top

Volunteer in Ecuador - It Will Change You Forever...

  • World's most affordable fees guaranteed
  • Pay your program fees directly to your host families and projects
  • Experienced local staffs to attend to your every need
  • Flexible schedule that leaves evenings and weekends free for fun, travel and exploration

Be adventurous, give back to the world and volunteer in Ecuador for an unforgettable and meaningful experience. Ecuador is exotic and diverse and boasts endless tourist opportunities such as the renowned Galapagos Islands, the world’s highest volcano, the breathtaking Cotopaxi Mountain and the world’s largest indigenous market, Otavalo. On the equator and blessed with the Andes and the Amazon, Ecuador is justifiably a travelers paradise. Unfortunately, Ecuador is still disturbed with poverty and needs your help to enrich the lives of its local people. For this reason, Helping Abroad offers volunteer programs in Ecuador to provide assistance to orphanages, schools, clinics/hospitals, childcare programs and nonprofit organizations. If you want to be a part of meaningful international development while growing personally and professionally, volunteer in Ecuador and change the lives of others by sharing your passion and skills with less fortunate people. You will undoubtedly widen your views of the world, make lasting relationships, explore famous landscapes and gain a valuable experience. Whether you choose to teach and play with children or work alongside doctors, nurses and patients, your time and dedication will truly make a difference.

What are you waiting for? Ecuador awaits you. Email us now and begin this captivating, worthwhile and life changing experience surrounded by a vibrantly colorful culture. We will be happy to provide you with more information and answer any questions you may have.

Program Fee

Helping Abroad volunteers Program starts every 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.

Are you looking for a safe and affordable volunteer abroad experience? Do you want to see the fees you pay, being utilized towards the welfare of the project and host families? Helping abroad, a 501 c 3, offer volunteer programs at unbeatable, low prices. At Helping Abroad, we maintain a level of transparency of funds, especially for volunteers who want to know where and how the fee they pay are being channelized. The volunteer fee is paid directly to the families that host volunteers and the project that volunteers work on. The program fee is divided as registration fee ($299) and weekly fee. The registration fee is used to cover our expenses like advertisement and office expenses. The weekly fee is divided between room/local food (3 times a day, 50-70%) and project donation/ support to local project staff (30-50%) and local coordination fee (10%). The allocation may differ according to location and project type. Therefore, our coordinator will explain these issues before you pay the fees. Please find the breakdown of the cost in a weekly basis below:

Duration Quito Galapagos
  1 Week   $266   $573
  2 Weeks   $427   $816
  3 Weeks   $588   $1,059
  4 Weeks   $749   $1,296
  5 Weeks   $910   $1,514
  6 Weeks   $1,071   $1,721
  7 Weeks   $1,232   $1,933
  8 Weeks   $1,393   $2,140
  9 Weeks   $1,554   $2,359
  10 Weeks   $1,715   $2,559
  11 Weeks   $1,876   $2,778
  12 Weeks   $2,037   $2,984
Additional Fee
  • Mandatory Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day
Program Fees Cover
  • Accommodation (volunteer house or host family)
  • Food (local food 3 times a day)
  • Airport pick up/Transfer
  • Program Orientation
  • In-country support
  • Personalized project
  • Pre-departure information
  • Certificate of completion
  • Fundraising ideas and letters
  • Discount for returning volunteers
Program Fees Exclude
  • Visas
  • Airfare
  • Airfare Galapagos
  • Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
  • Daily transportation
  • Airport return transfer
  • Food (if you are volunteering on the Galapagos Islands); Please allot $60-$70 a week to cover the cost of your meals

The volunteering programs in Ecuador fees will cover expenses that will begin on the first day of the program (usually the first or third Monday of the month) to the last day of the program. If you arrive before the first day of the program or you decide you stay beyond your program’s last day, you will be responsible for the additional expenses, which would typically be around $30 a day for room and meals at a hostel.

Volunteer Programs

Working in an Orphanage (Quito)

Orphanages Children

Travel to a beautiful country and change the lives of orphan children by providing educational, emotional and physical support! Sadly, hundreds of children in the Quito area of Ecuador become orphans due to poverty, disease, violence or simple abandonment. These children are vulnerable and without the help of orphanages, are succumbed to threatening, unhealthy and barren situations. Thankfully, orphanages are helping to provide shelter, food, education, healthcare and basic necessities to children. While they work hard to help the orphans as much as possible, many orphanages lack governmental and financial resources, leading to poor infrastructure and a shortage of staff, food and materials. Helping Abroad invites you to volunteer in an orphanage in Ecuador to fully enrich the lives of these orphans by acting as a friend, caregiver, role model, teacher and playmate. As you help to organize and lead development-enhancing activities, you can instantly improve the futures of these destitute children. In addition you will have the opportunity to provide basic care, allowing the orphans to live happy and healthy childhoods. Helping Abroad partners with orphanages that desperately need your help, so act now and brighten the lives of these children.

