Volunteer in Ecuador - Change the World By Volunteering in Ecuador…. And Enjoy the Adventure of a Lifetime.

Are you interested in volunteer opportunities in Ecuador? Do you want to spend time abroad and do more than simply see the sights? Is helping preserve the environment something you feel passionate about? Do you believe that all children deserve a safe and secure home and a decent education regardless of their position in society?

RCDP volunteer projects in Ecuador are designed to blend exciting travel options with the chance to leave a meaningful and long lasting legacy for those who are less fortunate.

As a volunteer in Ecuador you can choose to work on projects in the field of child care and development, education or conservation. One project is even based on the truly amazing Galapagos Islands.

This once in a lifetime opportunity provides you with the chance to explore everything from mighty mountains and volcanoes, to rainforests and sandy beaches which keep the Pacific Ocean at bay.

There’s plenty of history to enjoy too, and a warm, welcoming culture which embraces and values volunteers like yourself. The rich-poor gap in Ecuador is very wide these days, and your time will be spent working with, and supporting people in the poorest communities as they battle to overcome circumstances and build a stronger future for themselves and this wonderful country.

Turn your dream into a reality - contact us today to enroll, or to request more information on RCDP’s Ecuador volunteer opportunities.

What volunteer opportunities are available in Ecuador

RCDP offer safe, affordable, well organized and fully supported Ecuador volunteer programs focusing on conservation, [both on the mainland and on the Galapagos Island project], teaching children, and helping young people living in orphanages. You may not need direct experience or qualifications to join a program, as in many cases having a real drive to help out with a particular cause is just as important. Take a look at the information which follows, and discover where your passions, interest and skills lead you.

Orphanage Project

All youngsters deserve to have a safe, loving home and a chance to study so they can do well in life. Unfortunately, due to high levels of poverty and inadequate government support there are many children without such things in Ecuador.

The worst affected live in orphanages or on the streets, many in major cities. In response, some charitable organizations have built orphanages to help deal with this problem, offering shelter, food, love and a basic education to as many as they can.

Orphanage volunteer programs in Ecuador need caring people like you to work on a mentor, teacher and buddy to abandoned kids on these important projects. There’s no better way to give young people a boost right at the point they really need it.

Skills/Qualifications Needed: Although you don’t need any particular qualifications or previous experience, Ecuador orphanage volunteers need to be patient, kind, caring and positive people, someone able to be a first class role model to impressionable and vulnerable young people. However, to get the most from this program Spanish language skills are needed, even if they are pretty basic. We offer a study course which is recommended to potential volunteers with no Spanish skills at all.

Volunteer Responsibilities: RCDP's Orphanage project in Ecuador involves various tasks, which makes the project both interesting and flexible enough for everyone to join.

You may teach English or even Spanish if you are able, help with preparing and serving meals, or organize creative, musical and sporting activities to entertain the children after school. Other jobs may pop up from time to time, so you can expect every day to be different.

Teaching Project

Young people in Ecuador are really keen to learn English as it helps them build a better career than would be possible without any knowledge of it, but there are simply not enough English teachers around to provide this opportunity to everyone, especially if families cannot pay for a private tutor. To fill the gaps RCDP support projects which deliver English education classes in both city and rural schools.

Our teaching English volunteer program runs in both public and private schools at all levels, from elementary through to high school.

English speaking volunteers make such a huge impact on the future of these deserving young people. (In July and August the schools are on vacation, and volunteers booked in for this period work instead with disabled children aged between 8 and 16.)

Skills/Qualifications Needed: Ideally volunteer in Ecuador teaching English candidates have basic or intermediate Spanish skills, but this is not essential. We do however suggest those with no knowledge of the language join the Spanish study course we offer, as this makes communication so much easier and more rewarding for all involved.

Teaching experience is not necessary, but a positive attitude, patience, self confidence and a genuine interest in educating young people are all important qualities to have. Finally, as a role model volunteers are expected to maintain a professional appearance [minimal piercings and tattoos, tidy hair] and dress nicely.

