Volunteering in Quito - Ecuador

• Childcare/Center for incarcerated women
• Center for street children
• After school center for underprivileged youth
• AIDE to children with down sindromee
• Girl´s orphanage
• Indigenous School
• Women´s Support
• School for children of farmers
• Live-in Medical Facility
• Children Hospital
• General Hospital

Las Leyendas

Las Madrinas

Meet your mentor

DETAILS CONCERNING VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

Dear volunteer and friend,

The Academia Latinoamericana de Español and your volunteer project want to thank you for your generosity in offering your voluntary services.

It is likely that you will encounter problems and disappointments, seeing as how Ecuador is a developing country and resources are limited for certain sectors of the population, but we are also sure you will have a rewarding experience. Things are not always as we would like them to be, and it is precisely for this reason that our work is so important, in trying to create a web of support for those that need it in different fields such as education, medicine, ecology, social work and affection, which often is most important of all.

We are sure that you will get an immense satisfaction from working as a volunteer and you will realize that there are people in the world that need you, or someone to help them without looking for anything in return. This is the reward of the true volunteer.

For our program, we have selected some non-profit institutions that have recently opened their doors to receive volunteers. Each one of them has their own sets of rules and norms that you should follow responsibly.

ORIENTATION AND RULES FOR VOLUNTEERS

In the Academia Latinoamericana de Español you will receive a guide from the student coordinator who will be responsible for helping and guiding you in your volunteer position.

PREREQUISITES FOR VOLUNTEERING

• Have at least a lower intermediate ability level of spoken Spanish
• Turn in a personal résumé to the Academia
• Be willing to work at least four hours a day as a volunteer
• Have an appropriate disposition for the demands of the project
• Have initiative and motivation in order to complete the assigned work
• Fill out the volunteer evaluation form after completing your time as a volunteer
• Attend the orientation for your specific volunteer position

Many thanks for your generosity and good luck!

Patty del Corral
Director
Academia Latinoamericana de Español

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SOCIAL PROJECTS IN ECUADOR

PROJECT: GUARDERIA - CARCEL DE MUJERES / CHILDCARE CENTER FOR INCARCERATED WOMEN

General Location: Northeast section of Quito

Purpose of the Project: To help children that live in the prison by providing a dignified place that assures that they receive daily meals and the care and affection that they need, as well as a place of learning and socialization during the day.

History and Description of the Project: The situation in the prisons of Ecuador is summarily precarious. Throughout all of the prisons in the country, more than 695 children live without families to take care of them while their mothers serve their prison sentences. It is a very sad social truth.

In the Women´s Prison in Quito live 271 children, 25 of which receive no level of education, 53 of which go to the prison during their vacation but live with other family members, and 48 of which are in the Prison´s daycare center. The rest are involved in other social programs.
In the Prison center there are 3 areas where the majority of the children are concentrated. One of the principal problems is having enough food for all of the children. There are only enough portions of food for the prisoners, who often go without eating in order to feed their children.
The children may only stay in the center until they are 11 years old for boys, or 13 for girls. During the day the children can stay in the daycare center where they are given food rations and are cared for, besides also having educational activities as often as possible. At night the children return to their mothers in the jail.

Daily Tasks of the Volunteer: The schedule for volunteers is from 8:00am to 13:00pm, during which time they will help in the caring for, and recreation of, the children. Giving them love and understanding as well as educating them as much as possible are the principal tasks of the volunteer.

Additional Information: Occasionally, the prison workers protest against the government authorities and in order to be heard they impede the entrance of visitors to the prison. Given that the daycare functions inside the prison center, the protests will affect the student volunteer as they will not be able to enter while the prison is paralyzed.

Lodging: Student Residence at the Academia Latinoamericana.

Transportation: To reach the project site from the Academia requires about 25 minutes via public bus.

Clothing and Accessories: Comfortable clothing such as jeans, a tee shirt and sweatshirt. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

List of Optional Donations: Clothing for newborns, babies, and children up to 10 years old. Diapers, educational materials, vitamins for children.

Suggestions: Bring a little snack to work since the food that exists in the prison is barely enough to feed the children.

