In Rustic Volunteer Travel 's Orphanage Project in Ecuador , volunteers will assist orphaned children in various ways - teaching English and/or Spanish, organizing games, assisting the orphanages' staff in feeding and caring for these orphans or simply being a positive companion. Volunteers also help in the developing creative programs such as art, music, dance and even recreational activities such as various sports. Additional assistance may be required with the planning of day trips, education on issues of personal hygiene, cooking and meal preparation as well as helping with various administrative duties.

No specific qualifications are required to join the orphanage project in Ecuador. However, interested individuals should have a passion and eagerness to help impoverished and orphaned children. Spanish is preferred but not required. Volunteers are expected to be flexible and adaptive.

Rustic Volunteer Travel arranges volunteer meals, accommodations and strong field support for the duration of projects and optional travel packages. In Ecuador , volunteers generally stay with host families and accommodations are simple and clean homes in safe neighborhoods. Volunteers usually have a private bedroom, but occasionally rooms will be shared with a same-gender volunteer. Our host families are well screened and are respected members of their communities who live in affluent neighborhoods. Most of our host families have experience with hosting international volunteers. A host family stay is a great chance for cultural immersion and exchange. Orphanage volunteers may stay at their project as many orphanages have special rooms set aside for international volunteers and these accommodations are normally shared with a same-gender volunteer.

Volunteers receive three local meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). We can provide vegetarian meal options, but needs must be detailed in a volunteer's application. Snacks and beverages outside of mealtimes are not provided; however, there are local restaurants and grocery stores near the residences in which we place volunteers.

Rustic offers unparalleled field support to volunteers to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. Once in Ecuador, there are many layers of support for you. The most important support comes from our country coordinator/field staff. The secondary support comes from the host project staff and members of host families and/or a homebase staff. Volunteers will have access to our country coordinator's mobile number and they are available 24/7. Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers either with face-to-face visits or via email/telephone. Our field staff will visit regularly (every 2-4 weeks) to make sure things are going well and as planned. However, if placement is far from our local offices, staff members will stay in touch via email/ phone. Volunteers are also welcome to stop in the offices at any time.

Specific details regarding accommodations, food and contact details for our local coordinator will be provided in personalized volunteer placement documentation prior to arrival.

Orphanage projects are available in Quito (officially San Francisco de Quito, the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America). Ecuador straddles the equator, from which it takes its name, and is renowned for being one of 17 mega-diverse countries in the world with 1600 bird species and 25,000 species of plants Most of its cities offer most of the amenities you would expect from any city. Volunteers can organize different possible excursions during and after the project to visit places of interest. There is a tourist infrastructure already in place the volunteer can use during weekends. For example: architecture, museums, city tours, fishing, rock climbing, festivals, restaurants, art, music, hotels, and much more.