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School Support Volunteer Program in Ecuador - Quito

School Support Volunteer Program in Ecuador - Quito

Ready to try School Support volunteering in Ecuador - Quito? International Volunteer HQ’s School Support project enables volunteers to gain experience working with students who need extra help at school. Students who may be new, have learning difficulties or are struggling with a particular topic or issue will be better able to handle these challenges if they have the close attention, helping hand and encouragement of a volunteer.

Highlights:
  • Programs start on the first and third Monday of each month
  • Affordable fees from AU$577 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, breakfast and dinner, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Assist with school and homework for students who require extra support

  • Explore the stunning natural environment of Ecuador

  • Stay with other volunteers in the World Heritage city of Quito

Key information

Improves access to quality education
Based in and around Quito
Homestay or volunteer house accommodation
Volunteers aged 18+ and families
Fully hosted experience from AU$577 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 12 weeks
Spanish language lessons available
3-5 hours volunteering a day, Tue - Fri

This program is ideal for:

Patient, compassionate volunteers with an interest in education and making a difference to students who need additional learning support. You will need at least a conversational level of Spanish to join this project.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

In classrooms all over the world, there are students who require additional support. Often schools in low-income communities in Quito are underfunded and poorly resourced so the kind of close, personalised attention these students need is not able to be provided.

As a School Support volunteer you will travel to different schools and centres around Quito to help small groups or individual students outside of school hours.

School Support volunteer duties can vary but usually include:

  • Tutoring students
  • Helping with homework
  • Boosting students’ confidence
  • Providing encouragement and support

Please note, this project runs from October until May each year.

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education

More than half of all children and teens do not meet minimum proficiency standards in reading and mathematics. Quality education provides an opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment and is key to preventing poverty, securing long-term employment and improving quality of life.

Why do School Support volunteering in Quito with IVHQ?

While volunteering on the School Support project in Quito you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Providing extra assistance to students who need it
  • Practicing your Spanish
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining experience in an educational support role
  • Immersing yourself fully in the Ecuadorian culture
  • Discovering the ancient city of Quito

Volunteer requirements

  • To join the School Support project volunteers must have an intermediate level of Spanish fluency and be able to hold a conversation.
  • Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
  • Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
  • All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
  • All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
  • All volunteers must speak fluent English.
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

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What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

AM
Aundy Morton
22 Feb 2024

Meeting new people, experiencing other cultures while helping people is more of a reward than the act of giving. It opens one’s eyes to a world outside of one’s own and serves as a stepping stone to more adventures.

...
BK
Barbara Krampitz
20 Dec 2023

You are in a safe environment and projects like Shelter Support are the most valuable activities. It is necessary to support them because of the high vulnerability of poor people. Expect the unexpected. You can travel during free time and get support. Do your best to be present and support the local organizations during your time on the program.

...
OR
Oakley Roper
06 Dec 2023

IVHQ was great in answering all my biggest questions before I left. It was so meaningful to participate on my project and I made some lifelong friends at the school and in the program accommodation. The program creates such a great community and group of friends with the other volunteers. It was affordable to live and travel in Ecuador and I loved my experience there.

...
SS
Simon Saia
28 Nov 2023

I grew more in the nine days I was in Quito, Ecuador than I had in the previous 2 years. I gained so much from this wonderful, soul enriching experience. I got pushed out of my comfort zone, I grew as a teacher, friend and Samaritan. My experience has made me extremely aware of the resources I have in my life and filled me with understanding and gratitude for everything in this beautiful life. IVHQ is a very safe and reliable way to explore the world and grow yourself as a person.

...
AP
Ana Perez Sanchez
11 Jul 2023

I loved working with the children! It was amazing seeing their little faces light up when we arrived. It was so cool to immerse myself in a community and realizing that the world is sooo much bigger than just my home. I was scared at first but it is truly an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit
Volunteer Abroad in Quito, Ecuador with IVHQ

Location

The IVHQ Ecuador volunteer program is based in the capital city of Quito and its surrounding urban and rural areas. Nestled high in the Andes, Quito is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in South America. Despite this aesthetic beauty, Ecuador is still a developing country and there is a great need for volunteers to assist with the growth of this city and its disadvantaged communities.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins every Monday and volunteers need to arrive in Quito on the day before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee and airport drop off is also available as an affordable add-on which you can book through IVHQ. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Quito. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are travelling in Ecuador prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Quito the day before your program orientation, or you can make your own way to the volunteer office.

Orientation is hosted by our local team at their volunteer offices in Quito. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Quito - an introduction to Ecuador, Ecuadorian customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Ecuador and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.

Volunteer schedule example

Please note that volunteering on the Ecuador - Quito Program is held Tuesday through Friday and you can expect to participate for 3 - 5 hours per day. Weekends on the program are Saturday through Monday, however, there are some placements (e.g. NGO Support, Street Children Work) that can offer work on Monday upon request. If you would like to work on Monday, simply let the local team know at orientation and they can make these arrangements for you.

