Ecuador

One fully funded volunteering opportunity in Ecuador

Four weeks in Ecuador - the smallest country in the Andean highlands famous for its array of vibrant indigenous cultures, colonial architecture, volcanic landscapes, dense rain forest and friendly people.

  • Return flights from Ireland to Ecuador, plus insurance.
  • Arrival in Quito.
  • Spanish language classes.
  • Excursion to Mindos cloud forest.
  • Transfer to Riobamba in the Andes to live with a local host family.
  • Mountain trekking and horseback riding on Chimborazo.
  • Work in a community volunteer project.

 Application Deadline: 6pm on April 1st 2012.

Zoologico: A volunteer in Ecuador with Capuchin monkeys


Details

Age profile: 16 - 18 on 1st June 2012.

Travel dates: July 2012.

How to apply

Each entry needs to be specific to the country you wish to apply for i.e. you cannot use the same entry for more than one country. You need to download and complete a Travel Award application form and forward it in hard copy form to reach EIL by 6pm on April 1st 2012.

You also need to tell us: "What you would hope to learn while on the programme and how the experience might benefit you upon your return to Ireland."

You can do this by using any one of the following formats:

  • An essay of not more than 700 words.
  • A project format of not more than 8 A4 size pages combining pictures, clippings, art, drawings and writing in any combination you wish.
  • Create a video not longer than 4 minutes and submit it on a CD, DVD or memory stick.

A selection committee will shortlist a number of entrants and these will be invited for interview in Dublin on a Saturday in mid April 2012. The winners will be announced in May 2012. The decisions of the adjudication panels will be final.

Photos & Videos

Photos: 
Damien Thompson from Ireland learning an Ecuadorian Dance
New American Friends
Candles in a Banos Church
Friends of Adventures
Ecuadorian Bridge
Travel Award Workshop 2010
Jamie Keating Ecuador Travel Award Winner 2010
Ryan McMahon proud winner of 2010 EIL Travel Award to Ecuador
Community Work

Blogs

Thoughts on leaving Ecuador :(
21 Jul 2011 - 12:38pm

Hi everyone!

I got home from my 4 week trip to Ecuador a week ago now and I had the most amazing time!  It has been a month of non-stop fun. I kept a journal and it's completely full now and it's so funny to look back at it and just laugh. I can't believe my journey is over. It flew by, but I definitely made the most of it. I have no regrets. I enjoyed every day.

While it's fresh in my memory I thought I'd write a bit about what I missed and things like that. It might be useful to future winners too.

What I missed most about Ireland: 

Read more...

La Nariz del Diablo and my experience so far
3 Jul 2011 - 5:01pm

I'm half way through my stay here in Ecuador now. It flew by! I hope the next two weeks drag out! I really don't want to go home now! 

Read more...

El Dia de San Pedro
30 Jun 2011 - 10:50pm

I arrived in Riobamba on Monday. It was sad saying buy to my Quiteña familia but I'm sure I'll see them again. I would have loved to have seen more of Quito, but my stay there was so much fun. I'll never forget it, and I know I'll be going back there soon! (besides when I'm staying the night there before I fly home!) My family in Riobamba are so nice! I'm really loving this place! It's quite a personal city, not too big but it has everything you need. 

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A full days travelling! El Mercado!
29 Jun 2011 - 8:49pm

Well, I have so much to catch up on. So much has happened! 

On Saturday, my host family was getting another student, Brianna. She was from the Pennsylvania and she was staying in Quito for 5 weeks teaching English. It was actually strange speaking English again. We kept getting so confused! 

Read more...

I´m here! My first day in Quito.
24 Jun 2011 - 5:57pm

I´m here! Finally! It took a whole day of travelling. Well worth it though!  

I had 3 planes to get. And I didn´t go to sleep at all the night before I left. I knew I´d be too excited,and I was still packing my bags!  (I only got my suitcase the day before!) So I was shattered by the time I got to Dublin Airport. My Aerlingus flight was grand, but it got a bit complicated in Amsterdam!

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Nos Vamos! Ecuador in 3 hours time! This is it! :)
21 Jun 2011 - 5:09pm

Hi everyone!  I'm Damien and I'm off to Ecuador in approximately ... 3 hours! The excitement! I'm flying to Quito to stay with my host family there for around 5 days before I go to my main homestay in the city of Riobamba, just south of Quito.

Read more...

Ecuador 2010. The Experience of a Lifetime.
24 Nov 2010 - 3:29pm

Ryan McMahon, winner of the 2010 Travel Award to Ecuador reflects on his experience ...... "Applying for this travel award all those months ago I had high expectations of this trip and I’m glad to say they were exceeded. My time in Ecuador was exciting, challenging and rewarding. Although I was involved in several volunteer projects along with other international participants much of my time was left free. With this time I was able to truly experience the Ecuadorian life and culture through my host family and their friends.

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Memorias de Ayer - In Ireland 2 months on
3 Oct 2010 - 4:17pm

Hi Everyone. Ok so I know I am back in Ireland already and as great as Dublin is, I am sure I won't be able to top my stories from Ecuador. But, I wanted to post one more time on this journey. I wanted to make a point of saying that in winning the travel award, I was not only lucky enough to see a new part of the world but I was able to create a HUGE change in my life. Something I have noticed more recently. I called the blog post 'Memorias de Ayer' for a few reasons. Firstly, to try and be dramatic and try and get you to read this :) .

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Fiesta, Fiesta! - Ecuador style.
7 Aug 2010 - 10:06pm

Hey everyone, While I have an opportunity I thought I'd drop a line and talk a small bit about the social aspect of 'teaching while traveling'. Of course, you would have to try quite hard to go to another country and not meet anyone new but I have to say the social culture of Ecuador is unlike any other I know. I knew, seeing as this was the first time I was to leave Europe, I would notice some differences and indeed some stereotypes. Which really is true. My first two weeks, in Quito, allowed me to get to know other volunteers in the school.

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Mountains and Waterfalls
30 Jul 2010 - 8:48am

Candles in a Banos ChurchThe last two weeks in Ecuador were a whirlwind of activity. I travelled to a beautiful city called Banos where my host brother and I climbed right up underneath a water fall. We got absolutely drenched but it is probably the most exciting thing I’ve ever had the opportunity to do and the ice cold spray was exhilarating.

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Terms & Conditions

  • Nominations should only be made with the full permission of the young person involved
  • Shortlisting may take place and interviews will take place pror to final selection
  • Each successful applicant must complete all necessary supplementary application forms as required by EIL (including parental/guardian permissions if under 18)
  • Selected applicants forfeit their place on the programme should he/she not be able to fully participate on the programme on all the dates as specified
  • Young people will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of maturity and responsibility in order to participante
  • All persons making nominations and all the young applicants agree to accept the decision of the EIL adjudication panel as final.