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PROJECT: CENTRO PARA NIÑOS DE LA CALLE / CENTER FOR STREET CHILDREN

General Location: Historic Center of Quito

Purpose of the Project: The strategic objective of the project is to develop awareness and educate the public to benefit children, adolescents and teenagers of the street, as well as to develop programs that teach young people skills and augment their capacity to work and their self-esteem, enforce their personal identity and prevent them from homelessness, drug use or delinquent behavior.
At the same time, the project tries to ensure that the work done by the children, youth or teenagers does not keep them from their studies, being a program that favors access to and regular attendance in school, and involving in this task the teachers, family, and the children themselves.

History and Description of the Project: The problematic situation of the street children of Quito was felt, and the cause taken up by a group of priests in 1977, which opened a home called "El Galpón" where besides a place to sleep, they offered the children food, education, recreation, medical attention and religion. With the passing of time the program was consolidated to a primary school and finally a secondary school.
Many help centers have opened for needy children since then, one of which is this very center, Children of the Street.
It is a small space in which one finds large work tables around which children are seated to do their schoolwork. Also there is a small kitchen and a space for recreation for he children, including a TV room.
The children and youth that come to the center are between the ages of 7 and 18, and are mainly boys.

Daily Tasks of Volunteers: The volunteer can choose the shift that best meets their needs, being either from 9:00am to 12:30 am or in the afternoon from 2:30pm to 6:00 pm, since there are 2 different groups of children that come in the morning or in the afternoon. The job consists of providing support for the children, as much psychologically, through offering them affection and compassion, as academically, helping them with their schoolwork in math, english, science, etc.

Additional Information: It is not necessary to be an educational specialist, the children have easy homework with which everyone can surely help them.

Lodging: Student Residence at the Academia Latinoamericana.

Transportation: To arrive at the project site from the Student Residence requires about 35 minutes via public bus.

Clothing and Accessories: Comfortable clothing such as jeans, a tee shirt and sweatshirt. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

List of Optional Donations: Educational materials for teaching children such as geographic maps, books, crayons, markers, notebooks, clothing.

Suggestions: In this volunteer project there is a lot of room for improvement! You should be very creative and patient.

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PROJECT: ESTANCIA PARA NIÑOS DE ESCASOS RECURSOS / AFTER SCHOOL CENTER FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH

General Location: North-west Quito

Purpose of the Project: Dedicate a physical space for children who don not have a home, or do not have a place to do their schoolwork while their parents work. A place where they receive understanding, affection and scholastic reinforcement in order to better the quality of life of these children, who have few other resources.

History and Description of the Project: Due to the necessity of a support network for these children in the nearby community of the San José Worker Parrish, a group of catholic priests began the project in a vacant lot in the neighborhood.
Little by little, thanks to the different voluntary donations, as much national as international, the project now boasts a comfortable physical space, consisting of a house with two floors, a small patio for recreation and a kitchen where lunch is prepared and offered to the children and youth.
Children up to 11 years old are on the bottom floor and children from 11 to 18 years old are on the top floor.
The project also offers a public library and a school room.

Daily Tasks Volunteers: The volunteer can choose between the morning shift from 9:00am to 12:30pm or the afternoon shift from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
The activities with the children or youth (you can choose one of these groups) are lead by the coordinator of the program who is in charge of the care and well-being of everyone.
The volunteers help with the teaching of basic materials, such as math, history, Spanish, English and sports.

Additional Information: The project also offers meals for the children.

Lodging: Student Residence at the Academia Latinoamericana.

Transportation: To arrive at the program site from the Academia requires approximately 35 minutes via public bus.

Clothing and Accessories: Comfortable clothing such as jeans, a tee shirt and sweatshirt. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

List of Optional Donations: Educational materials for children such as geographic maps, books, crayons, markers, notebooks, clothing.

Suggestions: In general, there are quite a lot of children and youth at the site, therefore the active participation of the volunteer is very important in order to best channel energies into the activities and to meet the established objectives.

