Fundacion VASE

Why choose Fundacion VASE?

Fundación VASE is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-religious organization dedicated to facilitate cultural exchanges and social aid through international voluntary service. Summarizing VASE's mission and goals are the following:

- Provide volunteer service support for the elderly, children, women, indigenous groups, human rights organizations, hospitals, schools, orphanages and community centers.
- Implement intercultural education and inspire global citizenship through international cultural exchange programs.
- Proclaim peace, solidarity, friendship, tolerance and mutual understanding as basic values for humankind.
- Promote understanding, respect and appreciation of cultural diversity.
- Create sustainable community projects in order to promote social and economic development of the small, rural and disadvantaged communities in Ecuador.
- Develop knowledge within the volunteers, VASE staff and our network and counter parts.

Website

www.volunteervase.org

Founded

2008

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Reviews

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

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.

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.

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:)

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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