Volunteers' Responsibilities: Teaching volunteer opportunities in Quito, Ecuador, or elsewhere in the country, involve either leading a class, or assisting the local teacher. Your role largely depends on your experience and confidence.

Many volunteers teach English, but you may help with any subject you have enough knowledge of. Lessons are interactive, high energy and engaging. Outside of the classroom you will help organize fun, extra activities as well as teaching personal care and development sessions.

Education is the best method of triggering change in any society – so your effort on these projects will have a very long term positive effect.

Conservation Project

Nature offers us so many wonders and Ecuador has more than its share, with its beaches, jungle, grassland and rocky mountain crops providing homes for many different kinds of wildlife. However, these things can never be taken for granted, as threats to the environment are always lurking in the background.

If you care about the environment joining a volunteer conservation Ecuador program is your chance to make a lasting difference.

On this program volunteers in Ecuador live and work at the Los Cedros Biological Reserve, a huge, 17,000 acre area of cloud forests and wet tropics; home to 200+ different types of birds, along with various other kinds of wildlife.

Skills/Qualifications Needed: Everyone is welcome to join this RCDP Ecuador eco volunteer program, as neither relevant qualifications nor documented environmental experience are required. Instead we welcome all with a commitment to, and a passion for, conservation, along with a practical, flexible, and willing attitude.

Volunteers' Responsibilities: The duties volunteers carry out differ from day to day, but will probably include:

• Helping with general maintenance around the facilities
• Maintaining and extending trails
• Monitoring borders around the reserve to make sure they are intact
• Contributing to any active research projects
• Feeding the small animals
• Buying supplies from town

The work Ecuador eco volunteers do can be tiring, but there is always plenty of time to relax at the end of the day.

Galapagos Conservation Project

If you are passionate about protecting the environment grab this amazing once in a lifetime opportunity, and volunteer on a Galapagos Islands conservation program. You will be living in a pretty isolated place, with nothing beyond the wonders of nature and the other volunteers for entertainment.

Environmental volunteers in Ecuador work alongside local staff to preserve both the region’s eco-system and its diverse biological life forms. As Galapagos is now an official ‘at risk’ site it need as much help as possible.

Skills/Qualifications Needed: There are no official requirements to meet when applying for this exciting project, although obviously volunteers should be fully committed to the ethos of the project, and completely open to living without the usual home comforts, including no Internet!

Volunteers' Responsibilities: This is a busy program, and you can expect to be working all day, every weekday, plus the odd half day Saturday. There are many tasks to be completed, so your workload may well differ from day to day, but you can expect duties to be drawn for a list very much like this one:

• Hiking in the area with a guide who will teach you about its ecology
• Maintaining trails
• Repairing signs
• Helping in the kitchen
• Working on re-forestation schemes

There is also an opportunity for conservation volunteers in Ecuador to work with local staff to develop a unique project which adds value to the nature of conservation.

The Fee and Dates

RCDP Ecuador volunteer Program starts every 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month.

Volunteer Programs in EcuadorEvery year hundreds of volunteers arrive in Ecuador to volunteer from UK and USA based organizations and end up paying up to $2500 to volunteer for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, only a small portion of that money actually goes to host projects and host families. The local host projects (orphanages, school, and local NGOs) in Ecuador are poor and need external supports to run their programs. In our program, you will pay your fee directly to host families and projects up on arrival in Ecuador. When you join our program, we will make sure that all of your money goes to the projects and host families. Part of your fees also helps us to cover our expenses. The program fee is divided in as registration fee ($269) and weekly fee for room, food, coordination, and project donation.
Click to find the allocation of $269

In Ecuador, weekly fee is divided between coordination (services of local staffs), host family (room/3 local foods a day), and project donation.

This allocation may be different depending up on location, project type etc. However, our coordinator will explain these issues before you pay the fee.