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Ecuador Volunteer | Changing Lives |
| FAQ's Volunteer Work |
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Sections
ORGANIZATION1. What is the principle function of the Ecuador Volunteer Foundation?
The Ecuador Volunteer Foundation is a non-profit organization, whose principle function is to select volunteers and create a bridge between them and different projects in the Ecuadorian area.
TYPES OF PROJECTS
LENGTH OF TIME OF PROJECTS
1. What is the minimum time length for the Free Projects? LODGING, MEALS, AND PERSONAL EXPENSES
AVAILIBILITY IN PROJECTS1. How many spots are available in each project? Depending on which project you choose, there are generally a maximum of five volunteer spots available in each project. STARTING DATES OF PROJECTS1. When should I travel? The majority of the projects are available year-round, but it is still very important to plan your trip at least one month in advance. 2. Is there a specific end date to my volunteer project? Yes, the majority of the projects are available year-round, but you generally need to volunteer for a minimum amount of time. Some projects have specific participation dates depending on the nature of the project, such as those based in elementary schools. The length of the minimum participation time depends on the project, so check the project information for participation dates. APPLICATION PERIOD1. How far in advance should I file my application? Your application should be filed at least one month before your desired volunteer starting date. This is when you will provide your confirmed date, time, airline, and flight number for your arrival in Ecuador. PROJECT COSTS1. Should I pay for the volunteer work? The Ecuador Volunteer Foundation does not receive financial support from any public or private organization. Therefore, we are grateful for contributions of $250 USD corresponding to the application fee for Low-Cost Projects and $300 USD for Free Projects. These contributions allow us to cover the investment costs for each volunteer before we set them up with the organization in which they will be working. 2. What does the Ecuador Volunteer Foundation do with the donated money? Money donated by the volunteers principally serves as a cover for administrative costs for the foundation, volunteer transportation from the airport to their accommodations in Quito, information material, and website promotion to make our foundation as accessible as possible. 3. How much do the projects cost? There are two types of projects: Free Projects, where the project covers lodging and food expenses, and Low Cost Projects, where the volunteer needs to cover their own lodging and food expenses. 4. Should I pay the Ecuador Volunteer Foundation for the Low Cost Projects? No, Ecuador Volunteer only receives the primary $250 USD contribution for the administrative costs. Volunteers should make their payments directly to the projects. You will pay the project costs directly to the project director or coordinator when you arrive in Ecuador. 5. Why are the costs of the projects so low? Our principle focus is to improve the quality of life for the people, and we coordinate our efforts to allow volunteers to help us do that as easily as possible. This is how we distinguish ourselves from other organizations-- by looking into all alternatives in order to find the best possible way to allow volunteers to live comfortably in Ecuador, while always being mindful of volunteer’s selflessness. 6. Does the Ecuador Volunteer Foundation ask for any sort of economic contributions to the projects? The Ecuador Volunteer Foundation does not ask for any financial support for any projects. We support the projects through our work in creating a bridge between the volunteers and the environments that need the most help. FORMS OF PAYMENT1. When should I pay the donation to the Ecuador Volunteer Foundation? The donation payment should be made before the volunteer arrives in Ecuador, and if possible, via bank transfer or credit card. 2. When should I pay for the Low Cost Projects? The payment should be made once you arrive in Ecuador, and should be directly made to the projects, hostels, or families. Ecuador Volunteer will give you directions with how to go about making these payments. 3. How can I pay my donation payment to Ecuador Volunteer? If you would like to pay via bank transfer or credit card, we recommend that you e-mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so that we can send you the necessary information and proper steps for the transaction. 4. Where can I exchange my traveler’s checks? Near our office there are many banks where you can change your traveler’s checks using your passport. TAXES1. In Ecuador are there airport taxes to leave or enter the country? The only airport tax is charged when you leave the country, which costs $44 USD. RESPONSIBILITIES1. What is the responsibility of the Ecuador Volunteer Foundation? Ecuador Volunteer is exclusively responsible for the arrangement of housing, information, orientation for the volunteers before they begin their volunteer work, and coordination with their corresponding volunteer project. 