Volunteer Programs in Quito, Ecuador

Spend a week getting to know the beautiful city of Quito, Ecuador! Partake in a week of touring and Spanish lessons. Travel highlights include a visit to the Equator and a salsa dance lesson. Volunteer work will take place in Puyo, where volunteers will be working at an animal shelter that has rescued injured wild animals. As a volunteer on this project, you will be involved in several hands-on tasks, such as helping to maintain the animals shelter as well as preparing fruit meals for the animals.

Use your creativity and artistic skills to help children with learning difficulties and disabilities. The Integrated Music, Dance and Art Therapy for Children with Special Needs in Ecuador project was launched more than two decades ago to provide support to kids who are often unsupported in society. The center offers a range of services, from early stimulation for those with learning difficulties to language therapy. To date, the project serves around 80 children and young adults each day, providing activities like daycare, therapeutic care, and academic art. With the number of programs available in the integrated therapy center, you can help in different areas and take on varied tasks. You could support children aged 12+ in arts, music, and academic disciplines or focus on life skills and developing autonomy for young adults. You could also work on the musical artistic development of kids under 12 years old. If you join in July, you could assist with the summer program.

Help promote healthy and active lifestyles among young people from under-resourced communities in this sports volunteer program at an after-school facility, a local school, or a community center. No matter where you’re placed, you play a vital role in building sportsmanship and teamwork skills while keeping youth and teens active. International Volunteer HQ offers meaningful placements across Central and South America, Asia, Africa, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. Choose from sports development or education projects in countries like Argentina, Indonesia, Brazil, Greece, Fiji, and Ghana. Program fees start from $275 for a minimum participation of 1 week. Stay for up to 24 weeks and see tangible results of your work. This is an ideal program for energetic, sports-loving volunteers. Make an impact by designing lessons or coaching sessions integrated with fun games and activities.

IMA offers an opportunity to enhance your medical and healthcare knowledge with International Medical Aid's Pre-Med and Health Fellowships. Crafted for pre-med undergraduates, medical students, and high school students, these fellowships offer a unique chance to engage deeply with global health care in East Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. Shadow doctors in underserved communities, and immerse yourself in diverse healthcare systems through our extensive network of public and private hospitals. IMA, a nonprofit organization, is deeply invested in the communities we serve, focusing on sustainable health solutions and ethical care practices. You'll be involved in community medical clinics, public health education, and first responder training, addressing the root causes of disease and illness alongside local community leaders. Beyond clinical experience, explore the beauty of your host country through cultural excursions and adventure programs during your free time. Join IMA's fellowships developed at Johns Hopkins University and step into a role that transcends traditional healthcare learning, blending clinical excellence with meaningful community service.

Love Volunteers partners with a specialist home and daycare in this program that aims to bring a lasting, positive impact on the lives of infants and children with disabilities. Volunteers contribute their time and energy, ensuring that kids with special needs receive physical therapy, stimulation, care, attention, and love. The specialist home caters to infants and children, from 0-14 years old, who come from families with insufficient financial resources. Its services are geared toward treatment for chronic and incurable diseases and rehabilitation. It has a daycare center and kindergarten, where children receive therapy, food, and medical and psychological attention. Without volunteers, the home and daycare center's sustainability wouldn't be possible. International participants provide vital free labor to ensure children can continue to receive quality care and compassion.

Ecuador's vibrant culture, dense rainforests, breathtaking Andean landscapes, and picturesque beaches make it the premier destination in South America. Volunteers with World Endeavors are based near the beautiful southern Pacific Coast. By choosing one of the several volunteer projects, participants have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the people of Ecuador. Projects include teaching children, orphanage assistance, special education, deaf education, and wildlife conservation. Eligibility for this program includes English language fluency; a desire to help the people of Ecuador; flexibility and self-motivation; openness to a new culture, and a willingness to learn. Spanish language skills are helpful but not required.

Experience the rich culture and history of Ecuador's vibrant capital city while learning about the healthcare challenges facing the region. One of Child Family Health International's longest-running programs, the Andean Health program offers a comprehensive learning experience that encompasses both unique cultural opportunities and the chance to work at a variety of clinical sites. This program is open to those who possess: * Minimal Spanish * Conversant Spanish or * Fluent Spanish This program is open to individuals who are 20 or over at the time of participation. We accept students of all nationalities with interest in international health and relevant educational background. Participants may be any of the following: * Medical Residents, MD & DO * Medical Students, MD & DO 1-2 * Medical Students, MD & DO 3-4 * Pre-Medical Students * Post-bacc pre-medical students * Gap year pre-medical students * Graduate nursing students * Nursing Students * MPH Students * Physicians Assistants Students * Naturopathic students If you do not fit into one of these categories, please contact us to see if you would be eligible to apply.

Peru and Ecuador are two countries in South America that are both rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Join us on this 22-day adventure as we discover what makes each country so vibrant and unique! In addition to exploring majestic volcanos, gorgeous islands, sacred sites, and vibrant markets, we will visit the jewels of each country as we take in the splendor of the sacred Machu Picchu and view the world-famous wildlife of the Galápagos Islands. We will also have the opportunity to volunteer and give back to several communities throughout our adventures for a total of 60 hours of community service. In Peru, we will be welcomed into a community where we’ll form bonds with the families and children, teach English, and help out with light maintenance projects and farming. In the Galápagos we will help out with a variety of projects at a local daycare, elementary school, and sustainable farm.

