The “Instituto Especial Mariana de Jesús” is an institute which takes care of, educates and hosts children with visual and hearing disabilities from all over the country.
Program Description
The children need to stay in the Institute from Monday to Friday afternoon. During the weekends, they go back to  their homes to be with their families. The children come from families with limited resources and the Foundation “Amiga de los Ciegos”, a non-profit organization, doesn’t have enough resources to hire more people to live in the institute. Twenty-four people work in this institute. Approximately 39 children are present during the day and 24 stay to sleep there. More people are always needed to work with disabled children and, more particularly, to take care of them during the night.
 Volunteer Work Activities
The volunteers can organize recreational activities, help the children to do their homework, go with them to the museum, zoo, or swimming pool. They could also elaborate didactical material, transcript to the Braille, etc. If the volunteer sleeps in the institution, he/she can help to supervise the cleaning work of the boarding school.
To produce more efficient work, the volunteer should stay more than 3 months, this period is more beneficiary for the children at the school.
Volunteer Profile
We need people who are eager to help. If possible, we need people who know how to paint, play music, dance or do manual work to organize activities during the children’s free time - in the evening and the night. We are looking for women who are 20 to 30 years old.
Accommodation
The Institute is localized in the North of Quito. We offer the accommodation in a dorm with shared bathroom, located between the children’s bedrooms. The Institute is close to restaurants and clinics. We offer food - including breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner.
Number of Volunteers
2 people during the night and 3 during the day.
Volunteer Time
The Institute is open from September to the end of June. We have one week of holidays at the end of each trimester.
Requirements
- An intermediate level of Spanish is required. If the volunteer is not at this level, Ecuador Volunteer could help him/her to find the best program to improve his/her Spanish skills before starting the project.
- If the volunteer knows sign language he/she will be perfect for this project, but it is not necessary.
Cost: Free
|
