Volunteer in Formal & Non-Formal Education with Fundación VASE in 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!

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.

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.

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.

For the past 8 months, I worked in a daycare for children whose parents work on the street. The children are up to 15 years old, and throughout the day, there are probably 50 of them to look after. It can be a very challenging project, because there are so many children, but most of the time, there are enough colleagues to work with.

In between mealtimes, they do homework, with which I can help, play or do activities with the educators and me (like English lessons, colouring pictures, ...). It's a project I would recommend to everyone who would like to work with children.

It's especially good because VASE has made the experience very easy. If I have a problem, I always have someone to go to for help. It doesn't matter if it's about the project, living in Ecuador in general, sickness or something personal. I really like the organization as a whole.

I am living in Ambato in a super great host family. During the weak I work with street children. I help them with their homework, and I help with preparing the lunch. Sometimes I visit the schools or families of the children. In the night I got gymnastics every day. I tried different sport clubs here and I love, that you can enter most of them every day. I love Ambato, it has everything I need. It is in the center of Ecuador. Because of that and also because it's very cheap, I travel a lot with other volunteers on the weekends.