Caring for Children on the Coast
Our volunteer program is located on the Ecuadorian coast, it will allow you to have a direct contact with the strengthening of early education for children who live in fishing communities. The project opens the door to learning the daily life of local families so that you can understand their culture while you help people in the development of their children. It is possible to change lives and do volunteer work in front of the sea!
Volunteer Programs
Purpose
Working as a volunteer in our program of childcare on the coast is one of the most beautiful experiences that someone can have. Principally, you will be supporting a community childcare center that is managed by social entrepreneurs who live near the fishing villages. The purpose of the project is to support the strengthening of early education for children between one and five years old who are members of families with limited economic resources. The objective is that kids can acquire better learning skills and develop new study abilities.
Change
Most of the community childcare centers are located in the coastal area as well as in rural areas of the country. Generally, they have limitied resources that restrict them from improving the infrastructure, teaching materials and tools to improve techniques for early education, which is why action of volunteers is an important impact for these care centers. Consequently, collaboration, experience, ideas and commitment are some of the activities that build a more effective and dynamic work that benefit children directly.
Action
Every day is a new hope for children in coastal towns. As a volunteer, you will put all your energy and creativity in daily activities to improve their self-esteem, to develop confidence, security, and autonomy of more than 30 children and to assist educators in their educational plans. Among the main tasks that you will perform as a volunteer are feeding children, teaching hygiene customs and activities to strengthen their psychomotor development. Finally, it is important to say that this program will give you an excellent experience because it will allow you to combine your volunteer work with beach activities while you enjoy the sea.
Location
Manabí , Ecuador
Don Juan is a small fishing village located 6.98 km from Jama, in the north of the province of Manabí. This village is surrounded by two types of forest: The dry forest and the humid forest where there is a large amount of flora and fauna, has become one of the ideal places for the sighting of humpback whales.
Its inhabitants live from artisanal fishing and agriculture, there are approximately 600 families that have been transmitting these activities from generation to generation. The beach of Don Juan has an extension of 6 kilometers with semitransparent water and fine sand, its landscapes are beautiful and when walking you can find the presence of shells and fragmented corals.
Quick Facts
Official Language:
Spanish
Population:
15.8 million
Capital:
Quito
Land Area:
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Currency:
US Dollar
Literacy Rate:
91.6%
Program Details
Program Details
Highlights
Working with children is something beautiful, and even more so on the beach where you can make great friends with the project coordinators and watch the sunsets in front of the sea with children. This volunteer experience will allow you to improve your skills working with young children, to know their culture, to explore small fishing villages and to learn the traditional lifestyle of people, in a place surrounded by palm trees and pristine beaches.
A Day as a Volunteer
- 7:00 to 7:30 Traditional breakfast
- 7:30 to 12:30 Volunteer Working with children on the beach
- 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Helping to feed children
- 14:00 to 16:00 Relaxing on the beach
- 16:00 to 18:00 Visiting to fishing communities
- 19:00 to 20:00 Dinner
Volunteer Activities
-
Supporting early stimulation
-
Feeding support
-
Cleaning of children
-
Strengthening hygiene
-
Recreational activities
-
Developing teaching materials
-
Supporting dynamics of social interaction
-
Teaching English
-
Didactical games
Accomodation
The accommodation for the volunteers is in the volunteer house, the infrastructure is very basic, it is made of brick, bamboo and wood, built in front of the sea. The house has two floors and the volunteers live with our coordinator and his family. The house can accommodate 5 people in shared rooms. Electricity and water are available, the program will provide you with pillows, blankets and sheets and mosquito nets.
Meals
Food is included during the participation of volunteers and it is based on traditional dishes from the coast like fish, bananas, rice and others. The project has a kitchen inside of the volunteer house, which includes a refrigerator. The project coordinator provides products for volunteers who prepare their own meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with other volunteers and members of the project. Traditional dishes such as fried fish with beans, rice and bananas, natural fruit juices and more, characterize the food in the Ecuadorian coast. This is the opportunity for you to discover the flavors of Manabí food and to learn how to cook typical dishes of that area. Vegetarians can apply to the project, but we recommend buying your own products to prepare your own meals. We recommend boiling water and water bottles for personal consumption.
What's Included
- Pre-arrival information and support
- Workshop to highlight aspects of the project
- Workshop orientation about safety, location and culture
- Coordination pick up service from the airport
- 24-hour emergency phone
- Long term experienced staff
- 24/7 in-country support
- Safe accommodations
- Accommodation and food
- Safe Projects
- Monitoring and regular check-ins during the volunteer program
- International phone call in EVF’s office
- Local phone calls from our office in Quito
- Certificate of Participation
What's Not Included
- International Airline tickets or fees related to travel
- Visa costs and expenses related to the necessary paper work
- Cost for Airport pick-up service
- Travel insurance
- Costs associated with vaccinations and personal medications
- Meals or food outside of the program
- Local transportation
- Expenses related with cultural and/or tourist activities
- Personal expenses / Items for personal
