Support children affected by cancer in Quito, Ecuador

Info request

In Ecuador cancer is a major cause of child-mortality. There is only one children’s hospital in Quito and families come from the entire Andes region to get treatment for their children. A charity was set up to assist these families and to fund the chemotherapy and radiotherapy needed to fight cancer. The children miss school whilst they are receiving treatment and do need distraction from their illness. Volunteers are desperately needed to entertain and teach them! The charity currently helps 50 children who are aged between 6 months and 10 years old and also supports the families during their stay in the capital.

Voluntary Project Overview

Teach English abroad This project offers a volunteering opportunity with a very special children's hospital based in Quito that provides care and treatment for children with cancer. This is the only hospital of its kind in the area. Children come here from all over the Andes for treatment. Before this hospital was started in 2004 there was no support for children affected by cancer and many could not afford any treatment at all. Here children now receive free treatment, as a result the life expectancy and survival rate for children with cancer in the area has increased. A fantastic opportunity to combine childcare and healthcare during your career break.

The Volunteer Abroad Role

Teaching English abroad This role involves teaching and caring for the children in hospital. The children cannot attend school while they are receiving their treatment so volunteers can provide help for them to continue with their studies. It is important also to bring fun and laughter to these children and you can organise various activities which will make their daily life more interesting.

Other Volunteer Abroad opportunities

Career break abroad Volunteers abroad will spend the morning, up to about 1 pm, with the children in the hospital. There are also opportunities after that to help at the office; ranging from helping with admin, to promoting and raising awareness or fundraising for the organisation.

Voluntary Programme Requirements/Eligibility Criteria

Voluntary teaching Volunteers need to have experience in working with children for this role or at least have some experience in a caring role. Some of the children are terminal cancer patients and this can be very distressing, but the opportunity to really make a difference to these children is astounding. You will need to be very patient and also be strong in character as you may experience some difficult situations. There is a minimum commitment of one month on this placement.

Volunteer Accommodation and Living arrangements

Teaching projects abroad Volunteers abroad will live with a local family in the centre of Quito, a short bus ride from the hospital. Breakfast and dinner are provided with the family, which is a great way to experience local community life and culture.

There are many activities you can try in and around Quito. Trekking, mountain biking, and white water rafting are easily organised. Quito itself offers many markets, theatres and even supermarkets to pick up some western indulgences!

Total Programme Cost:

£1190

Duration	Total project cost
1 month	1190
2 months	1590
3 months	2090
4 months	2490
5 months	2890
6 months	3390

What’s included in your Programme Fee?

Project selection and placement - Our in-country teams work constantly to identify and select projects that are doing exemplary work in developing countries but need your skills and effort. Our staff are in dialogue with you to ensure that we choose a project that really needs you, where you will use your skills and contribute, because at MondoChallenge, we believe that a great volunteering experience is largely dependant on matching you with the right project
Pre Departure Briefing - Before you leave, we will arrange for a pre departure briefing where we help you with small but extremely helpful details on your chosen destination. Things like: what to pack, local culture and customs, food, safety and precautions if any - simple things to make your life easier!
Guidance for processing visa - MondoChallenge will arrange for any relevant documents and guide you through the visa process.
Airport Pick Up - Arriving in a new city and not knowing where to go and how to go can be quite unnerving. A MondoChallenge representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your place of stay where you can put your feet up after a long flight.
In country Orientation and Welcome Pack - When you arrive in the city, you will be given an orientation where you could meet other volunteers from MondoChallenge, know all about the city, how to find your way around, where to get SIM cards for the phone, small bits that you will need help sorting out in the first few days.
In Country Support - Our local co-ordinators are there to guide you through out your stay. They will make sure that you are settled at your project, are comfortable with your accommodation and provide guidance on local culture and customs to ensure that you have a memorable and rewarding experience.
Accommodation - In most cases you stay with a local host family. It gives you a taste of the daily life of a local. You will be sharing a room with another volunteer, however if you prefer to have a single room to yourself, this can be arranged but a cost supplement may apply. If you prefer totally independent accommodation, this may also be possible in certain areas at an additional cost and our Programme Managers will be able to assist you with this.
Breakfast and Dinner - Local home cooked food, will be provided at the home stays. This gives you a chance to experience local dishes.