Weekdays

An example of a typical day is as follows:

8:00 AM Breakfast at the volunteer house or homestay.
8:30 AM Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at.
12:30 - 1:00 PM Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to their accommodation, prepare for the next day, or do some shopping and sightseeing. If volunteers are taking Spanish language lessons, these will usually take place in the afternoons and last 2-3 hours.
6:30 PM Dinner at the volunteer house or homestay.

Volunteers on the Ecuador program can also join casual social activities arranged by the local staff. The social activities usually take place 1 - 2 days per week and give volunteers the opportunity to engage in fun events with the local team, as well as learn about the Ecuadorian customs. Club activities include Ecuadorian movie nights, make your own pizza nights, salsa lessons and more! All of the club activities are held in the afternoon or evening, after volunteers have finished at their placement, and range in cost from AU$4 to AU$16 per person. These activities are not mandatory, but are a great way to get involved and meet other volunteers.

Weekends

Spanning Saturday to Monday, weekends are extra long for volunteers in Quito so there is plenty of time to relax or explore other parts of the city and Ecuador. If you are interested in art, culture and history, you can check out Quito’s historical center, where you can learn about Quito’s history, legends and Pre-Columbian cultures. From there, you can take the El Teleferico cable car for beautiful views of the city and surrounding volcanoes. Horseback riding and hiking is available to the Guagua Pichincha volcano summit. You can visit the coastal region of Salango for snorkelling, Silver Island, and the beautiful beaches of Los Frailes. Jungle excursions can also be arranged to experience nature and unique wildlife such as toucans, parrots, and monkeys.

Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield to explore the amazing national parks of Ecuador or the Galapagos Islands.

Looking for more ideas of things to do in Ecuador? Check out our Ecuador Travel & Tours page!

Accommodation and WiFi

You’ll stay in a volunteer house or homestay. Bedrooms have single beds or bunk beds and you can expect to share a room with one to four other volunteers of the same gender. Living is comfortable and the volunteer house and homestays have electricity, running water and western bathrooms.

Living is comfortable and all volunteer accommodation has electricity, filtered water and western-style bathrooms. While bedding is provided, you will need to bring your own towels and toiletries.

Please note, homes in Quito are not heated, so in the colder months extra blankets are available upon request.

WiFi is available at the volunteer house and in some homestays, though it can be unreliable at times. You can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone when you arrive in Ecuador or after orientation.

Meals

Volunteers are provided with breakfast every day on the Ecuador - Quito program. Breakfast is usually tea or coffee, milk, oatmeal, local breads, butter, jam and fruit.

Please note, portion sizes in Ecuador are traditionally smaller than what most western countries offer.

Lunch and dinner can be purchased locally for approximately AU$4 - AU$24, depending on the type of meal you’re looking for.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can make arrangements for you. However, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home and need to be flexible.

Pricing

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
1 week AU$576 Equivalent to AU$82/day
2 weeks AU$825 Equivalent to AU$59/day
3 weeks AU$1073 Equivalent to AU$51/day
4 weeks AU$1321 Equivalent to AU$47/day
5 weeks AU$1570 Equivalent to AU$45/day
6 weeks AU$1818 Equivalent to AU$43/day
8 weeks AU$2315 Equivalent to AU$41/day
10 weeks AU$2812 Equivalent to AU$40/day
12 weeks AU$3308 Equivalent to AU$39/day
  • Accommodation
  • Breakfast and dinner
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Discounts on language lessons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately AU$528) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in AUD.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, lunches, public transportation to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Quito generally find US$50 - US$100 per week to be sufficient for expenses, such as lunches, water bottles and local tours and activities. Please note that if you wish to make any payment to the local team whilst on the program, this will need to be done via cash or bank transfer.

Free-time experiences & tours in Ecuador

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with IVHQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Ecuador! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Ecuador program.

Spanish Language Lessons
Spanish Language Lessons

Spanish Classes Exclusively for IVHQ Volunteers

From AU$239
Spanish Language Lessons
Spanish Language Lessons

Spanish Classes Exclusively for IVHQ Volunteers

From AU$239

Spanish language lessons

Spanish language lessons are available for all volunteers regardless of their ability. IVHQ strongly recommends these for all volunteers unless they are fluent in Spanish. Volunteers with a basic level of Spanish should strongly consider these lessons to allow them to work and communicate more effectively during their program. These language lessons can be added via your MyIVHQ profile as an add-on, once you’ve registered for your program. The language lessons are tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Spanish and must be paid for in Ecuador to our local staff. The cost is very affordable and offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers.

  • 12 hours/6 days = AU$239 (or 3 days intensive)
  • 20 hours/10 days = AU$367 (or 5 days intensive)
  • 30 hours/15 days = AU$528 (or 8 days intensive)
  • 40 hours/10 days intensive = AU$688
  • 60 hours/15 days intensive = AU$993
  • 80 hours/20 days intensive = AU$1298

Check what's required to visit Ecuador

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Quito
Population 17.37 million
Languages Spanish
Currency US Dollar (USD)
Time zone UTC-05:00

Weather and climate: The climate of Ecuador is composed of a number of microclimates that separate into four distinct zones. La Costa (Coastal Lowlands) is tropical, La Sierra (Andean Mountains) is temperate; and El Oriente (Amazon Region) shares the jungle climate of the upper Amazon rain forest.

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How to get started

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