This past summer I had the opportunity to volunteer for six weeks at the Aliñambi orphanage in Quito which turned out to be a very eye opening experience. Veronica and Carlos, my host family, opened their home and hearts to myself and the other volunteers in the house making us feel welcome as though we were members of their family. Having this warm and open host family facilitated my transition in the country and greatly improved my Spanish speaking abilities. The great part about the volunteer experience is that you not only have the opportunity to volunteer but plenty of free time to go visit the many sites around Quito.

My experience at the orphanage was one that I will never forget. Within moments of walking through the gates I was greeted by a small girl who immediately opened her heart to me and gave me a hug. Through my next six weeks I would see the impact that being a volunteer would have on not only the orphanage but on the children and the community as well. As a volunteer this past summer I had the chance to help coordinate the first ever summer camp at Aliñambi. We conducted classes to help children learn new skills such as English, Baking and Image & Health classes, held educational field trips and most of all provided an environment where children could feel safe and to simply be kids for a few hours each day.

These children gave you their trust and their hearts and by doing so they left a permanent imprint in my heart which will be there forever. Leaving the orphanage on my last day I realized how close I had become to some of the children during my experience and found it more than difficult to leave. Through a volunteer experience like this one you learn truly how far your patience can go, how strong you are and how much you can truly learn about another culture whether it be positive or negative.

Cassandra EBERHARDT (Canada)


L’ été dernier j’ai eu l’occasion d ‘effectuer un volontariat de 6 semaines au sein de l’orphelinat Aliñambi à Quito, ce qui m’a ouvert les yeux. Veronica et Carlos, ma famille d’accueil, nous ont ouvert leur cœur et leurs bras, et nous onf fait sentir chez nous comme n’importe quel membre de leur famille. D’avoir cet accueil chaleureux a facilité mon integration dans le pays et amelioré mon espagnol. L’une des choses formidale du volontariat est d’avoir du temps pour visiter quito et ses allentours.

Mon esperience à L’orphelinat à été inoubliable. La premiere fois que j’en ai passé la porte j’ai été accueillit par une petite fille qui m’a instantanement prise dans ses bras. J’ai pu me rendre compte durant ces 6 semaines qu’être volontaire avait egallement un impact sur la comunauté. Cet été j’ai pu participer au premier camps d’été de l’orphelinat. Nous avons mener des cours d’anglais, de cuisine, de santé, sport ainsi que des excurtion educatives. Mais par-dessus tout, nous avons pu créer un environement dans lequels ils pouvaient être des enfants pendant quelques heures.

Ces enfants m’ont donné leur confiance et leur cœur, en agissant ainsi ils ont gravé mon cœur à jamais d’un souvenir indelibile. En quittant l’orphelinat le dernier jour j’ai réalisé combien j’étais proche d’eux, il a du coup été vraiment tres dur de les quitter. Durant une experience comme celle-ci on est amené à mesurer sa patience, sa force, et combien on peut apprendre des autres cultures, que ce soit positif ou negatif.

Cassandra EBERHARDT (Canada)


Mon volontariat fut une chouette expérience qui m'a permis de mieux comprendre la philosophie des Equatoriens ainsi que de leur culture. Un volontariat reste un volontariat, n'étant pas superwoman et je n'ai pas vraiment pu apporter de grands changements mais je suis persuadée que mon court séjour a au moins apporter un sourire aux enfants de l'orphelinat.

J'ai été accueillie comme une véritable reine, je n'oublierai jamais ma petite famille équatorienne.

Pour ceux qui aimeraient aider l'organisation de Maria et Freddy, je n'ai qu'un bon conseil, si vous n'êtes pas motivé pas besoin de venir car Maria et Freddy méritent les meilleurs volontaires!

Ecuador y mi familia me faltan mucho !!! Besos,
Deborah
Bruxelles, BELGIQUE


The volunteer program was a great experience which makes me realize how precious was the Ecuadorian culture. I'm not superwoman and I know that what I brought to the kids from the orphanage was just a smile but it makes me feel so good.

I've been hosted in a marvellous familly and I will never forget them.

For thoses who are tempting of help the Maria's and Freddy 's organisation, I got only one thing to say, if you're not motivated you don't bother coming because Maria and Freddy deserve the best volunteers ever !

Ecuador y mi familia me faltan mucho !! Besos,
Deborah
Brussels , BELGIUM


I have had an amazing 3 weeks here. It has been great to come to a beautiful place for contemplation, meditation + yoga + I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. Iralda + Alvaro looked after us wonderfully + the food was great. Becoming familiar with a small Ecuadorian community (Las Tolas) has also been a great experience. The scenery was breath taking, walks great + the sunshine made this the perfect place to escape from city life.
Katy Amundsen, New Zealand

Gracias por todo, he disfrutaba mucho, Las Tolas, Urcu Puyujunda, los animals y la familia de Alvaro y Geovanna. Fue una buena experiencia.
Dana Conley, USA


The reception of people at the airport and in the house of your parents could not be better, we arrived immediately feel at home, so that was perfecto. The cabañas in the bosque nublado could not be better:good beds, shower, good toilet (very importante). Alvaro and Iralda were very very nice people.
Iralda is a great cook so the food was good. The volunteering in Tas Tolas is very good. It was the best time of my life, for sure.
Wouter Cortens, Belgium



