Volunteer teaching English in Ecuador, at a school in a rural community located in the Andean Cloud Forest. As a volunteer in our teaching project, you will have the chance to change individual path of life. Learning English will make it much easier for children and adults to work with tourists and also other volunteers. Many people in the community are interested, or already in the process of learning English. So you can offer them private or community lessons.
Ming: The Smile I Will Never Forget
Ming: The Smile I will Never Forget
I got the best living situation in the house which I appreciated very much but also thought I didn’t deserve my ‘family’ treating me so well. My daily job is to teach english to the kids in the village and helped my host-family grandma do some farming job. I enjoy very much the time living there. I got the chance to feel the nature and experience this life that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Teach English and more at a local school
The local school is also open for you to teach the language and help with other educational subjects. Most of all, it is extremely important to give them attention and affection while teaching as this is what they need the most. We suggest Iko Poran volunteers to give lessons in a playful and interactive way; this will definitely make lessons more effective.
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 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.
Ming: The Smile I Will Never Forget
Ming: The Smile I will Never Forget
I’m writing this review based on my experience as a one month volunteer in Ecuador. I was assigned with a Ecuadorian family and they were very friendly and treated me as their own family. When I first got there, my Spanish was bad and my ‘family’ helped me bargain with the taxi driver and helped me settle down. I got the best living situation in the house which I appreciated very much but also thought I didn’t deserve my ‘family’ treating me so well. My daily job is to teach english to the kids in the village and helped my host-family grandma do some farming job. I enjoy very much the time living there. I got the chance to feel the nature and experience this life that I will remember for the rest of my life. During the ‘hard’ but happy time, my Spanish improved from zero foundation to be able to understand daily conversation. I was also introduced the traditional crafting in Ecuador. I’m a world traveler and a culture lover and I have been to a lot countries during the recent years. But Ecuador is my second hometown where I find my soul, experience the real humanity regardless of language obstacles and cultural barriers. I loved this experience and I will be back again.
Mingzhuo Pei from China enjoying teaching in Ecuador
Volunteer teaching English in Ecuador, at a school in a rural community located in the Andean Cloud Forest. As a volunteer in our teaching project, you will have the chance to change individual path of life. Learning English will make it much easier for children and adults to work with tourists and also other volunteers. Many people in the community are interested, or already in the process of learning English. So you can offer them private or community lessons.
