Work in a Day Care Centre for Children of the Rubbish Dump in Ecuador

volunteering ecuador volunteering in ecuador volunteer work ecuador volunteering volunteer abroad ecuador voluntary work volunteer work volunteering abroad volunteer south america volunteer ecuador volunteer work abroad volunteering opportunities wo

  • The Project

    Become a volunteer in Ecuador and join one of our most unique projects in South America. For years, the maltreated workers at Quito´s biggest landfill, called ¨miners¨, spent hours shifting through toxic garbage in unsafe and unsanitary conditions with no guaranteed salary. Since this project was established and began working with this community of inter-generational garbage scavengers, much improvement has been made in their working conditions, including their forming of an association to demand more rights and safer conditions and the involvement of an environmental organization to guarantee a more sanitary and more hygienic working environment. In March of 2006, a Daycare Centre & Preschool, which serves over 50 children from newborn through to 5 years, was opened. Here the dedicated team have been taking care of these infants with a mission of improving their prospects for the future. In addition to this, in December of 2006 a medical clinic also opened at the site in conjunction with a local Hospital to ensure that all members of this community have access to adequate health care.

  • Why the project needs you

    With only 3 teachers to tend to the needs of almost 50 children enrolled at the Day Care centre volunteer help is greatly appreciated. Volunteers are needed for help in all aspects of the centre with the main focus on providing dynamic and engaging education themes and compassionate interaction for the infants in a safe environment. Volunteers with a background in Social Work are also sought after to assist the local Social Workers who attend the centre regularly. There is also a health clinic at the transfer station on Tuesday and Friday mornings, so those with a background in public health are more than welcome to help out here.

    Project Location

    Quito is surrounded by natural beauty, by the mountains ringing the city, some volcanic, some with white-capped peaks, lushly forested hills and a fertile valley. Long before the Spanish arrived, Quito was a busy place. It was a major Inca city and was destroyed by the Incas in a scorched earth policy that only briefly halted the Spanish invasion. Sebastián de Benalcázar recognized the city's location and founded San Francisco de Quito on top of the few ruins left him. The founding date, December 6, 1534, is celebrated annually with the Fiestas de Quito.

  • Project Facts

    • Duration: 1 week to 1 year
    • Cost: £835 ($1461) for 2 weeks, £165 ($289) for each week thereafter
    • Requirements: Age 18+
    • Location: Quito, Ecuador
    • Project activities: Educating, feeding and playing with the children
    • Working hours: 8.30-5.00pm Monday - Friday
    • Project Availability: Year-Round, with summer camps during June – August

  • What is included

    • Accommodation: Home stay with hot, running water, and electricity
    • Food: 3 meals per day – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
    • Airport pick-up
    • Training: Pre-departure pack, on-site orientation and project induction included
    • Support: 24 hour staff support
    • Local SIM card: All volunteers are given a local SIM card to use in their mobile phones. The network of the SIM is Porta and your phone must be unlocked to be able to use it
    • Activities: Staff help organise evening and weekend activities.

  • What is not included

    • Flights
    • Insurance
    • Visas
    • Optional Spanish classes available at $6/hour

Related Projects

Other Projects in Ecuador