International Student Volunteer's (ISV) program in Ecuador focuses on restoring the country's natural beauty and environmental resources. There are several options for volunteer projects in Ecuador from ISV, including wildlife conservation, community development, children's programs, and environmental management. ISV works hard to make sure that there are opportunities to match all of its volunteers interests and skills. As a volunteer in Ecuador, you will be making a huge environmental impact.

Your tasks in general could include some of the following: monitoring of local species, supporting recycling start-up programs, trail maintenance, agro-forestry including reforestation and organic farming, clean ups in mangrove forests, English and environmental education classes with children and community members.

This program is no longer offered. View more programs from ISV (International Student Volunteers).

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ISV Volunteers working with turtles in Ecuador

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Volunteering in Ecuador through ISV was beyond amazing. I was there for three weeks, the first week doing the extra Spanish Immersion classes in gorgeous Quito. I definitely recommend adding that week to your trip because it gives you a lot of independence and makes you so comfortable speaking Spanish and you really get to experience the culture of Quito. The second two weeks were the volunteer part and I chose to work at the Sacha Yacu Wild Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in the Amazon Jungle, not too far from Puyo. The family that ran the place was so welcoming and working with the animals was the most rewarding experience! There was a lot go getting dirty and hard work but it's with great people and in the rainforest so there's rarely a moment you're not having the time of your life. Weekends are even free to go stay at a hostel and white water raft, check out some caves, or just enjoy yourself! And all of the staff is extremely helpful and kind. Our project leader even helped us to meet up with another group working in the Amazon that had been with us the first week in Quito for a weekend reunion! I met some of the most fantastic people on this trip and definitely want to go back to Ecuador some day. You should go on this volunteer trip.

I honestly can't express how rewarding I felt this trip to Ecuador was for me. Within two weeks we accomplished SO much: planted over 1,000 mangrove trees, rebuilt a kindergarten fence, cleaned up the river and streets of El Morro, helped teach english at local schools, began building a greenhouse, and so much more. What made the experience even better was that we got to communicate with the locals and see how much of a difference we were making to the people. Relationships were formed with complete strangers within minutes just because of our kindness and willingness to help. Even in a place in need of so much help, the culture and environment are extraordinary and a delight to explore and help preserve. I will always hold this experience with ISV close to my heart, and I would go back in a heart beat. Yes, it is quite expensive, but the experience is worth it.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Tell us a little about yourself and your trip.

Krissie: I am Krissie, 21, from Montana. I travelled to Ecuador and the Galapagos in the summer of 2011.

Why did you decide to volunteer with ISV in Ecuador?

Krissie: ISV came to Montana State University, where I attend college, and had these crazy, dramatic, exciting people come around to all the classrooms and that was what first sparked my interest. As soon as I went to their informational meeting, I was hooked. I didn't pick a place I preferred to go, I let them chose for me and it just so happens Ecuador stole my heart.

Giant bug in Ecuador

Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Krissie: Machetti down forest area to plant new gardens for cacao, collect cacao open it and collect the seeds, helps move and rearrange gardens in the Amazon, teach English to students and members of the Qichua community.

Throughout my summer in Ecuador, I got to swim with sea lions and sea turtles, try new foods (guinea pig), and I fell in love with this dog, which we named Pequeno (small in Spanish). He slept in my suitcase every night. He rarely left my side he went to work with me every day he went on hikes with me. I bought him food and toys and I tried to get him back to the States, unfortunately though I could not.

How has this experience helped you grow personally and professionally?

Krissie: This trip changed my life. I fell in love with South America. It helped me chose what career path I want to pursue and it really helped me find myself as a person.

Lawrence Chen

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

How long have you been part of the team at ISV? What is your role?

I have been working with ISV for the last 4 years. My role is to be the host in Santos and project leader.

What inspired you to join ISV?

I contacted ISV because of my host organization. I have been working in tourism for the last 10 years, though in conventional tourism, just regular tours. Then the vision of our organization changed and we started to organize groups of students for tourism. After 5 years, we started organizing just volunteer programs in 7 different communities in our area where we live.

This idea to help our communities prompted us to start looking for an organization with the same ideology. And that is how I contacted ISV. We were looking for a organization with the same ideologies. And ISV was on our list and given their experience and similar ideologies we partnered. We have since worked together on successful programs.

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What is your favorite aspect of ISV's programs in Costa Rica?

The flexibility to organize different and new projects in the hostcountry, support good ideas and not be close to just one idea. In my own experience I have seen ISV support all our ideas in community development and also sustainable development for our big project.

For example, we work together to move the coffee farmers to organic farming, creating projects that sound impossible like to creating biodiesel, ecostoves , eco bricks and running big community projects like construction of streets, classrooms etc. All this together is why ISV programs in Costa Rica are amazing. If all of this happens in Santos, I can't imagine the variety of opportunities that all the projects together in this small country can offer.

What is the best story you've heard of a volunteer's experience with ISV in Costa Rica?

For me having spent a long time with ISV, I've seen that it's not just a story when ISV says volunteers make a difference. They really do. I remember volunteers being tired yet sacrificing their free day to finish cementing a street and feel this connection with the projects. I've also been impressed to see how many bottles we recycled in 3 years - more than 14,000 - to make eco bricks.

And I love that we show the communities and the volunteers how possible it is to make create positive change in the world. To see a group of volunteers be organized for the last day in the community and sing a song with all the stories of the 15 days and then cry together is not the story. It is the grip of the experience, to be part of it . It is difficult to tell you just one story because in my head are too many beautiful stories with volunteers that move hearts and change the world.

What tips/insights do you have for volunteers considering Costa Rica as their next volunteering destination?

I recommend Costa Rica because here they could have the opportunity to see the highest biodiversity in the world. In this small piece of land you can see everything - from the Pacific to the Caribbean, highland mountains, to volcanoes.

Also you will meet the most amazing "pura vida" people who always want are happy to open their homes to volunteers with a big smile for every single volunteer.

They want to contribute to a real immersion experience for each volunteer. It's the best combination of people and nature. It's a very green country with the best host organizations in the world, offering very big opportunities to choose from many different options for conservation and community development volunteering.

In my case, we offer the opportunity to help these small communities, to create big change, transforming the farms to become more ecological. The volunteers learn the real meaning of sustainability, helping the communities and the environment at the same time that they have fun and know the real Costa Ricans!!!

Monique Gallardo

Location

Location:

Ecuador

Currency:

United States Dollar

Weather:

Jan-Mar

86 F / 50 F

Apr-Jun

86 F / 48 F

Jul-Sep

82 F / 48 F

Oct-Dec

84 F / 48 F

Airports:

Mariscal Sucre International

( UIO )

José Joaquín de Olmedo International

( GYE )

Mariscal Lamar International

( CUE )

Ecuador hugs the equator on the west coast of South America, and holds Amazonian jungle, Andean highlands, and the Galapagos islands off the coast. Needless to say it is one of the most environmentally diverse countries in the world.

About ISV (International Student Volunteers)

ISV’s mission is to support sustainable development programs around the world through life changing student volunteer programs designed to positively impact our world and to educate, inspire and result in more active global citizens. Destinations include South Africa, Costa Rica, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and the Dominican Republic. ISV has...

ISV - Volunteer Projects in Ecuador

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