Instituto Superior de Español works with several volunteer organizations to help our students find volunteer positions of social or environmental benefit.
The minimum period for volunteering is 1 week with no upper limit for participation. In the case that volunteers wish to volunteer with one of these projects for more than 3 months our school will help students organize their volunteer visa.
Normally all volunteer programs ask for a contributory payment. This payment in the case of children's organizations will help them to buy teaching or didactical material and in case of environmental organizations it will help them to cover the costs of their programs, from volunteer food and accommodation to resources for development projects.
Volunteer payments run from US$70 to US$750 per month. Some organizations ask for an application payment of around US$35.
Street Children Organizations
Fundación Niñez y Vida
This foundation has been working in Ecuador for the past 20 years. Our work concentrates on developing marginal urban areas in Quito. We work with children aged 2 to 17, providing various programs, which specifically address their needs.
Cost per month: US$100
Cenit Ecuador
CENIT is a non-profit NGO located in a marginalized urban area of Quito, Ecuador. Now in its 14th year, CENIT provides a variety of support services to working girls and their families to help them rise out of grinding poverty. CENIT also works to improve the quality of life of whole community. www.cenitecuador.org
Cost per month: US$70
National Environmental Organizations
Fundación Brethren y Unida (FBU)
The FBU is a non-profit NGO that works in various areas of development: formulation of rural development projects, technical training of agro ecology, environmental education, local management and volunteer work.
Our volunteer programs promote cultural exchange between people from diverse countries with those of rural communities in Ecuador. To enable this exchange we have designed several flexible opportunities that adapt to meet the distinct objectives of volunteers, from organic agriculture to rural teaching, whilst maintaining an emphasis on personal contact with families from the farming communities where we work. www.fbu.com.ec
Cost: from US$70 a week or US$330 per month (accommodation, transportation and meals included).
El Arca
This project mainly strives to protect, study, and reintegrate animals in danger within the Amazon Basin. Volunteers are needed for: feeding, medical care, cleaning the cages, research assistance, as well as guiding tourists around the property. www.zooelarca.com
Cost: US$250 per month
Merazonia
Centro de Rescate Merazonia is an NGO located in one of the most beautiful areas in Ecuador where the Andes meet the Amazon. Located in 250 acres of rainforest they are in the process of building a rescue center for trafficked animals.
If you are looking to get off the beaten track and volunteer in the Ecuadorian jungle then please help them. They live in the laid back environment of Mera and presently have a rustic house with views of mountains, jungle and rivers all around them. www.merazonia.org
Cost: US$200 per month
Golondrinas
The Golondrinas Foundation is dedicated to the conservation of natural resources and cloud forest, recuperation of eroded soils, and environmental education in the lower Rio Mira valley between the provinces of Imbabura and Carchi.
The Golondrinas Foundation welcomes anyone who wishes to participate in our volunteer program, whether you have experience or not! We only suggest that you have the motivation to work, the adaptability to a rural environment and the willingness to make the best of your time with Golondrinas and to learn a little about village life in the Ecuadorian Andes. www.fundaciongolondrinas.org
Cost: US$300 per month
FUNDECOIPA
FUNDECOIPA is a non-profit community based NGO founded with the aim of creating community development in the indigenous communities of Pastaza.
The foundation manages the 2710 hectare Arutam Rainforest Reserve and provides volunteer, tourism and research opportunities within the reserve and Shuar communities Arutam and Musap. www.fundecoipa.com
Cost: US$200 per month
Jatun Sacha Foundation
The Jatun Sacha Foundation (JSF) offers Ecuador volunteer programs with opportunities to develop a wide variety of activities including data field research, environmental education, community service, plant conservation, agro forestry, and reserve maintenance along with the smaller objectives that include the promotion of biodiversity conservation, research, education, and other community programs. Activities are carried out in each of their 8 biological stations. www.jatunsacha.org
Prices: Application fee: US$35
Jatun Sacha / Bilsa / Guandera: US$395 per month
San Cristobal on the Galapagos Islands: US$750 per month
International organizations
Red Cross
"The Ecuadorian red cross runs the only free public ambulance service in Quito . I highly recommend this volunteer opportunity for anyone who speaks semi-fluent Spanish and has some experience in emergency medicine. The chance to affect the lives of people from all walks of life is incredible. The times when those cultural boundaries were crossed and I was able to aid someone who was hurt, clean up after them, clean a newborn baby, made this a life changing experience."
Volunteer Larry Frolich, USA
Amnesty International
Offers opportunities for volunteer work in the following fields:
. Administration
. Office work, accounting
. Promotion (informational material)
. Documentation of research
Student COMMENTS
Estimado Eugenio,
Finalmente volví a Inglaterra. Le agradezco por haber organizado mis viajes y mis estudios con mucha paciencia. Las 6 semanas en Ecuador
fueron unas de las más interesantes de mi vida.
I can whole heartedly recommend your language school Instituto Superior de Español. The concept of learning Spanish while travelling
is superb and your organizational talent in working out individual itineraries is admirable! For some spoilt visitors from rich countries
it might be hard to fit in with an Ecuadorian family, but it gives a unique opportunity to learn more about the country than the superficial impressions usually granted to tourists.
Many thanks to you, your team and the host families for the courtesy, patience and good humor which made my trip so enjoyable!
I can also recommend the very friendly and comfortable jungle lodge and rafting or kayaking excursions who's safety standards were better
than some European organizations I have encountered.
Monika Lloyd-Burton
Poole England
monikarcadia@ntlworld.com
Further comments...