I have been in Quito for six weeks now, which I can hardly believe because time has gone so fast! Here is a summary of my time here so far..
I arrived late are Tuesday afternoon, very tired from over 24 hours of travel and more than a little scared to be alone in a completely new country. But I needn't have wormed because I was met by Fredy, with a big smile and was soon being fed some good food)much better than on the plane= and given a room where I could sleep off my travels.
I then took Spanish lessons with Maria for two weeks. I basically with stared with very little knowledge and by the end of the two weeks I had improved so much. I could start to talk with people, especially Fredy and Maria which is the best way to improve. Maria is a very patient teacher, and I really enjoyed my lessons. Because the classes are so small (in this case, just me) you can go at your own pace, ask lots of questions and talk about things you are interested in.
I feel very lucky that Maria and Fredy are my host family. They are so welcoming and accommodation and have made my time here so far very enjoyable, they were fantastic helping me settle into the two place where I volunteer.
In the mornings, I go to a school for disabled children. The kids are deaf and blind. I divide my time between helping with a class (and learning some sign language) and preparing material for the partially sighted children. The school is very different to my school in England (the teachers here are quite strict) but I am now completely settled there and enjoy my time (apart from getting up at 7 o'clock)
In the afternoons I go to an orphanage home for unwarned mothers. This house is very very poor and it was quite difficult at first. Fredy & Maria arranged for me to talk with the director about what I could do to help there. So now I help the teenagers make chocolate lollies to sell for the home which is rewarding because it is hopefully useful to them. I think I have had some of my hardest experiences there but also some of the best, like seeing the children enjoyment when given pizza as a big treat some things I have seen there will stay with me forever.
So that is about it. I love Quito, which is a very interesting and contrasting city. I am very encouraged by my improvement in Spanish and hope it will continue for the rest of my time here. I recently visited the Oriente (rainforest) and am also now excited about traveling around Ecuador in four weeks time.
Lisa Evans, England



I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful experience during my two weeks in Ecuador. It was an experience that I will never forget. I loved it so much because everything that I did was so different from the next thing. Being able to stay with a host family, especially a host family as nice and welcoming as yours was what made all of the difference in my two week stay. I think that if I had stayed at a hostel or had some other arrangements I would not have felt such a connection with the culture and how Ecuadorian people really are. Being welcomed in to your home and being included as part of the family was one of the best aspects of my trip. You really made me feel welcomed and I appreciate that. I was nervous when I arrived at the airport but as soon as I met Maria's parents I knew that I was going to have a good trip.
It was great that the orphanage was so close to your home. It made going for both the morning and afternoon easy and not troublesome. I really don't have any complaints about my trip. The food was great, and always a variety which is good. I miss your home made juice in the morning. The side trips were all exciting and different from one another. Papallacta and the Cloud Forest were my favorites. The country is so beautiful so being able to see different parts of the land by just riding in a car was enjoyable for me. I also enjoyed meeting both of your families. Seeing a family in Quito and one outside of Quito was a great comparison.
Thank you for all of your generosity and being patient with my half Spanish half English. Staying for two weeks has sparked my interest again in the Spanish language and I am considering completing my Spanish minor with classes during the summer. I wish that I had been able to communicate in Spanish better at times, but never felt isolated because of the language differences.
I loved Ecuador and am sure that I will return to your wonderful country some time within the next few years.
Michaela Alissandrello, USA



The host family made me feel very at home and gave me some experiences. I will never forget. They didn't have to do any of that but they did, and that what makes you amazing people. I'll never forget them and their families. About the trip....other than the accommodations were ideal and I felt very safe the entire time. Everything worked out perfectly and I very much miss the kids at the orphanage. Just the other day I was showing the pictures of the kids to Kyle and I started crying because I realized how much they meant to me. I am never going to forget any of them.
Anastasia Kidniz, USA



Working at the orphanage - this was a great experience and I really enjoyed it. It was a shock at first to see the place, but the children were great and I felt that my help made a real difference. I intend to keep in touch and hopefully visit again in the future.
Living arrangements - it was great to live with a family, things were very good, especially the times we spent at Freddy's parents which was something you wouldn't normally get to experience on a trip abroad.
Trips - these were great and I really enjoyed where we went, seeing some of Ecuador with people who knew the places we went to. It was a great experience to share it with other people and I had a really good time.
Cathy Hill, England



I've recently returned from one of the most wonderful adventures I coud have ever had. I participated in a 3 weeks volunteer program with home stay. The volunteer work took place at a small orphanage in Quito, filled with 28 of the most gentle & &loving children,& infants. Days were filled with laughter, games,& trips to the park. An in the evenings I spent time with my "host family" speaking Spanish (..or at least trying to..), eating local home made cuisine, &playing a mean game of cards. All the while learning more about the customs, culture, & politics, of this tiny South America gem. Weekends were spent exploring the sights & sounds of Ecuador. One weekend I went to the markets in Otavalo & visited the beautiful city of Ibarra. My second weekend was spent in Quito visiting a myriad of museums & cultural & historical sites. My final weekend was spend in the Cloud Forest, at one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Never have I felt so far removed from the world. I was treated to wonderful local cuisine, hikes with my own private guide, & baths under cascading waterfalls. No phones, no interruptions.. And all this, only a beautiful 2 hours drive from Quito.
I can't wait to come back & explore Ecuador even more. There is just so much for one to see & do ... so you must take full advantage of all your time.
Katherine Davis, USA



