You'll work with a recently formed NGO that was founded by two psychologists who want to help children, youth and adults living on the streets of Quito. The main objective of this project is to help people in desperate situations, by giving them a safe environment to eat, shower, relax, meet peers, make friends and learn new skills in.

This project is incredibly rewarding. The street children are crying out for love and attention. The assistance that you give by volunteering on this project is also invaluable as they severely lack funds. The NGO hopes to provide a safe place for the children to sleep in the near future - without volunteers providing the project with their time and enthusiasm this would not be possible.

►SUMMARY FACTFILE
Start Dates	All year round - you choose your start and finish dates!
Duration	Minimum stay 3 weeks and up to 12 weeks, subject to visa requirements
Requirements	None, just enthusiasm and energy. You'll need a little Spanish to do this project, but we've got that covered! If you have no knowledge of Spanish at all, you can combine your project with two weeks of Spanish.
Price	Prices range from £895 for 3 weeks to £1,895 for 12 weeks excluding Spanish Lessons, staying in our Volunteer House Prices range from £995 for 3 weeks to £1,995 for 12 weeks including 2 weeks of Spanish Lessons concurrent with your project, staying in our Volunteer House ►USA: Prices range from US$1,345 for 3 weeks to US$2,845 for 12 weeks excluding Spanish Lessons, staying in our Volunteer House ►USA: Prices range from US$1,495 for 3 weeks to US$2,995 for 12 weeks including 2 weeks of Spanish Lessons, staying in our Volunteer House Full Price List and other Currencies
What's included	►Accommodation ►Meeting you at the Airport ►Transfer to your accommodation ►Full pre-departure support ►Local in-country support and backup ►24-hr emergency support ►Weekly Salsa Class and drink in Quito ► Two free t-shirts.
What's not included	Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and assistance), Transport to and from your project, Food (unless living with a host family, when food is provided Monday - Friday.), Return transfer to airport
Who can do this Project?	All our projects are open to all nationalities. Anyone aged 17 - 70+

PROJECT OVERVIEW
You'll work with a not for profit NGO that specialises in the investigation, prevention, attention and treatment of the population that live in extreme marginal situations. It is their belief that a child is born good, but society corrupts them. They strive to reverse this trend by offering a safe and secure environment in which they can relax and feel at home. The street children also have the chance to meet others in their situation and learn skills that will help them turn their backs on the life of poverty and depravation that they've been accustomed to by living on the streets.

The NGO works with Children, Adolescents, Youth of the Streets and Streetworkers. These are the CAYSaS. The CAYSaS are found on the streets in urban areas. They are faced with problems such as: working and living on the streets, contact with their families, lack of education, risk of permanent and total exclusion form local communities.

The children and young adults are at a very high risk of being totally excluded from local communities as a large number turn to solvent abuse and drugs to escape their problems, which can lead to a life of crime and violence to pay for these habits. Most of the children on the projects sell candy on the streets to support their most basic expenses. The project has created a carpentry workshop and various training courses to teach the youth and adults, new skills that will improve their quality of life.

The key areas that the NGO offer help with, are:

• Giving them attention, treatment and refuge. The treatment is given for behavioural problems, education problems and (drug) addiction

• When CAYSaS are in the process of moving to the street the NGO tries to prevent this by offering other options.

• Help with strengthening of character, pedagogical recuperation, and returning to school.

• Promoting suitable use of their free time.

• Education on sexual orientation, family planning, prevention of STDs and health education.

• Establishing the reintroduction of family, social life and work into the children's lives.

• Younger children are sent to school, with the help of sponsors.

• Older children are offered opportunities to learn skills such as carpentry to help themselves.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

• An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into the diverse culture in Ecuador. 

• The enormous satisfaction of helping disadvantaged children and knowing that you made a difference to them.

• New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.

• An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market

• And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

YOUR WORK
You will mainly work as an assistant. The children will really appreciate any attention you give them! Some of the tasks that you may participate in, will include:

• Helping the children with their homework
• Helping them in the carpentry workshop
• Helping in the kitchen
• Visiting the schools
• Playing with the children
• Preparing activities for the children (sports, outings to the theatre, museums, the zoo, teaching the children songs, role play games etc.)

The project has also had a new house donated to them. If you wish to, there may be the chance to really get your hands dirty and help finish the painting and decorating for this house so that it can be put to use more quickly!

This project is extremely rewarding and your help is greatly appreciated. If you have any special talents the children would love you to share them or teach them! However, please be aware that it is emotionally draining and requires strong characters to volunteer here. You must be incredibly self motivated and independent and must not be afraid, although it will seem daunting at first. You must be prepared for what you will be faced with - there will be dirt (these children live on the streets!), the children lack education so you must be very patient and many of them have deep-seated emotional issues, nevertheless you must remember that this NGO is doing phenomenal work helping these children overcome the hardships that they have been dealt in life. YOU can play an important part in that!

SPANISH LESSONS:
If you have no previous knowledge of Spanish, your project will include 2 weeks of Spanish lessons at a well-established Spanish school in Quito. For the first week of your project, you'll have 4 hours of group Spanish classes in the morning and will work at the project in the afternoon. For the second week of your project you will have 2 hours of private Spanish lessons . On the third and fourth weeks of your projects, you'll spend all the time at your project!! (Of course, if you wish we can arrange for you to continue with your Spanish classes - please see the prices page for the supplemental cost for this.)

All the teachers at the school have taught Spanish for 8 or more years and between them they have developed a great many resources to make the lessons lively and fun. They also periodically organise interesting and enjoyable activities in order to introduce the Ecuadorian and Latin culture to their students - most recently they've been cooking Ecuadorian dishes in classes! It's a great, fun way to learn!

Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com

Enhance your Programme with some exciting activities:

Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com

YOUR ACCOMMODATION

You'll either stay in a house with other volunteers, in a privately run hostel, or with a host family depending on your preferences/availability. Staying with a host family or in the hostel does mean a small supplementary fee - please see the prices page for details of this.

The house is located in a tourist area, 'La Mariscal', near to where all Spanish lessons are held and where there is plenty of nightlife, restaurants and internet cafes. The house has 7 rooms and accommodates 13. There is a large, fully equipped kitchen, a TV room with a DVD player, wireless internet, 2 safety boxes and a garden with hammocks and a BBQ area. All bathrooms have hot water and there is a cleaning lady 5 days a week.

The hostel is located in the same area, just a 5 minute walk from the house. The cosy backpackers hostel has double rooms with private bathrooms and a small restaurant.

Accommodation with host families means that Travellers volunteers get to eat, sleep, work, socialise and generally live like an Ecuadorian! Many of our volunteers remain friends with their host families long after they leave Ecuador and in some cases they return to the country later especially to visit their family.

Whichever accommodation you choose you're sure to enjoy a great stay in Quito! 

TRAVEL:
To read about Travel arrangements and what happens when you arrive in your new country, please click here.

Support & Backup: To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.
.