Ecuador Volunteer Programs from $21/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

Master some basic Spanish phrases; it goes a long way! It shows your willingness to learn, and that you are invested in your time spent working alongside the NGO staff.

Most NGOs operate with a very small team and limited budget; volunteers have to be self-motivated to contribute their skills and experience to help out any way they can, be it social media outreach, reviewing their financials, translation of documents, writing grants, donor reports, researching funds and foundations, exploring partnerships to ensure sustainable funding for their activities. Utilize your network and contacts back home, contact your university, even start your own fundraising campaign!

If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask. Expect an unstructured environment and keep an open mind. A good starting point is to check with current volunteers (via the Facebook group) about ongoing projects in order to be better prepared.

Volunteers have a group meeting every Tuesday with the program director, where we will share and discuss the various tasks we're working on, any challenges, or advise needed. We do get guidance from the director and have regular check-ins, but generally, volunteers have autonomy over the respective tasks they work on, with regular brainstorming sessions to help the NGO ensure sustainability of their street children programs.

Some volunteers are happy to work on solo tasks; other projects may require a team and take weeks to complete - it all depends on the NGO's needs at the time. Working hours are 9AM - 4:30PM, and volunteers have weekends and Mondays off to travel or explore the city of Quito.

By now, I am no stranger to overseas volunteering, but I was a little worried about the altitude (2,850m) after hearing my friends' experiences of having appetite loss, nausea, headaches for days. Being sick far from home is no fun, so I obtained some Diamox from my travel doctor just in case. Apart from a mild headache that lasted the first few hours, I was completely fine. It's true what they say - altitude sickness can hit anyone regardless of fitness level; it comes and goes, you can never tell! Drink plenty of water and electrolytes; that definitely helped.

At the end of my six weeks, I fell in love with the historic old town, the cobblestone streets, museums, colonial buildings, and church architecture. It is safe, convenient, easy to navigate and full of culture, good food, and friendly locals.

Quito was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city, and being so well-preserved all these years, was in fact the first World Cultural heritage site declared by UNESCO in 1978. It's home to the famous Middle Of The World equator line where you can literally stand in both hemispheres at the same time. Fascinating!

My favorite moments were watching the sweeping volcano landscapes as we drove from lake to lake, getting close to nature and hiking in the rainforest. There is so much to explore in this beautiful country; wish I could have stayed longer!