the safest and fastest security and emergency procedures. Additionally we are in close contact with the local Foreign Commonwealth Office UK , US Embassies and the like. Several US, European, and other companies choose us a destination management company for their programs. Value: Our administrative costs are much lower than agencies in Europe or US for example. So we can offer low and more reasonable prices for our programs compared to some agencies abroad. Additionally we are the operators of these programs so we can guarantee cost efficiency. True local Impact: As a South American (Ecuadorian based) company we have the local knowledge and capacity to choose the best managed projects and ensure a degree of sustainability to them. We support them and provide valuable resources that help continue their work.

Year Founded: 2004