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PROJECT: NIÑOS CON SÍNDROME DE DOWN / AIDE TO CHILDREN WITH DOWN SÍNDROME

General Location: Northern Quito

Purpose of the Project: The work is based in providing a unit of support for the development of, integration of and information about people with incapacities and there environment.
The project centers its activities on those that have Down Syndrome, including infants, children and adults.

History and Description of the Project: The "Queen of Quito" foundation is a non-government organization of social development created to work with and for unprotected people. In conjunction with the "Grupo Taller Integral" Foundation and the "Logros" Foundation, they are developing a systematic support program for the integration and development of incapacitated persons.
Different areas are attended to, such as scholarship, socialization, family relations and insertion into the work force.
Additionally, other external incapacities are welcome.br> In order to facilitate the integration process and achieve adequate coverage of the various areas of attention, the project has been divided in the following manner:

• Therapeutic Division
• Consultory Division
• Capacitating Division

Those that are benefited by the Support Project are incapacitated persons, their families and their environment, giving priority to those of fewer resources.

Daily Tasks Volunteers: Depending on the professional capacity and the skills of the volunteer, services can be coordinated in morning or afternoon shifts in different areas, such as:
Psychological-educational services, early attention, language therapy, physical therapy, computerized systems of teaching, scholastic reinforcement, sexual orientation, health programs, recreational activities and sports.
For example, involving Physical Therapy: In the morning the children are divided into groups according to their mental capacity and the volunteers help them to develop their motor skills, as well as help them to learn to write and draw. In the afternoons, the children receive individual therapy which is concentrated especially in their physical development.

Additional Information: The project is also concerned for the families, which are in "Support Projects" with programs such as: Self-help groups, workshops, conferences, classes for parents, grandparents, siblings, etc., psychological orientation services, legal orientation services, community service programs, information and documentation center, awareness programs and campaigns, among others.
In order to volunteer in this program a minimum of 4 weeks dedication is required. Volunteers don't need to be physical therapists, the Foundation will give you all the training you will need and will teach you how to give the children therapy.

Lodging: Student Residence at the Academia Latinoamericana.

Transportation: To arrive at the Project site from the Academia requires approximately 35 minutes via public bus.

Clothing and Accessories: Comfortable clothing such as jeans, a tee shirt and sweatshirt. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

List of Optional Donations: Educational materials for children such as geographic maps, books, crayons,m markers, notebooks, clothing.

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PROJECT: ORFANATO HOGAR DE NIÑAS / GIRL´S ORPHANAGE

General Location: Center of Quito

Purpose of the Project: To be the spiritual, affectionate and educational support that the abandoned girls need as a basic tool for their future as individuals ready to function in society.

History and Description of the Project: The project was started as a home for girls who had been abandoned or lost their parents, where they could find a place to live and an education.
Inside the center one finds both the residential area as well as the school. With much work and thanks to the donations of businesses and individuals that have collaborated together, the Girls' Orphanage has grown significantly, always providing better education and living conditions.

Daily Tasks of the Volunteer: Depending in the skills and knowledge of the volunteer, the work will be coordinated in different areas such as education or recreation. A specific job for volunteers does not exist, it is a position where creativity is very important and above all, patience and love for the orphaned girls.

Additional Information: In this project the volunteer also has the opportunity to reinforce the girls' English language skills.

Lodging: Student Residence at the Academia Latinoamericana.

Transportation: To arrive at the site from the Academia requires about 50 minutes in public bus.

Clothing and Accessories: Comfortable clothing for working. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

List of Optional Donations: Educational materials for teaching English as well as general teaching materials such as clay, markers, erasers, pencils, etc. It is also a good idea to bring clothing or toys for small children.

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PROJECT: ESCUELA INDÍGENA /INDIGENOUS SCHOOL

General Location: Outside of ths city of Quito, in a small town to the north.

Purpose of the Project: To give psychological support, affection and attention to poor children who are educated at this institution, who mainly do not live with their parents, who have immigrated to other countries like Spain and Italy in most cases.

History and Description of the Project: The school is a multicultural academic school in which the children are mostly between 5 and 13 years old.
The school is maintained thanks to the support of the parents or guardians of the children, who with few resources are bringing to life a great work.