Educational Requirements and Project Skills

No specific skills, qualifications or experiences are required, although Spanish skills are desirable to communicate effectively. If your Spanish skills are poor, we suggest enrolling in our Spanish language course to make your stay more rewarding–both for you and for the orphans you help. You should have a passion for teaching and caring for children. Volunteers must be hardworking, patient, confident, enthusiastic and good with children. You should bring energy and enthusiasm to the orphanage and your projects.

Your Responsibilities as a Volunteer

As a volunteer working in an orphanage in Ecuador, you will help to enhance the quality of life for underprivileged orphans. Depending on individual skills and interests and the needs of the orphanage, volunteer roles and responsibilities may include:

  • Teaching basic English
  • Teaching other subjects such as math and science
  • Teaching children life skills such as gardening, painting, building, sewing, etc
  • Carrying out extracurricular activities such as games, sports, art, music, dancing, etc
  • Teaching health and personal hygiene
  • Providing care and friendship to children
  • Planning events and field trips
  • Taking children to and from school
  • Cooking and serving food for the children
  • Helping children with their homework and school assignments
  • Simply playing with the children
  • Making the children smile
  • Giving the children confidence

Please Note:  The activities above are mere examples of volunteers' daily activities, but this may change due to requests from local staff members. You will receive your work schedule from local orphanage staff. You are only required to work 3 to 4 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week, therefore, you will have ample time to relax and explore Ecuador's natural beauty and culture.

Teaching English in a Rural School in Ecuador (Quito)

Volunteer teaching students

Share your English knowledge with children in Ecuador and open doors for their futures! Like many countries worldwide, tourism and globalization have drastically increased the demand for English skills in Ecuador. Many schools in Ecuador do not have adequate resources, safe facilities or qualified teachers and really need your help to teach this increasingly important subject. Helping Abroad is currently partnering with schools in Quito to expand opportunities for students from low-income families who would not otherwise have the chance to learn the language. Students with English skills will unquestionably have greater chances at competing in the global market and as a volunteer in Ecuador teaching English, you will give your students brighter futures. Not only will you change the lives of your students, but you will also gain teaching experience, immerse yourself into a colorful culture and have the chance to explore a picturesque country.

Educational Requirements and Project Skills

No specific skills, qualifications or experiences are required, although Spanish skills are desirable to communicate effectively. If your Spanish skills are poor, we suggest enrolling in our Spanish language course to make your stay more rewarding–both for you and for the people you help. You should have a passion for teaching and caring for children. Volunteers must be hardworking, patient, confident, enthusiastic and good with children. You should bring energy and enthusiasm to your projects.

Your Responsibilities as a Volunteer

The Helping Abroad volunteer teaching English in Ecuador project offers an array of formal and informal educational programs for children. The primary responsibility for volunteers is teaching conversational English while making the language fun and interactive. Here are some examples of volunteer activities in Ecuador:

  • Teaching English
  • Working with local teachers to plan lessons
  • Planning and leading extracurricular activities such as dancing, games, music, sports, art, etc.
  • Helping children successfully finish their homework
  • Singing songs and playing music/instruments
  • Helping children with art projects and drawing
  • Teaching children personal hygiene
  • Reinforcing life skills and chores such as cleaning and cooking
  • Teaching children to how to garden
  • Working on maintenance such as painting, building, and other activities to improve the facilities
  • Providing assistance to school administrations to help with operational tasks and curriculum development
  • Fundraising

Please Note:   The activities above are mere examples of volunteers' daily activities, but this may change due to requests from local staff members and teachers. You will receive your work schedule from the school administration. In addition, you will work with a school supervisor that will provide guidance and assist you develop your teaching lessons. You are only required to work only 3 to 4 hours a day, Monday through Friday, therefore, you will have ample time to relax and explore Ecuador.

Disadvantaged/Street Children Project (Quito)

Volunteer with street children

Heartbreakingly, many children in Ecuador are left alone and without basic necessities such as food, education and friendship. Some are left on the street to fend for themselves and are surrounded by dangerous and unhealthy environments. For this reason, Helping Abroad is partnering with local communities, municipalities and nonprofit organizations with the hope of providing desperate children with care and education. Regrettably, many childcare programs are short human and financial resources, therefore voluntary help is highly needed to properly care for these children. As a volunteer in Ecuador working in the Disadvantaged Children/Children At-risk Project, you will help street children and children from very low-income families to make essential needs, education and support available. Volunteers help organize development-enhancing activities to give the children educational and recreational outlets, allowing them to grow, learn and smile. Each volunteer working in the Disadvantaged Children/Children At-risk Project, acts as a friend, teacher and channel for positive growth. Your time and dedication with the children will enrich their lives, giving your journey to Ecuador a memorable and rewarding meaning.

Educational Requirements and Project Skills

No specific skills, qualifications or experiences are required, although Spanish skills are desirable to communicate effectively. If your Spanish skills are poor, we suggest enrolling in our Spanish language course to make your stay more rewarding—both for you and for the people you help. You should have a passion for teaching and be caring towards children. Volunteers must be hardworking, patient, confident, enthusiastic and good with children. You should bring energy and enthusiasm to your projects.

