The homeless shelter in Quito was quite impressive in how it was run. A professional kitchen and staff, cleanliness and organization. It allowed me to maximize my ability to be useful in whatever way they needed. The program allowed me to gain cultural experience in understanding how to provide skills and interests in ways to help the community develop a sustainable approach to supporting the needs of their community. You are not expected to come in a problem solve the worlds problems. Instead bring your strengths and time and energy to help strengthen community resources to support the projects in need.
Community Development Volunteer Program in Ecuador - Quito
Purpose
Support marginalized & low-income communities
Start dates
Programs start on the first and third Monday of each month
Duration
Choose from 1-12 weeks
Volunteer hours
3-5 hours a day, Tue - Fri
Age
Volunteers aged 18+ and families
Accommodation
Homestay or volunteer house
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
Enthusiastic volunteers who want variety in their program and to help a local community at a grassroots level. You don’t need to be able to speak Spanish on this project but it is an advantage.
Project details
Want to be a Community Development volunteer in Ecuador - Quito? International Volunteer HQ’s Community Development project is a great way to try a few different types of volunteer work and learn something new while helping out the local community. Volunteers might feed disadvantaged children and adults, assist in community gardens, support initiatives at a local shelter, help with maintenance and renovations at schools, playgrounds or shelters. Local organizations appreciate the extra pair of hands helping them make a difference to their community.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
For schools and communities with few resources and limited government funding, finding support can be difficult. Community Development initiatives exist to provide labor, support and materials to enable organizations to support vulnerable communities in need.
As a Community Development volunteer you can help with a number of different initiatives. Your tasks may include, but will not be limited to:
- Assisting with a school breakfast and lunch support program that provides nourishment to underprivileged children (e.g. preparing snacks and meals)
- Maintaining school and/or community gardens
- Cleaning and renovating local school grounds, community centers and playgrounds
- Administrative tasks as required (e.g. organizing exam booklets)
Typically on Mondays you will work with the local team to identify the needs of your placement and develop a schedule for the week that is suited to your personal interests and skill-set.
A high level of pro-activity and flexibility is required for this project as the needs can change at the last minute and even throughout your placement each day.
Please note, during the school holidays (typically mid-June to end of August) this project will be based out of a local shelter and will work in combination with our Shelter Support Project.
While speaking Spanish is not a requirement for this project, it is recommended to have at least a beginner Spanish level, as the placement staff do not speak English and the tasks you are able to assist with may depend on your Spanish level.
Why do Community Development volunteering in Quito with IVHQ?
When you volunteer on the Community Development project in Quito you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Support local initiatives to improve life in their communities
- Volunteering on a range of projects
- Practicing your Spanish
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining experience and new skills
- Immersing yourself fully in the Ecuadorian culture
- Exploring Quito, Ecuador’s ancient capital city
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
- Volunteers aged 16-18 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or friend over the age of 18 to participate in this program
- 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.
- While being able to speak Spanish is not a requirement to join the Ecuador program, we recommend that volunteers take advantage of the very affordable language lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers by our partner staff in Ecuador. Past volunteers feel that taking these lessons help immensely with day-to-day volunteer work and communicating with local people. Volunteers interested in taking Spanish lessons can arrange these directly with the local staff once in Ecuador.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Get personalized recommendations >
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Ecuador photo gallery
IVHQ Music volunteer project
IVHQ Community Development project
IVHQ Shelter Support project
IVHQ Street Children Work project
IVHQ School Support project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Teaching English project
IVHQ Street Children Work project
IVHQ Music volunteer project
IVHQ Shelter Support project
IVHQ NGO Support project
IVHQ Shelter Support project
IVHQ Street Children Work project
IVHQ Shelter Support project
IVHQ Music volunteer project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Shelter Support project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Teaching English project
IVHQ Street Children Work project
IVHQ volunteer orientation
Exploring Quito during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring during an IVHQ weekend
IVHQ volunteer Spanish Class
IVHQ volunteer Salsa Class
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
JM
Julie MacIver
25 Jul 2024
...
AN
Alex Neal
05 Jun 2024
My IVHQ Program Manager and the local team were so helpful, and such assets to the program. I would recommend the project and also the accommodation to future volunteers, which was great for meeting new people and also was clean and safe.
...
MG
Meryam Ghafoori
27 Feb 2024
I learned a lot about the culture and language. Take the leap, It's worth it.
...
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.
...
RG
Rebecca Gonzalez
24 Jan 2024
This was a great experience! I was able to sign up last minute and felt supported to complete everything within 3 weeks of my start date with the help of IVHQ. I wish I had chosen to participate longer and I definitely plan to sign up for another program soon.
...
TD
Trudy De Groot
11 Dec 2022
At first I was really nervous about traveling to Ecuador on my own. It was an adventure for sure, but I didn't know what to expect and spoke very little Spanish. However, as soon as I arrived it became obvious that I worried about nothing. The staff in the office is very patient and approaches the language barrier with an open mind. Moreover, as someone who studied international relations it gave me a wonderful opportunity to grow in skills and as a person. I was warmly welcomed by Monica, the woman in charge of the foundation. The other volunteers were very inclusive, fun and spontaneous. We visited many places together and supported each other when necessary. All in all it was a wonderful experience.
...
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Academic course credit
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 creditLocation
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 traveling 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 socializing.
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 self prepared at the volunteer accommodation or out at a nearby restaurant. |
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 $3 to $10 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
Volunteers stay in a four-story volunteer house. Local homestays nearby are sometimes used during the busy season when the volunteer house reaches capacity. 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 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.
There are two basic private room upgrades available, one with a single bed and the other with a single bed and private bathroom. These can be arranged for an additional fee, once you’ve registered for the program.
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 $3 - $15, 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.
Typical volunteer bedroom
Typical volunteer living room
Typical volunteer kitchen
Typical volunteer lounge room
Typical volunteer toilet
IVHQ volunteers dining
IVHQ volunteers dining
Typical volunteer breakfast
Typical volunteer breakfast
Typical volunteer breakfast
Typical volunteer breakfast
Pricing
Secure your place for just US$299 (approximately $299), pay your Program Fee later.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately $299) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $370 Equivalent to $53/day |
| 2 weeks | $525 Equivalent to $38/day |
| 3 weeks | $680 Equivalent to $32/day |
| 4 weeks | $835 Equivalent to $30/day |
| 5 weeks | $990 Equivalent to $28/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,145 Equivalent to $27/day |
| 8 weeks | $1,455 Equivalent to $26/day |
| 10 weeks | $1,765 Equivalent to $25/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,075 Equivalent to $25/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately $299) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Quito generally find US$100 per week to be sufficient for expenses, such as meals, personal spending and local tours and activities.
- Breakfast
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalized 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.
- Lunch and dinner
- Transport to and from your placement each day
- Return to the airport when your program finishes
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular add-ons & experiences in Quito
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Quito program.
Airport Drop-off
Enjoy a stress free ride from Quito back to Mariscal Sucre International Airport arranged by our local team.
$44
Private Room (single/twin bed) + Private Bathroom Upgrade.
A private room upgrade with a single bed and private bathroom.
From $217
Private Room Upgrade (single/twin bed), shared bathroom.
A private room upgrade with a single bed.
From $201
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 = $149 (or 3 days intensive)
- 20 hours/10 days = $229 (or 5 days intensive)
- 30 hours/15 days = $329 (or 8 days intensive)
- 40 hours/10 days intensive = $429
- 60 hours/15 days intensive = $619
- 80 hours/20 days intensive = $809
Check what's required to visit Ecuador
Safety and support
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.
Essential country information
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.
Apply to check if you're eligible!