2. Who is responsible for the projects? Each project, organization, and foundation has a director or coordinator that is directly responsible for the volunteers' work. Ecuador Volunteer does not have its own projects. For this reason, we cannot intervene with the regulations, administration, or function of each project. 3. Who is responsible for the volunteers within the projects? The people responsible for the volunteers are the volunteers themselves, coordinators, or directors of the projects. Ecuador Volunteer is not responsible for the volunteers while they are working in the projects. 4. What guarantee can Ecuador Volunteer give us to ensure that these projects are perfectly organized? Ecuador Volunteer is a network that receives many project applications from organizations that require volunteer help. We select the projects that need the most assistance and that present the most structured plan for the volunteers. We cannot guarantee a perfectly functioning project, but we try to select the best projects. 5. Are there projects that have problems? All of the projects present some sort of problems; if the projects were perfect, they wouldn’t need volunteer help. 6. What is the responsibility of the volunteers within the projects? The responsibility of the volunteers is to comply with the assigned functions given to them by the directors or coordinators of the project. If some sort of problem arises, it is the volunteer's responsibility to ask for different tasks or assignments. 7. How can you change your project? If the volunteers do not like their selected project and want to change to a different project, they should explain their reasons to the Ecuador Volunteer Foundation. Ecuador Volunteer will then them with alternative projects to which they can apply. 8. How safe are the projects? Generally, the projects are safe and do not produce any personal risks for volunteers. However, volunteers should always be conscious that they are working in the poorest areas of the population. All volunteers receive instructions on how to travel safely throughout the country. TRAVEL INSURANCE AND HEALTH1. Is it necessary to invest in travel insurance? Yes, all of the volunteers should have travel insurance before they begin their project. The volunteers will have to present a copy of it to the Ecuador Volunteer office. 2. Are there frequent accidents with volunteers within the projects? So far there have not been any problems or accidents with volunteers, but it is necessary to be insured since accidents are always possible. 3. What immunizations and vaccines do I need? Ecuador Volunteer strongly recommends that you get the Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A & B, Diphtheria, Typhoid vaccines and that you take Malaria pills. EVALUATION SYSTEM AND CERTIFICATION1. Do we need to have an evaluation of our experience in order to complete the project? Yes, all of the volunteers should return to the Ecuador Volunteer offices for a final evaluation of your project. This information will help us to analyze the projects, and for those projects that receive positive feedback, we will contitue to offer them to other volunteers through our website. 2. How long does it take complete an evaluation? The evaluation time is approximately 20 minutes. 3. How do we obtain our certificate? All of the volunteers receive a certificate for their work at the end of their volunteer period. For this reason, it is important that the volunteers return to our office in Quito at the end of their time with the project. AIRLINES1. How do I find a flight to Ecuador? There are several airlines that fly into Guayaquil and Quito. You need to arrive at Quito airport. Continental American Airlines Lacsa Copa Avianca Aerocontinente Iberia KLM Santa Barbara Additional websites for international plane tickets: www.abstravel.com www.flylatinamerica.com www.expedia.com www.bookingbuddy.com 2. Can I buy a one-way ticket? Ecuadorian immigration law requires that you show proof of a ticket exiting Ecuador to grant you a visa. Although not every immigration officer may ask you to show the ticket, you will likely be asked for it. Thus, we recommend that you have one and that you not take the risk. 3. Is there a baggage limit? We recommend that you check with your airline. Be aware that international flights have higher limits than domestic flights, if you are planning on flying within the country you might be asked to pay for extra weight. AIRPORT TRANSFER AND TRANSPORTATION1. Who will pick me up at the airport? There will be a person with a yellow card holding up your name waiting for you at the international terminal gate. This person will drive you to your accommodations in Quito. 