Your Responsibilities as a Volunteer

As a volunteer working in the Disadvantaged Children/Children At-risk Project in Ecuador, you will help to enhance the quality of life for disadvantaged children. Depending on individual skills and interests, volunteer roles and responsibilities may include:

  • Teaching basic English
  • Teaching other subjects such as math and science
  • Teaching health and personal hygiene
  • Providing care and companionship to children
  • Cooking and serving food for children
  • Teaching children life skills such as gardening, painting, building, sewing, etc
  • Carrying out extracurricular activities such as games, sports, art, music, dancing, etc
  • Fundraising
  • Helping local organizations with administrative tasks
  • Planning events and field trips
  • Providing low-income families with assistance
  • Helping medical and health staff with child healthcare

Please Note:   The activities above are mere examples of volunteers’ daily activities, but this may change due to requests from local staff members and teachers. You will receive your work schedule from local staff. You are only required to work 3 to 4 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week, therefore, you will have ample time to relax and explore Ecuador’s natural beauty and culture.

Major FAQ's

  • Who will meet me in airport? What should I do if I am delayed or miss my flight? When should I arrive?
  • Please book your flight to arrive at Quito International Airport. The Helping Abroad country coordinator will be waiting for you at the "Arrival" gate. Please look for a person with both the Helping Abroad company logo and your name on a sign card. In case your contact person is not there, please contact the Helping Abroad office and we will immediately follow up on your contact persons’ whereabouts. Coordinators’ contact details are available on the pre-departure handbook. If your flight is delayed, immediately contact Helping Abroad so we can make adjustments to your program. Helping Abroad will be responsible for creating the necessary changes in your program.

    The program fee covers expenses from the first day of the program to the last day of the program. If you arrive before the first day of the program and/or stay beyond the last day of the program, you will be responsible for these expenses.

  • What are the visa requirements to volunteer in Ecuador?
  • It is the volunteer’s responsibility to acquire a tourist visa. Please contact either our office or the local Ecuadorian embassy to learn more about the process for obtaining a visa, timelines, visa fees and visa extensions.

  • What do I need to know about health and safety in Ecuador?
  • Volunteers should be aware of all health and safety information before traveling to Ecuador. You can read about health and safety in Ecuador on the website listed below:

    WHO Ecuador (http://www.who.int/countries/en)

  • What immunizations/vaccinations are recommended before arriving to Ecuador?
  • We strongly recommend that volunteers obtain vaccinations before arriving in Ecuador. You can speak with your health-care provider to determine which vaccinations you will need. Please read CDC recommendations about vaccinations and preventive medicine: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/Ecuador.htm

  • What is the local currency and exchange rate?
  • Ecuador's local currency is the US dollar, therefore if you are from the USA, you will not need to exchange money or worry about exchange rates. ATM cards are the best way to get money and Visa, MasterCard and American Express are also accepted at airports, large stores and large hotels. ATM’s are widely available in Quito. It is a good idea to carry a credit card for large purchases and emergencies. Make sure you notify your bank that you will be out of the country and give them your expected arrival/departure dates. This will prevent your account from being locked and you will be advised about any fraudulent charges. Always be aware of your situation and keep all valuables and money concealed at all times. It is always best to go to the ATM machine in groups.

    Please visit XE, a privately held online foreign exchange tool for rates. XE.com ( http://www.xe.com/)

  • How can I communicate with my family/friends while I am abroad? Is there Internet access?
  • If you have an unlocked cell phone that contains a SIM card, we recommend that you bring it because you can buy a SIM card upon arrival in Ecuador. Phones are important to have for safety and communication with family and Helping Abroad staff. Internet cafes are widely available in Ecuador.

  • How is the climate in Ecuador?
  • Ecuador’s climate can be tropical on the Pacific coast, temperate in the highlands and have jungle-like climate in the Amazon and the rain forest.

    For accurate weather please visit ACCU Weather (http://www.accuweather.com/)

  • What should I bring?
  • You can purchase basic necessities in Ecuador at reasonable prices, but we suggest bringing the following:

    • An unlocked mobile phone (you can use it after buying a sim card)
    • Camera
    • Sleeping bag
    • Mosquito repellent
    • Insect repellent
    • Sunscreen
    • Books about Ecuador
    • Map of Ecuador
    • Toiletries
    • First aid kit
    • Flash light
    • Electricity adapter/converter
    • Sun glasses
    • Good shoes (for work and travel)
    • Towel

  • Should I bring gifts for my host family?
  • You are not required to bring a gift but it is common courtesy as a token of appreciation for hosting you. If you are working in orphanages or schools, you can bring items such as school supplies and games. Remember that many children will desire what you bring, so you may want to bring a large amount of one item (pencils, pens, notebooks, games, art supplies, etc).

NOTE: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is derived from generic information about the country, and should not be used as a definitive travel guide. Travel information and situations abroad change constantly, and the information contained here may not be up to date. Participants should consult Helping Abroad staff or travel advisors to verify this information.