Community Infrastructure Development in Ecuador
As a volunteer on community development in Ecuador in a village you can really change a lot on the community’s life conditions. IKPVA volunteers should be creative and have a lot of energy since there is a wide range of projects they can help with:
- improving farm lands,
- improving housing conditions,
- building infrastructure,
- helping with community education, etc.
You can leave you mark in the community. You really are the one to decide what you would live more – and believe us, they will be thankful forever!
The People there were beyond amazing!
The people there were beyond amazing! They were happy, supportive and generally loved life. They were such a good and connected community. Everyone knew everyone!
The days off from work were awesome, as we got to go to little waterfalls with the village’s personal guide, Solomon. – Sam, 22 years, Melbourne
You may combine the Community Development in Ecuador with other volunteer projects
Volunteers have the opportunity to teach English, work in the vegetable gardens, in the medicinal plant section, work in the craft workshop, plant coffee trees and pick coffee beans, hand milk cows, create footpaths in the cloud forest, and much more. Volunteers have a very personal experience with a flexible approach, which guarantees that different volunteering activities can be chosen and tried during their placements.
Start Dates & Duration
Projects in Ecuador start on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month.
The bus from Quito to the community departs at 5:00pm everyday and the community together with host families greet volunteers when they arrive. You usually arrive in Quito over the weekend to get the bus on Saturdays or Sundays. You can choose to volunteer from 1 to 12 weeks.
Orientation
Orientation takes place on Monday, or on the next day after the arrival if you arrive in a different day.
Fees
- The program fee is paid directly to the host organization.
- All of the projects incur a registration fee of U$ 199.00 on top of the program fee.
What is included in the program fee?
- Orientation
- Accommodation for all projects
- 3 meals per day
- Support from local staff & Program supervision
- In-country 24/7 support throughout your stay
- In-country administration costs
- Donation to support the local project
There are no hidden costs. These projects are the most affordable to volunteer in Ecuador.
Iko Poran is an NGO based in a developing country. We are dedicated to helping you help others, at the lowest possible price. We are interested in making volunteering abroad more accessible so that more people can help do really important work.
Participants in our Ecuador programs normally find US$ 20 to be sufficient for weekly expenses in the country.
The program fee should be paid to the host country and it is due 30 days before the project start date.
Please bring small bills to the community; it is hard to find change sometimes.
Accommodation
Location:
The project is in a rural community set in the beautiful Ecuadorian cloud forest in the Andean mountains to the north of Ecuador. It is 2,5 hours by bus trip from Quito, Ecuador’s capital.
Brimming with exciting activities for adventurous travellers, a variety of important volunteer and learning opportunities, and a community grassroots reforestation program. It is a trend-setting community, deeply rooted in the traditions of its Yumbo ancestors.
Accommodation & Meals
You are provided with a private room and three traditional Ecuadorian meals per day. The village is centred around a street, which runs through the middle and most of the homestays will be around this and the centre of the village, within a 5 minute walk. During your homestay you will experience the tranquillity and kindness of Ecuadorian lifestyle, culture and cuisine. We can cater for vegetarians and other dietary requirements.
Volunteer Requirements
You must be at least 18 years old at the start of the placement. Exceptions can be made for under 18’s accompanied by a guardian or with a parental consent.
All volunteers must have adequate volunteer travel insurance.
Language Requirements for Ecuador Volunteers
Knowledge of basic Spanish is desired but not a pre-requisite. You will already learn a lot staying with a local family, but if you would like to speed up your learning, we recommend that you take advantage of a very affordable Spanish course taught by a lady from the community: only U$ 5 per hour.
Safety
Ecuador has quickly become the safest country in Latin America (South and Central America). You feel totally safe and confident to explore the country.
The community is perfectly safe, but when in Quito you should take some precautions and be careful with your possessions.
The people there were beyond amazing!
So my girlfriend and I spent a week and a few days in a little village. The people there were beyond amazing! They were happy, supportive and generally loved life. They were such a good and connected community. Everyone knew everyone!
The days off from work were awesome, as we got to go to little waterfalls with the village’s personal guide, Solomon. He was very insightful and knowledgeable about basically everything in the area. From the local humming birds to the different rocks on the side of the rivers. He knew every town, and seemingly every person that inhabited it.
Our family were overly happy to have us and we were overly happy to spent time with them. We worked hard during most days, out in different farms, but I wouldn’t have traded the views for anything. Jaw-dropping stuff. It was an insane trip and I would do it again in a heart beat! Thanks for every one at Iko Poran and Last Tolas organisations for making this happen. – Sam, 22 years, Melbourne
More Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador
Find our full program to volunteer in Ecuador here.
Community Development Projects in other Countries
Visit our page with all the community development volunteer projects.