Ecuador Street Children Care and Education

We offer two different projects in one of the poorest areas in Quito which both focus on providing services to children including outreach, community service and school support.

Option A – Day Care Centre
The main aim of this day care centre is to provide a clean, safe environment for the children whose parents work nearby at the city dump. There can be up to 50 children at any one time attending the centre and they receive a meal and snacks as well as clean clothes, baths and basic pre-school education.

Your responsibilities at the centre may include; providing care and support to the children, planning and participating in activities, aid the teachers with class activities and during snack and meal times and helping the children with their homework.

Option B – Educational Support
The purpose of this centre is to offer education services to under-privileged children working in accordance with the department of Social Welfare. Many families are not aware of the importance of education and many also live in poverty and face problems, such as illiteracy, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and migration and are therefore unable to provide adequate care for their children so the centre gives these children a chance to enjoy learning and keep up in school.

You may help plan activities in areas such as Art, Painting, Music, English Reading and Writing and will be playing an active role in these activities. Other responsibilities may include; taking a daily attendance register, improving the hygiene of the children, ensure the children adhere to programme rules, helping with homework, supervision during break times and communicating with parents about the progress of the children. The children at the centre are happy and playful and greatly enjoy working with volunteers.

If you choose to spend longer than 8 weeks volunteering on option B you will also have the opportunity to take part in the following project:

Street Children Outreach
This outreach programme plays a major role assisting children and their families, who live or work in the streets and are socially disadvantaged build a better relationship between each other and a brighter future. Many parents spend most of their time selling products in the street markets of Quito, and as a result neglect their children. You will help provide the children the chance to play and develop to their full potential both at elementary and high school levels. Please note that during the summer months the children tend to be between 3-12yrs and during the academic year they may be younger.

Your responsibilities may include; collecting and returning children to and from their parent’s market stall and taking them to their educational activity, ensuring the children are hygienic i.e. washing their hands, help children identify colours, numbers and objects, providing care and support for the children and making sure they stay within the group, identifying children with dental problems, assisting in arts and crafts classes for mothers, helping with administrative tasks in the local office, planning and participating in activities.

You may also have the opportunity to work in a local clinic and dental surgery, work in a programme for children with behavioural problems and also communicating with the children’s parents to advise them about children’s rights and the obligations as parents.

Please note: Itineraries and activities are subject to change. Your placement will depend on availability, the time of year and length of stay. Volunteers are expected to be flexible in their responsibilities and provide support in which ever area it is required most.

What’s Included in the Programme

• Accommodation
• Breakfast and Dinner
• A detailed orientation on arrival
• An airport pickup and drop off on arrival and departure
• 24 hour Emergency help
• Full support prior to departure from your personal travel adviser
• Detailed information pack prior to departure

What’s Not Included in the Programme

• International flight
• Lunches
• Personal travel insurance
• Visa extensions
• Items of a personal nature
• Additional activities over and above the planned itinerary inclusions

Prices and Durations

Ecuador Street Children Care and Education - 2 weeks £599
Ecuador Street Children Care and Education - 3 weeks £749
Ecuador Street Children Care and Education - 4 weeks £999
Ecuador Street Children Care and Education - 5 weeks £1,149
Ecuador Street Children Care and Education - 6 weeks £1,299