I would like to extend my heartfelt thank you to the people of Ecuador that have helped to make my volunteer opportunity in Ecuador an unsurpassed experience and that have contributed to the creation of my memories.
At Urcu Puyujunda lodge, a beautiful accommodations place in the serenity of the Cloud Forest. The cabins at Urcu Puyujunda are beautiful in its rustic form and very clean. Maria is an excellent cook and always had hot meals awaiting us on time.
Thank you to everyone involved in making my trip and my volunteer opportunity a rewarding and unforgettable experience!
Diana Fiala, Canada



Thank you very much for arranging the volunteer program for us, and I'd like to begin by saying that we had an amazing and rewarding experience
We really enjoyed spending time with the people from Las Tolas, working in the shop, traveling and playing soccer. We found that the Ecuadorian culture and country are both beautiful and we hope to return in the near future.
Emily Grady and Rusell, USA



This trip was a great experience from me. I loved working with the children at the centre and the orphanage-they were remarkable. Weekends were enjoyable too exploring the sights of Ecuador and experiencing the culture while working to improve my Spanish. Muchas gracias, Maria, Fredy and family for welcoming me into your home and teaching me so much.
Julia Heyens, Canada



I had an awesome time in Ecuador. The hospitality and the generosity of the family made it even more special and welcoming. The daycare experience was great. The teacher I was with really made the experience better since she was welcoming and patient with the fact that I didn't speak very much Spanish.
I absolutely enjoyed the expeditions. I enjoyed seeing the market in Otavalo. Cotopaxi was great! The days at the beach was fun. It was good and relaxing. The place we stayed at was wonderful. The 3 day adventure to Banos and the Amazon was amazing! I loved the hotel that we stayed at in Banos. The tour guide we had was very nice and helpful. The rafting trip was exciting and beautiful. It was good that they provided wetsuits and boots for us. The accommodation in the Amazon was nice. I loved all the places we saw and things we did. The family really made me feel welcomed and taken cared of. Thank you so much! I was really sad to leave at the end of my 2 weeks.
Michelle Ma, USA



The family that I lived with, obviously, could not have been better. They made us feel so welcome and wonderful. They made us feel like part of the family and made our stay there so very special. The work at the disabled school was fantastic and very rewarding. The trips to Cotopaxi, Otavalo, the beach and to Amazon were also excellent. We stayed at such nice places and had wonderful food and experiences. Thank you for coordinating a great experience for me and I cannot wait to one day return to Ecuador!
Erin Steppe , USA



My volunteer experience was the most valuable, unforgettable experience of my entire life. I fell in love with the people, the culture, the music, and the country. I am already looking at dates next year to return.
I was pretty nervous on the plane to Quito, but when I saw Fredy at the airport with a sign with my name, my nerves calmed. Maria, Fredy, and their family are just wonderful people that I already miss very much.
My first 3 weeks consisted of volunteering in the daycare in Quito with the little babies. They were just adorable, and I'll never forget dancing with them! I made friends with all the ladies that worked there, and we just laughed all day as we tried to learn each other's language.
I also took 2 weeks of Spanish lessons, which helped me a ton! It was pretty intense with 4 hours of classroom a day for ten days, but I saw huge differences in my ability to communicate with the people during and after my course.
While living in the city, I took three professional salsa lessons, and also informal lessons from Maria's family! I traveled on a day trip to Otavalo where I bought gifts for my family and friends, and I also traveled to Mitad del Mundo and stood on the equator.
My last two weeks were spent in Las Tolas in the cloud forest two hours northwest of Quito. This was the most unforgettable and moving experience of my life. I lived with a family right in the village. I spent my days helping the people of the village on community projects, such as weeding the community garden, building a patio in front of the church, and making signs for their buildings. I also helped the artisans in their workshop with making jewelry from seeds and things from the forest. I hiked to two beautiful waterfalls, the next village, and to the lodge where other volunteers lived. The people of the village are the hardest working, most caring, and humble people I have ever met. They value their community and their culture. By this point, I could communicate fairly well with them, which makes the experience even that more valuable. It was extremely hard to leave because the people of this small village had become my family.
From this experience I learned that a smile goes a long way, and that people, no matter where they live or how, all laugh with each other, cry with each other, and care for each other in very much the same way, and that we all take what we are given in life and try to make the most of it. The only way to really appreciate the experience is to have an open mind, an open heart, and a sense of humor. Just take it all in. This has been an experience I will hold very close to my heart for the rest of my life. I encourage everyone who has the courage and the passion to learn and help others, to take this opportunity as a mind, soul, and life growing experience.
Katie Myers
Chicago, IL USA