Overview

Want to really get to know the Galapagos Islands?

Living on an island that has been voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it’s not surprising that the residents end up taking second billing to the natural surroundings. It’s a shame though as they have a rich and unique culture to share and can provide a hugely interesting insight into the island. By living and teaching here you’ll get the chance to learn about the island without missing out on seeing it either, as its size makes it easy to explore. With so many tourists visiting every year, it’s imperative that the residents learn English both to improve their own futures and that of the island. We’ll include our TEFL certification so that when you arrive you will feel ready to prepare and take English classes with confidence.

Trip Highlights:

• Being a real part of these incredible islands - rather than just taking photos!
• Exploring the islands on your days off
• Really understanding the challenges facing the community on these world famous islands

Itinerary & Details

Project details

Based at one of two schools of the island of Santa Cruz this is a chance to assist in the education of children who’s future is likely to be involved in the tourist industry.

Galo Plaza Lasso School was founded in 1953 to provide primary school teaching to the children of Santa Cruz. As a volunteer teacher, you'll play a vital role in enriching their education and helping them to build brighter futures.

Alternatively you may be based at a public school whose aims are to form students integrally in Conservation, Identity, Work, Science, Discipline and Sports. This school is associated with UNESCO with the aim of educating their students in order to preserve the Galapagos Islands, Natural Heritage of Humanity. The students are also educated so that they can be an integral part of the activities of the island. The school holds approximately 700 students.

Why does the project need volunteers?

Galapagos is a very touristy region of Ecuador, and it is extremely important for the Galapague's to learn the language in order to be able to work in the islands. However the public schools need volunteers because they don't have the financial or human resources to teach the students in the fields of English teaching. Volunteers are therefore needed to increase the exposure to the English language which will be of great benefit to the children.

Your role as a volunteer

1. Assist English teachers in their lessons
2. Teach English to the students.
3. Prepare classes, and teaching materials for lessons

Accommodation included

You will be staying in a comfortable and friendly local homestay based in Santa Cruz.

Project resources and advice

The school has an English language lab with some teaching materials, however you may wish to bring items that will be of use in planning your lessons. Items that can also provide a cultural exchange from your home country will also be appreciated.

Food included

Three meals a day included in your placement fee. Simple but nutritious meals will be provided.

Airport pick-up included

You will be met at the airport if arriving on the scheduled arrival date. Please arrange your flight to arrive into Quito International Airport (UIO). If you are arriving before your designated arrival date, we can arrange for an extra meet and greet service for you. For an extra supplement we will be there to meet you at the airport and take you to the orientation accommodation. Please call the office to arrange this ser vice, please note that food is not included for the addtional days.

The flight from Quito to Santa Cruz is 1.5 hrs, this flight will be booked for you and the cost will be added to your statement at the time of booking.

Things that you'll need to organize yourself

• International Flights
• Insurance
• Visa costs
• Optional language lessons - please contact i-to-i for more details
• Return airport transfer

Where the project is based

You will be based on the Island of Santa Cruz, the second largest of the group of Islands. Famous for its tortoises and also the Galapagos Penguins, the smallest penguin species and also the only species north of the Equator.

The rainy season goes from December to mid May. It is extremely hot, it is very sunny all day long. The rest of the year is temperate. August maybe a bit cold. There is only one bank in Santa Cruz, Banco del Pacifico. Some ATM cards do work in this bank, however, for more safety it is always advisable that volunteers bring some traveller cheques.

What exactly do i-to-i provide?

It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you fora the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.

Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….

Project sourcing and assessment

We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More

Expert help-desk

Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.

Thorough project briefing materials

Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.

TEFL training

If you are volunteering on a Teaching project then a 60-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More

Airport pickup

It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.

Arrival orientation

Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More

Local in-country coordinators

Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More

24/7 emergency support

Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More

Ongoing training

The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More

Supporting our projects

We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last 3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects to help them in the great work they do. 

Recruiting people like you

We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.

The intangible benefits

Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here

Next Steps

What we will do after you've booked:

Once booked on you will instantly receive a welcome email confirming your booking with access to your online account

We will send a Welcome Pack in the post containing further information and a t-shirt, the information in this pack should answer most things you need to know

Teaching customers will receive an email introducing them to their Online TEFL course

Community Development and Teaching customers will be requested to complete a police check (where relevant)

We will contact you if we require anything else e.g. CV/resume for some projects, doctors note for medical conditions etc.

We will prepare for your trip and send you an email with confirmation of your project and accommodation 2 weeks after you've booked

We will ask you to complete your forms and pay your final balance if they are still due when required

We are available for any questions you may have on +44 1132 050 076 or support@i-to-i.com

What you need to do after booking your place with us:

Book your flights

Arrange suitable travel insurance

Fill out some extra details through our online interface:

1. Application from
2. Travel details
3. Insurance details
4. Medical information
5. Emergency contacts

Complete your police check if requested

Do your Online TEFL Course (where relevant)

Make final payment at least 90 days before you go

Make sure you have a visa for your trip if it's needed

Visit a nurse or travel clinic for advice on inoculations and malaria prevention

Read all details and prepare as much as you can for your trip

Take contact details of the in country team and where you're going in your hand luggage - just in case!

Get on the plane!

Orientation Information

Having arrived on the Monday, you will be taken to your orientation accommodation in Quito, this will be in a comfortable homestay and likely to be a shared room with another volunteer. You will have a group orientation meeting with the in-country coordinator on the Tuesday morning, and a trip to Mitel del Mundo in the afternoon. Your flight to the Galapagos will be booked to leave on Wednesday morning and arrive in to start your project on Thursday.

If you choose to take the language lessons add-on you will spend the remainder of the week in Quito - please contact the us for more information on what this involves. You will then start your placement the following Monday, travelling on Saturday if outside of Quito.

Flights & Insurance

Insurance

It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.

The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.

EU Customers – find out more here >>

Australian customers - find out more here >>

All other customers - find out more here >>

Flights

As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.

Early Airport Pick-up

If you are arriving before your designated arrival date, we can arrange for an extra meet and greet service for you. For an extra supplement we will be there to meet you at the airport and take you to your orientation accommodation. One additional night a

The cost of this Early Pick-up service is €60.00