Daily Tasks of the Volunteer: The volunteer can offer their help as a social worker, and/or teaching English as a second language, art or math, working daily from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Additional Information: This is an excellent project for volunteers interested in getting to know the indigenous Ecuadorian culture.

Lodging: Student Residence at the Academia Latinoamericana.

Transportation: To arrive at the project from the Academia requires about 50 minutes via public bus.

Clothing and Accessories: Clothing appropriate for working in an educational institution, such as long pants, no jeans, long-sleeved shirt. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

List of Optional Donations: Educational materials for teaching English or math, or general materials such as clay, markers, erasers, pencils, etc.

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PROJECT: CENTRO DE AYUDA A LA MUJER / WOMEN´S SUPPORT

General Location: The project is located in the Historic Center of Quito.

Purpose of the Project: One of the fundamental objectives of the Women's Support Center is to elevate the self-esteem of battered women and children, who are offered support after leaving their abusive situations, so that during the period of transition they are offered skills that will allow them to provide for themselves in the future as well as psychological, medical and legal assistance. This enables these women to successfully reinsert themselves into society and do well for themselves.

History and Description of the Project: Staffed by religious women in collaboration with a group of professional Ecuadorian volunteers, the project women that have abandoned their homes because they have been victims of psychological or physical abuse by their husbands or other family members.
The women that arrive at the Support Center are mainly women with few resources or money. Upon leaving their homes they have taken their children with them, so that the support and help provided at the center goes not only to the women but to their children as well.
The Women's Support Center receives the women for a period of one or two months, during which time they can receive medical, psychological and legal help as well as training in various skills such as cooking, sewing, baking, jewelry-making, etc. The objective of this training is to give the women a tool that helps them get a job or start a small business, independent of their spouse.

Daily Tasks of the Volunteer: The volunteer, depending on their professional skills, their level of Spanish and their preferences, can help the women in areas such as literacy, computer skills, and English language training. Moreover, the volunteer can help with workshops in sewing or bread-making which are offered to benefit of the women of the center.
The volunteer will receive a complete orientation from the religious women from the Women's Support Center and with them will coordinate the work to be done. All that is required is patience, creativity and a desire to help!

Additional Information: The children of the women that are receiving help are oriented so that they can continue their studies and have their physical and emotional needs met, through children's recreational programs and academic and psychological help.

Lodging: Student Residence at the Academia.

Transportation: From the Academia to the project site requires about 50 minutes via public bus.

Clothing and Accessories: Comfortable clothing such as jeans, a tee shirt and sweatshirt. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

List of Optional Donations: Scholastic materials, notebooks, pencils, clothing.

Suggestions: This is a project in which the creativity and skills of the volunteers can be applied to a high degree, since the women that arrive at the center typically have no skills and need to learn a job skill that will offer them some income in the future. Therefore, the volunteer can always organize workshops offering new ideas or skills that could help the women.

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PROJECT: ESCUELA PARA NIÑOS CAMPESINOS / SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN OF FARMERS

General Location: A small rural town located about 20 minutes outside of Quito

Purpose of the Project: The project cares for children from 2 months of age and up in the following manners:

• Nurturing with integrity, love, respect and dedication
• Stimulating, for better physical, mental and emotional development
• Nutrition, with balanced and complete diets
• Mentoring, in order to become sensible and successful human beings of integrity
• Providing, with the necessary tools to succeed in a professional career
• Educating, with a constructive philosophy based in successful teaching-learning methods

History and Description of the Project: In 1988 it was decided to open an educational program that would improve the future of the country. It began as an innovative project in the educational field. The Foundation was legally signed into being with the Ministry of Culture and Education in 1999 as a non-profit educational institution.

Daily Tasks of the Volunteer: The volunteers form an integral part in the development of the project as they contribute with their diverse cultural backgrounds, as well as their experiences and academic support. Also the student needs to practice communicating in the language they are learning, creating a real-world setting for multilingual exchange.

