The Project
Volunteer with Indigenous Children in the Ecuadorian Andes - PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Please note: our education projects in Ecuador are unique to Global Vision International. All funding of these projects comes directly from Global Vision International and volunteer contributions, included in the programme fee. We receive no other outside source of income, apart from that raised through GVI and volunteer contributions. Suffice to say, without this funding from GVI and the volunteer contributions, the projects simply would not exist.

Working with the Andean Indigenous Communities

The project is based in Otavalo, assisting the rural indigenous in 4 different communities - Urcusiqui, Huayrapungo, Muenala and Larcacunga. The Indigenous people of Otavalo and its surrounds represent 30% of the Ecuadorian demographic (the remainder being 50% mixed Spanish, 10% African Ecuadorian and 10% Other). The communities we work in are 100% indigenous and are very much removed from the influence of the western civilisation. The families are generally farmers, growing potatoes and maize and live very self sufficiently, eating their home grown food and raising pigs, cows and chickens to provide meat. They make money by selling their produce in the markets in Otavalo. The poverty level in our communities is extreme, however most of the houses in our communities have electricity now, and the children are no longer malnourished as we have been providing them with a quality balanced diet for over 3 years.

One school has 55 kids, the second 40, the third has 30 kids and our smallest school has 18 kids ranging from 3 years up to 13 years old. We place volunteers in different schools depending on the need in each school, and which will be the best fit for the volunteer.