2. Who will bring me to the volunteer office? A person from the organization will pick up the volunteer from his/her accommodations and take him/her to the Ecuador Volunteer office. There, the volunteer will receive an information packet about his/her upcoming project. 3. Who covers the transport from Quito to my project? If the project is located in Quito, the project does not cover transportation. The project only covers transportation if the projects that are located in rural areas. However, many projects that are located in these areas do not cover transportation services, so Ecuador Volunteer Foundation allocates a small amount to cover the volunteer’s journey from Quito to the project site by public bus. The return trip and all additional trips must be covered by the volunteer. 4. What projects cover my transfer from Quito, to my workplace? 99% of projects do not cover this transportation. 1% of projects do kindly cover these costs for volunteers, but it is not the duty of the project to do so. 5. Who gets me at the bus station when it reaches the project? In most cases, it is the project coordinator who meets the volunteer at the terminal. If the coordinator can not go there, he or she will send another person to do so. VISAS1. Do I need a visa to enter Ecuador? Visitors are not required to obtain a visa to travel to Ecuador for less than 90 days. However, visitors that enter Ecuador without a visa must bring a passport with them that is valid for at least six months after they leave Ecuador and a return plane ticket. Upon arrival, immigration authorities may ask if you possess economic solvency to stay in the country. If you are planning on staying more than 3 months, then you need to get a volunteer visa. This visa costs approximately $150 USD and $30 USD for the application. Ecuador Volunteer will provide you with the paper work from the sponsoring institution the visa requires, but not with the expenses. You will need to get your own paperwork, such as an HIV test, proof of vaccinations, police record, etc. It is your responsibility to get the visa. 2. What kind of Visa do I need? VISA 12 – VII. Voluntary, Religious, or Missionary is applicable to Missionaries, Volunteers, and Religious persons. 3. What documents are required? Documents Required: * "Aplicación de Visa" Visa Application completed and signed. * "Certificado de Visación" completed and signed. * Passport, valid for at least six months . * Two photos passport size, white background. * Doctor's certificate and HIV test, indicating that the person does not have any communicable diseases. * Police certificate indicating that there is no police record. * Letter from Legal Representative of the entity requesting that the volunteer/missionary be admitted to Ecuador. * Copy of the Decree issued by the Ecuadorian government authorizing the entity to operate in Ecuador. * Copy of the appointment of the Legal representative of the entity duly registered and authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. * Copy of the bylaws of the host entity in Ecuador. * Economic Guarantee. 4. Do I need to register my visa? If you got your visa in your home country, you need to register your visa at the immigration office in Quito, and then you need to get a "Censo". If you got your tourist visa at the airport in Quito you don’t need to register neither your visa nor get a "Censo". 5. How long do I have to register my visa? The volunteers have 30 days to register their visa. If you do not do it in this amount of time, you may have to pay a fine of 200 USD. 6. What is a censo? A censo is an identification card for foreigners. It doesn’t have your signature and in most cases won’t work for banks as a valid ID. You can carry this censo instead of your original passport, but you should keep a copy of your passport with you in the event you are asked to show your documents. To obtain a censo, you will need to take 2 small photos, your passport and $6,00 dollars to the Immigration office. You should be able to get it within two days. A censo will permit you to get discounts if you want to enter any national parks, including the Galapagos Islands. You need a censo if you are coming for more than 6 months and not with a tourist visa. Visitors with a tourist visa cannot get a censo. REQUIREMENTS1. What prerequisites do I need in order to volunteer? All of the information about the prerequisites in order to work as a volunteer can be found on the information page and information pack of each project.
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Fundación Ecuador Volunteer / Yanéz Pinzón N25-106 y Av. Colón / Quito - Ecuador - South America / Telfax (593-2) 2557749 - 2226544 / Ministerial Resolution N° 0350 |
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