Additional Information: The project understands that education implies much more than the academic field exclusively. Making it distinct from other educational institutions, this project covers important areas in overall development such as:

• Trilingual education (English, Chinese and Spanish)
• Preventative and curative medicine
• Work integrated with the parents and the community
• 4 balanced and nutritional meals per day
• Teaching and constant monitoring of personal hygiene (bathing, brushing teeth, cutting and cleaning fingernails)
• Attention to the emotional and physical needs of each child

Lodging: The project includes lodging for the volunteers inside the institution.

Transportation: Not required.

Clothing and Accessories: Clothing appropriate for working in an educational institution, with long pants, no jeans, long sleeve shirts. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

List of Optional Donations: Educational materials for teaching English and general subjects, such as clay, markers, erasers, pencils, etc. It is also great to bring clothing or toys for babies.

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PROJECT: HOGAR DE ADULTOS ENFERMOS / LIVE-IN MEDICAL FACILITY

General Location: Northern Quito

Purpose of the Project: To care for people with incurable diseases or conditions in the most caring, dignified way possible. The project can also benefit those of few resources.

History and Description of the Project: The Foundation has existed for about 25 years. It is a private Foundation, started by religious persons in the community, and currently receives some financial support from the government. There are approximately 50 patients living in the facility. Patients live in the facility full time and receive medical care, meals, constant nurse attention and other benefits. Visitors are welcome and those patients that can often go out with their families. Patients come form all over the country. There are varying levels of ability among the patients, some being fully capable and others having various conditions that prevent them from caring for themselves.

Daily Tasks of the Volunteer: The volunteer can serve in many different capacities, from helping in the kitchen, to aiding the nurses in basic chores such as changing or feeding less-capable patients, to visiting with patients and spending time with them, chatting or playing cards.

Additional Information: Volunteers are not permitted to perform specific Nurse tasks, such as administering medication.
A white lab coat is required.
Is required to send the curriculum vitae and a letter explaining the reasons the volunteers decide to work here.
A with lab coat is necessary for working.

Lodging: Student Residence at the Academia Latinoamericana.

Transportation: To arrive at the project site from the Academia requires about 15 to 20 minutes walking along the park, or 5 minutes in public bus with 5 minutes of walking.

Clothing and Accessories: Comfortable clothing that covers the legs and closed-toed shoes, for working in the kitchen. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

List of Optional Donations: Any clothes for adults

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PROJECT: HOSPITAL DE NIÑOS / CHILDREN HOSPITAL

General Location: Center of Quito

Purpose of the Project: The purpose of the project is to support the mission of the Hospital through obtaining resources to help poor children that come to the hospital, who more often then not do not have the money necessary for the medical attention they need.

History and Description of the Project: The Health sector of Ecuador consists of diverse institutions, both public and private, profit and non-profit.
The Ecuadorian constitution guarantees "free" health services for all Ecuadorian citizens. People of fewer resources are usually those who attend the public institutions. The huge quantity of patients seeking services overreaches the capacity of the hospitals and health clinics, bringing into question the quality of the services provided to the patients. Many needs exist that for whatever reason, be it economic, political or administrative, cannot be satisfied by the public sector of the medical field in Ecuador.
The public sub-sector is constituted of the Public Heath Ministry, the IESS, the Armed Forces and Police Health Services, the National Institute for the Child and the Family, and the Ministry of Social Well-Being. This sub-sector attends approximately 60% of the population, especially concerning hospital attention.
The Baca Ortiz Hospital is a public institution that specializes in child health. As is the case for many other hospitals and clinics, it is governed by the Health Ministry of Ecuador. The Hospital offers services such as hospitalization, emergency care, orthopedics, outside consultation, a burn center , pediatrics and x-ray services.

Daily Tasks of the Volunteer: The job of the volunteer consists of supporting the staff as they care for the children by distributing the donations that the hospital receives to the children that need them the most.

Additional Information: As is the case in all hospitals in Ecuador, volunteers are not allowed to perform the functions of a doctor or nurse. A minimum commitment of 4 weeks is required in order to be accepted to this project.

Lodging: Student Residence in the Academia Latinoamericana.

Transportation: To arrive at the project site from the Academia requires about 15 minutes via public bus.

