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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.
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.
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.
1. Assist English teachers in their lessons
2. Teach English to the students.
3. Prepare classes, and teaching materials for lessons
You will be staying in a comfortable and friendly local homestay based in Santa Cruz.
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.
Three meals a day included in your placement fee. Simple but nutritious meals will be provided.
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. Accommodation payment for any extra nights will then be made in country directly to the accommodation (approx 15 USD per night).
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.
• International Flights
• Insurance
• Visa costs
• Optional language lessons - please contact i-to-i for more details
• Return airport transfer
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.
Date: 2008-07-01
My project lasted for 8 weeks and concerned teaching English in Santa Cruz (Galapagos). I helped out with English lessons in the "Colegio Nacional Galapagos" one of the local high schools in Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz). The school has about 400 students and 5 English teachers, with students ranging from ages 12-18. I was mainly assisting teachers during their lessons, although I were asked to plan some of the lessons on my own and to take over some of the classes when the teachers were absent. I assisted different grades ranging from 1st -5th grade. I primarily assisted two different teachers in the mornings (7-13 ) Monday to Fridays, but was also sometimes asked to help out in the evenings with extra curricular activities and other English teachers (3-5 pm). The English teachers were very grateful for the help they received and were a joy to work with. I found that they had many questions concerning pronunciation and grammar, and were eager to practice their English with me. Giving them this opportunity to practice and increasing their knowledge of English, is also a very important way of helping the students. The English lessons at the colegio follow a set curriculum, so coming up with material is not necessary although it is very much appreciated. My workdays were generally unstructured, and classes could be cancelled or changed on the day. It is therefore important to be flexible, take every day as it comes and have a positive attitude. Things are not going to be easy and predictable the way that life is at home, that's one of the reasons why travelling and working on a project like this is so interesting. It is also important to keep in mind that you are master of your own project. You are in charge of how you want to participate in the project, if you want to work more, if you want to try out new ideas, or if you get overloaded with work it is your responsibility to tell the coordinator of the project or to make the changes yourself. Homestay: I stayed with an Ecuadorian single mother. She has three children but none of them live at home, although they sometimes come home during holidays. Staying in an Ecuadorian home stay was great. I got the opportunity to practice my Spanish ( the house mother not speaking English), I learnt a lot about the culture and got the opportunity to try great Ecuadorian food ( I was served three meals every day). The house was clean and I had my private room. I shared the home stay with two other volunteers which was great as they were in the same situation as me, making the stay much less lonely, giving me new friends and travel companions. Place: Puerto Ayora is a compact place, everything being within walking distance, school (5min), internet cafe ( 5-10min), post office/shops (5-10 min). However, there are several taxis (white trucks) available in the streets if one should need transport. I paid 160 $ for a cruise to the Island of Isabella, which included transport, three meals a day, hostal for two nights, and tours. On these trips its advisable to take seasickness tablet as the seas can be a bit rough ( especially during rainy season) . There are also interesting things to see on Santa Cruz, there are several beautiful beaches, the Charles Darwin Research Centre, and great opportunities for walking in the highlands. Meeting other volunteers on Galapagos is very easy as there are many in Santa cruz and San Cristobal. My advice would be to be open to changes, and do try your best to communicate with the local people in Spanish, no matter how little Spanish you know. You will be amazed at how much more you will learn by trying to communicate in a different language and how much your attempts are appreciated by the local people.
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 for the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
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
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.
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 project, and a DVD about how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
If you are volunteering on a Teaching or Community Development project then a 40-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
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.
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 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
Your in-country coordinator (ICC) will pick you up from the airport and conduct your orientation upon arrival. All ICC's 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
Aside from the local support from your in-country coordinators you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by i-to-i staff in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals Docleaf to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
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. At the end of 2006 we flew all our in-country coordinators to the UK for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly, but once a year they are all invited to apply for funding for special projects or resources from our registered charity arm, the i-to-i Foundation. i-to-i funds the operation of the i-to-i Foundation and is the largest single donor. Along with the generous support of our volunteers, we have distributed over US$200,000 in funding in the last two years alone! More
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.
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
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.
If you have already booked but still need insurance then you may still be able to take our tailored policy. If, however it was more than a few days ago then try the links below:
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
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.