On the Ecuador: Galapagos & Andean Service Adventure program, immerse yourself in a meaningful homestay with local families on mainland Ecuador. Participate in impactful community service and cultural exchange. Work alongside community members, as well as visiting and learning from an indigenous community. Then, explore the biodiverse and historic Galapagos Island. Snorkel with penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas, and colorful tropical fish. Learn about the conservation efforts of a unique ecosystem! Hike one of the largest volcanic craters on earth at Isabella Island. Visit and interact with a giant tortoise breeding center. Traveling to Ecuador is truly the adventure of a lifetime!

Volunteer in Ecuador and discover a country with more biodiversity per square kilometer than any other country in the world: whether it's whale watching on the coast, trekking through the Andes, swimming with giant tortoises on the Galapagos Islands or discovering the diversity of the Amazon rainforest - this country has it all! You are a true animal lover? Work at an animal rescue center and care for injured wildlife. Why not join a project to protect the sea turtles that nest on Ecuador's beautiful beaches? Releasing sea turtles into the ocean is an once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Pursuing a career in the hospitality industry? Take that crucial first step with an internship abroad through World Internships. Choose from placements in Quito, helping to broaden your knowledge and skill set while working at a restaurant, resort, or hotel. While in Ecuador’s capital, explore the industry from the context of a completely different culture as you interact with guests from around the world. The field is essential in helping travelers have successful experiences abroad, and this internship is the key to gaining confidence and skills to unlock your full potential. With placements in hotel and restaurant management, event planning, ecotourism, and fundraising, you will gain hands-on experience while receiving top-notch support before, during, and after your placement. Find the time to explore Ecuador's scenery, people, and culture, including Inca ruins, churches, rainforests, and the hidden gems of the Andes Mountains, like Quilotoa. This program is also open to volunteers.

Join us for the adventure of a lifetime! Volunteers For Peace (a Vermont-based nonprofit) can place you on a team of international volunteers who contribute to a meaningful community service project designed, planned, and hosted by local partners. We offer the most affordable projects and the best way to meet people from all over the world. Work project types vary by country but may include environmental and wildlife conservation, historic preservation, educational and language learning, archaeology, organic farming, and arts and festivals. We also have social services projects, which could involve working with children, the elderly, or refugees. Projects are designed to combine service with recreational activities and cultural exchange – whether by visiting local beaches, learning local dances, meeting local officials, or volunteering with residents at the place you’re visiting. Each project is unique, but all bring people together for the most meaningful travel experience imaginable. Please note that VFP can only place US Citizens. This is due to our agreements with our international partners.

Ecuador is one of South America’s greatest undiscovered countries. With a friendly and welcoming culture, beautiful food and incredible environmental diversity, it is the most wonderful place to visit for those looking for something off the beaten track. Volunteer in a beautiful sanctuary located on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, which is home to over 200 animals. You will help care for animals that have been kept illegally as pets or in poorly run zoos as well as those used through illegal pet trade trafficking. Where possible, these animals are rehabilitated and those that don't undergo rehabilitation live out their days in an eight-hectare beautiful Ecuadorian woodland. The sanctuary provides for over 35 different species that require handling, feeding, and appropriate enclosure. Volunteers will provide enrichment, structure building, and monitoring for animals living on more isolated islands within the enclosure. Volunteers are accommodated in the heart of the sanctuary, in one of three lovely log cabins. The cabins offer shared bedrooms and bathrooms, and communal living spaces including hammocks on the veranda. There is WiFi and access to a swimming pool.

Looking to volunteer abroad with underprivileged children? If so, then the ELEP Volunteer & Internship Programs offer you the opportunity to work with children who have lost their parents, been abandoned, or have no one to love and care for them. Our Orphanage Volunteer program in South America provides an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the people of Ecuador. At the same time, you’ll gain an in-depth experience of the country and its culture that will stay with you for the rest of your life! Most importantly, you will help children in need and take on an active role in their lives. As a volunteer, you will serve as a mentor by becoming a 'big brother' or 'big sister' to kids in an orphanage. You will work alongside the local staff to assist with daily routines. Volunteers are also encouraged to take the initiative in their work. We offer great flexibility to our volunteers. You can join the program for 2 to 24 weeks, and start every Monday throughout the year.

Classic Service Learning Trips (SLTs) are week-long, immersive educational journeys to Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Tanzania. During these trips, volunteers actively collaborate with local communities on various development projects, including constructing homes, improving access to clean water, and participating in mobile medical clinics that provide essential healthcare to underserved areas. These trips offer a unique opportunity to engage deeply with the communities that MEDLIFE supports, allowing volunteers to witness firsthand the challenges faced by those living in extreme poverty. By working side by side with locals, volunteers not only gain invaluable insights into global health and development but also contribute directly to impactful projects that foster long-term, sustainable change. Beyond the hands-on experience, SLTs encourage participants to reflect on the role they can play in addressing global inequities. The trip fosters empathy, awareness, and ignites action, empowering volunteers to join the MEDLIFE Movement and advocate for a world where poverty no longer limits opportunities.

Ecuador has plenty of sights to see. Some of its sought-after sites include mountains, jungles, beaches, ancient ruins, and the Galapagos Islands. Its natural, cultural diversity and Inca heritage appeal to many volunteers. Despite tremendous economic progress, Ecuadorians are still working to reduce poverty and the standard of living. As a volunteer, you can work with children from low-income families at a daycare center or center for special needs children, work at healthcare centers, or join environmental/wildlife protection groups.