Clothing and Accessories: A white lab coat over comfortable work clothing, preferably white as well. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

List of Optional Donations: Hospital equipment and/or materials especially for the burn center or Emergency room.

Suggestions: It is better to bring a donation consisting of a large quantity of one type of item instead of smaller amounts of various items.

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PROJECT: HOSPITAL GENERAL / GENERAL HOSPITAL

General Location: Centre of Quito.

Purpose of the Project: To assure an efficient attention in health to all his affiliated.

History and Description of the Project: This Hospital is one of biggest in the country. Approximately 35% of the total population have access to their services. The people who are taken care of in this center of health are of limited resources and the services of a private hospital.br> The affiliated and their children during the first year of life; the pensioners; and the widow with right to a monthly payment, is protected against the contingency of disease with the following benefits: Medical aid, surgical, dental services that includes/understands: it consults external, urgencies, preventive medicine and of rehabilitation, surgical attention and of hospitalization.

Daily Tasks of the Volunteer: Depending on the qualification of the volunteer and in coordination with the Head of Teaching of the Hospital, it will be located in an area in where its work contributes to the well-being of the patients. These areas can be: therapy of bones, urgencies, surgery, among others.

Additional Information: The volunteer must have at least 4 weeks to this work. He will have to use the uniform of green color that catalogues it as so and will have to subject to the internal dispositions of the hospital.

Lodging: Student residence at Academia Latinoamericana.

Transportation: Forty minutes from Academia Latinoamericana by public transportation.

Clothing and accessories: White long "mandil" and comfortable clothes.

List of Optional Donations: Hospitable equipment and/or materials for the of Emergency and Burned area.

PROJECT: DERECHOS HUMANOS / HUMAN RIGHTS General Location: Centre of Quito Purpose of the Project: AI's vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rightsstandards. In pursuit of this vision, AI's mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights. History and Description of the Project: Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights Daily Tasks of the Volunteer: The job of the volunteer will take place in the Amnesty International office in Quito. Depending on the skills of the volunteer, they will be assigned to a specific task within the organization, working in conjunction with the rest of the Amnesty International team. The volunteer's schedule will be during the morning hours. Additional Information: The volunteer should send a resume ahead of time, which will be forwarded on to the organization so that they can make a decision to accept the candidate or not. Lodging: Student Residence at the Academia Latinoamericana. Transportation: To arrive at the site from the Academia requires about 20 minutes via public bus.

Clothing and Accessories: Formal clothing for working in a private institution, such as long pants, no jeans, a long-sleeved shirt. The climate in Quito is extremely variable. There are warm days with temperatures up to 25 degrees C, and days that can be as cool as 13 degrees C, as well as occasional rain. Therefore be prepared for all kinds of weather.

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LAS LEYENDAS
Volunteers for Literacy:  this is a volunteer program devoted to reading to children one - on - one and in groups, either in English or Spanish,  at various sites throughout the city. This could be at a school, hospital, or other charitable organization.  To have a special someone read to you is a memorable gift that stays with a young mind for a very long time! The extra attention and opportunity for sharing is often the only chance these children have for developing the joys of reading and to have the care of an older person in this fashion.  We have an extensive library of story books for this purpose and also gratefully accept donations of all our students to expand our collection.

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LAS MADRINAS
This is a program for orphanages, especially  for abandoned street children.  This is the place where, were it not for the sponsoring organization, these children wouldn’t be here today.  You might find yourself for the first time in your life where you have everything and someone else has nothing. And, what do we all need?  Loving arms and a warm heart, a place to simply be held and be loved, listen to a song, hear a story, and receive the joy of human love and affection. The appreciation and joy you will receive from this program are indescribable.

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MEET YOUR MENTOR
This program is designed to help college students in their English language, Science or Business studies.  They may need conversation skills, homework help, tutoring, or a general arm around the shoulder.  Participants don’t need to be a working professional in any given field, though it would be a bonus.  If you are a person willing to coach, cheerlead, or give that helping hand to an older student working hard to get that TOEFL score, write a business plan, polish a paper, or provide some insight, experience or advice, then this is a program for you!

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