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 accommodation is included in this payment; if you require more than one night please inform the team.
The cost of this Early Pick-up service is US$ 60.00
For thousands of years before the Incas arrived from Peru to expand their empire, advanced indigenous cultures made Ecuador their home. They fought hard to hold on but from the 1400s the Inca’s succeeded in developing its civilisation into neighbouring territories. The Incas were not immune from shifts in power and, during the same year the Spanish set foot on Ecuadorian soil (1526), the Inca Empire was divided for the first time when Inca ruler Huayna Capac went against tradition by leaving his empire to two sons rather than one. After years of fighting, Atahualpa defeated Huascar to become ruler of the empire. His position was short lived and the Inca Empire was all but confined to a place in history when in the 1530s the Spanish laid down the foundations to rule the country. Under Spanish rule, Indians and Mestizos (people of mixed indigenous and European descent) suffered forced labour and several uprisings ensued. Liberator Simón Bolívar helped secure independence for Ecuador, which was fully achieved by 1830.
Against a backdrop of violent rivalry between liberal and conservative factions, an unstable political climate dominated the 19th century and was marked by a quick succession of rulers. The 20th century brought mixed fortunes. The country’s development was hampered by the collapse of the coco market in the 1920s and the Great Depression of the 1930s but it achieved stable civilian rule and increased banana exports from 1948 to 1960. Recession and social unrest led to an anti-communist military government taking power in the early 1960s and it wasn’t until 1979 that democratic constitutional measures were put into play. Indigenous groups now have a voice and influence on politics but the country has a lot of economic ground to cover and high levels of unemployment. On an environmental level, Ecuador is rich in biodiversity but has one of the highest deforestation rates in South America.
The diversity of Ecuador does not fit neatly into four seasons. As a general note, it has a dry winter from June to September and a wet summer from December to April. For hiking in the highlands, the best time is during the cool winter. For exploring the jungle (the Oriente), there isn’t a temperate period as it’s often thick with humidity, while the sierra can get chilly and coastal areas are warm year round.
The Galápagos Islands experience hot, rainy weather from January to April and its waters are comfortably warm during this time, making it ideal for snorkelling. During the rest of the year the water is on the chilly side at around 20°C (68°F) or lower. The surfing season is typically December to February.
The biggest celebration days are Christmas, Semana Santa (Easter week), Inti Raymi (June 24), and Independence Day (May 24). Expect an influx of visitors during these periods and from June to August when the vacation season is in full swing.
There’s no better way to see the snow-capped Andes than to fly. The flight from Quito to Cuenco alone takes in the sight of volcano after volcano. With great views aside, flying in Ecuador is affordable and also convenient; you can get to where you want to go in usually no more than half an hour’s flying time. The country’s main airlines like Tame offer daily services to the main towns and cities, usually departing from Quito or Guayaquil. It’s also the best way to get to the Oriente, with other modes of transport unable to access the area. Flights to the Galápagos Islands, however, can be pricey and flying time from Ecuador is around 3 hours. Depending on your destination but particularly for flights to the Galápagos Islands and the Oriente, there is a system in place whereby foreigners are required to pay more than double what Ecuadorians pay. It’s also worth noting that seats are not reserved and are given on a first come, first served basis. Reconfirming a flight 24 hours before is imperative as it’s not unknown for airlines to refute your reservation if it hasn’t been confirmed ahead of departure.
Buses are a cheaper option and although most long distance journeys take a day or less, it can feel longer due to the road conditions. Buses usually leave from central terminals and it’s best to buy a ticket at least a few hours in advance to reserve a seat. Local buses are often very cheap but also very crowded. Taxis are a good option for short journeys or day tips out of cities if hired for the day and can be cheaper than car rental. Taximeters are in existence but not always switched on so it’s best to agree on a price before the journey begins.
www.tame.com.ec
National airline Tame.
Being part of an i-to-i project is a totally unique experience. You’ll join a global network of volunteers working side-by-side with local people and experience things that you’ve never dreamed of.
Be Part of this or any project and help us reach our goal of 400yrs combined volunteer help this and many other projects around the world.
We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
* We can be held responsible for any starry-eyed and amazing journeys of enlightenment, discovery and thorough enjoyment...
