Fundacion VASE

Program Reviews

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Camilla
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My good experience with VASE Ecuador

I really enjoyed my stay in Ecuador with VASE and at the project, that VASE helped me get in contact with.
VASE cares a lot for their volunteers, and always makes sure, that you are okay and updated with the latest news and situations in the country. I also appreciated my evaluation meeting at the end of the stay, where I had the opportunity to reflect over my stay in Ecuador and talk about the memories, that I had made here.
I fully recommend travelling and doing voluntary work with VASE in Ecuador!

Pros
  • You become a part of the community
  • You learn the language
  • You make local and expat friends
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Luca Noemi
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fundación Vase

I was a volunteer in Quito, Ecuador for about 7 months. I worked in a project with people with disabilities which was a great experience overall. I also got pretty lucky with my host family. I lived close to where I worked and was always provided with enough food, had my own room and bathroom. Vase tried to make us feel welcomed and we could always ask for help when we needed any. Of course there are situations where they can’t help, for example when one was robbed but they tried to comfort us. We also always had to tell where we were going when we left Quito and Update on our well-being which showed that they do care how we are and that nothing happens. On the other hand there were some issues with punctuality of for example our pocket money and if there was an issue it sometimes took some time to be worked out but they at least tried to help at all.
Overall I can recommend Vase as an organisation to do a volunteer-gap year with.

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Lukas
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

One Year in Otavalo, Ecuador with VASE

I am a volunteer from Germany who came to Ecuador after finishing high school with VASE (ICYE) as a gap year.
I´m working for the fundación Cielo Azul in Otavalo whose main mission is the support of indigenous communities around Otavalo. My work mainly consists of English, but also computer, arts and sports classes. I work in two different schools and live three days per week with a family in an indigenous community. The rest of the week I live in an apartment Otavalo with the other volunteers in my project.
Through the weekends and vacations we have lots of opportunities to travel this very diverse country.
That way I have a varied experience in Ecuador.

I wasn´t able to choose a specific project, but only the area I wanted to work in. Even though I wished for a different project I am very happy with my current situation and wouldn´t want to change. But if I had severe problems it would be possible to do so which is one of the advantages of coming to Ecuador with an organization as big as VASE.

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Selina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering in Ecuador with VASE

I'm currently doing my volunteer year in Ecuador, working in schools near Otavalo. Mainly I'm teaching english in lower grades and though I didn't want to work in that area in the first place, I'm really glad now to get all those new experiences. I've got a lot of freedom to try things out and experiment, and I'm already way more self-cofident than before this Year. Half of the week, I'm living with other volunteers in a shared apartment, which is a lot of fun and gives me a feeling of belonging. The other days we spend with hostfamilies in small communities and that is also an great opportunity to get a closer insight in the life-reality of an indigenous family. I feel really welcomed there. And If I've got a problem, VASE is always there to help and really supportive. All together I'm glad to get this opportunity and I'd definitly recommend it to you:)

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Marvin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

One year Year in Ecuador with VASE

I'm doing a volunteer year with VASE Fundación in Ecuador, Otavalo. Together with four other Volunteers I work in a Sub-Project, Cielo Azul, in the andean region. We teach each at two schools in the indigenous communitys. The work includes giving english & art classes and helping the teachers where it's needed. During the week we live in a host family and also in an apartment in Otavalo with all the volunteers together. The work is very nice and you can see the positive room for impact you can have on the children.
VASE is always there for support when it's needed and they have created a very nice and social environment where you feel taken seriously and where's always someone you can ask for advice of any kind. I'm very happy with my stay here and with VASEs work and would recommend to anyone, who seeks out to meet new cultures and wants to explore the beautiful country that is Ecuador, to do their volunteer year with VASE.

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Carla
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteer year, Quito

VASE is a very supportive and nice organisation.
If you have problems in your project or your host family the staff always helps you to find a solution.
There are also a few nice activities you can/must participate in during your stay in Ecuador.
The only thing I would criticize is that a lot of the volunteers of my year didn't got the projects they wished for, so if you want to do a volunteer year you have to be open to do something which may not be your dream project in the first place. However I myself got to like the project I ended up with by time even though it wasn't what I imagined.

Overall it's a really cool experience. I am staying in Quito in Ecuador and during my 8 months that I've already been here, I saw a lot of Ecuador's beautiful nature as well as I got to know some things about the culture and meet new people.
Therefore I would definitely recommend doing a volunteer year with Vase to Ecuador.

Pros
  • Good support
  • Getting to know a different country
  • Meeting new people
Cons
  • Not the project I hoped for
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Carla
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Asa, Casa de acogida

It is a house in which children live whose families have a lot of struggles. Interesting points are that you get to know how different lives can be. Furthermore spending time with the children can be really fulfilling. However it can also be hard when you get to know about the children's lives and what they already went through. In addition to that sometimes there is not really much to do because some of the children are already teenagers and don't always need you to do something with them. And it's their home so there are no activities all the time.
But overall it is a nice project.

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Klara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteers in Formal & Non-Formal Education with Fundación VASE in Ecuador

I have a wonderful time here in Ecuador with the fundaction VASE. I have experienced a lot of new things, saw incredible nature, made new friends, and most important, had a very good insight in the Ecuadorian life and culture thanks to my host family and my project. I live in Ambato and work in an orphanage with children from age 0 to 12. The work is very diverse cause I can change free between the different age groups. The most time I support the eldest children with their homework and English, or were playing outside, but I and also help out in the house (cleaning, cooking, painting..). The work is really fun and I am going to miss the children a lot after this year. But I actually wanted to work in an environmental project. It is a bit sad that there don't exist many in Ecuador, and the chances are little to get into one. But this year here is still such a great experience, I am really glad I decided to go to Ecuador. VASE is a good organisation, the seminars are very nice, they support you when you have questions and you can easily connect with other volunteers.

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Christopher
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Experience in a formal school

Since a couple months I have been working with other volunteers in a school with students from 3 to 12 years old. Main goal of the project is to help the English teacher with various tasks for the different grades. I really enjoy working in this project because not only are the teachers creating a really friendly work environment and are happy to be able to help you, most of the time it is fulfilling when the English teaching is successful. Sometimes it could be difficult to get the students to listen when they are energetic and loud but that shouldn’t be a big problem.
Overall I’m very happy with my work and definitely recommend it to future volunteers.

Pros
  • Helpful colleagues
  • Initiative is welcome
Cons
  • Organization
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Lynn
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Working in a botanical garden

When you want to volunteer and you are looking for an organization VASE is a great choice. During my voluntary service with VASE I felt supported and safe every time.
The experience in my project was overall very good. I really enjoyed working outside and taking care of the plants from the seed to the tree. My tasks changed from day to day, but mainly I worked in the maintenance of them park, help in the reforestation, give tours in the park and do administrative work in the seed bank.
The only thing that bothers me about my project is, that the volunteers were expacted to work overtime and my bosses were very picky about breaks during the day.

Pros
  • Learn a lot about the plants and the animals of the Amazon
  • Mostly working outside
  • Varied tasks
Cons
  • During the rainy season lack of variety