Ecuador

My trip to Quito was one I will never forget, I am a teacher in the States and I really wanted to go out of the country and give back. I never could have imagined what I was walking in to. The kids and staff are wonderful and very appreciative of ever volunteer there. The community is awesome and the children are even better. All of these children deserve a chance to dream and have goals and I think by doing our part they can see they can do much more with their lives. I plan to do more things like this, but this trip I will never forget.

This program was such an eye-opening experience that I highly recommend. I was in the Kindergarten program in Ecuador for 4 amazing weeks. Through this program, I was able to meet so many like-minded people and learn so many things by living in this community. I was able to volunteer during the week and go on weekend adventures with the friends I made there. I never felt alone and always had something to do. The kindergarteners were so cute and lively and I loved helping them out. It was only a short walk from the volunteer house. I hope that everyone gives IVHQ a chance and is able to have the same positive experience that I did.

The Pre-Med Internship program was a wonderful experience as I was able to observe many things and help doctors whenever I could. ABV was helpful in addressing my needs and giving me guidance in what I should do.

Ecuador is a wonderful place and the host family that ABV assigned to me was an absolute joy to live with. The food was as authentic as you could get to Ecuadorian standards and the whole country was beautiful to explore as well. ABV did a wonderful job partnering up with grassroot organizations, to provide events that we could attend to, while also providing opportunities to meet new people.

The doctors are nice and respond to any questions you have without hesitation. Overall, it is a fortunate thing to see just how hard-working the doctors/nurses are in the hospital and how much they care for the patients. 

Exploring Mindo, Ecuador was really exciting and fun. I was able to go ziplining, birdwatching, and hiking. Mindo is a small town that is beautiful both day and night. 

My name is Sophie and I’m from Canada (the French part!). I’m currently studying in psychology and I just finished volunteering in Quito, Ecuador, on the Shelter project. During the project I worked at the Albergue San Juan de Dios with the most amazing people in the world! They have the biggest hearts and they work so hard to help others in need; it was an honor for me to give them a hand. The opportunity to experience a different culture while still being able to give back to individuals who are in need, was something I could not pass up on. Seeing how some of them had a hard life made me more appreciative of the resources that are easily accessible to individuals such as myself. The experience overall was incredible and life changing. I loved every second and would volunteer again a million times. Ecuador feel like a second home to me now.

Ivhq was the first volunteer program I have done. I was nervous before I left, wasn't sure what to expect, and I was traveling alone. No matter how many questions I had before I landed in Ecuador, someone was there to help. Once I landed in Quito, everything was better than what I thought it would be. The staff was incredible and helped with everything. Any questions about the city, country, my program, anything, they were there to help. I worked for 5 weeks in a school helping to teach English. I adore those kids and wish I could have stayed longer. The country was amazing and it's a hidden gem that more people should learn about, such a Cotopaxi, the roses, making chocolate, city of Baños, exploring the Amazon... everything was amazing. Thank you

I lived with a very nice family who had multiple dwellings right next to each other. I lived in a house with 3 other ABV volunteers and one of her sons. There were other volunteers from Germany and USA. The meals were fantastic and I felt safe the whole time I was there. I was there only a week, but wish I could have stayed longer. Both my accommodations and my medical program were the perfect fit for me. I ended up using Uber, which was faster than the bus, and cheaper than taxis!

This was an amazing first trip to South America, and I’d love to go back. Working and serving in Spanish speaking countries has always been one of my life long goals, since high school. The ABV Program trip to Quito, Ecuador provided me with the opportunity to enjoy two of my main passions in life simultaneously, which are traveling and helping others. I was given the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those I served in Quito, Ecuador, along with the medical professionals at the Ecuadorian clinic and other volunteers who went on the trip. I plan to cherish and share what I learned from this trip as a professional and in my personal life. Thank you!

I loved meeting everyone in the Ecuador group. We all hit it off right away. Looking forward to meeting up with them again in our future travels. This trip was unforgettable and just the start of my volunteering, I am hoping to participate in more trips in the future!
The apartment was perfect. The location was very secure with a door man. The family was so helpful. Laura taught us how to make empanadas and scheduled us a salsa dancing class. The meals were a great glimpse into traditional Ecuadorian culture. All the food was fantastic with very generous portions! Fresh, exotic fruit was always available to us which was an extra special treat.
Working with A Broader View has been one of my favorite experiences in my professional career. I had always wanted to provide volunteer PT services abroad but didn’t know where to start. ABV put in place the perfect framework that combined volunteering in the clinic and learning the local culture. Staying with an Ecuadorian family really integrated us into their family’s culture; learning their traditions and eating delicious food!

I worked with IVHQ as a volunteer in Santa Elena, Ecuador on the Environmental Education programme. The organisation was great. It provided all the information I needed before making a decision about where and what voluntary work I wanted to do. I never had an issue or a problem during application or registration. All the necessary preparation steps were properly explained. Before arriving the communication was clear and sufficient. All information was provided. In Ecuador the accomodation was clean and had everything I could wish for. Everything was done to make me feel welcome and at ease. The local staff was friendly and helpful. The work itself was also nice and fullfilling. With the work I got to know and help the local community. In short: I absolutely recommend working as a volunteer with IVHQ.

My experience in Ecuador went so far beyond my expectations. I loved how welcoming and friendly my host family was. They made me feel comfortable and made my time in Ecuador 10x better. Everyone that I worked with at the projects were patient and understanding of my limited Spanish ability, and despite the language barrier I was able to learn so much from them. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in experiencing a new culture, and getting some real hands on experience in the field of Occupational Therapy.
My favorite memory of the trip would either be traveling on the weekends to different parts of Ecuador or just hanging out with my host family during meals. The weekend travels were so awesome because I got to see a new part of the world unlike anything I had ever experienced, and I got to do some awesome activities. Hanging out with my host family was great because I got to be fully immersed in Ecuadorian culture, and they taught me so much about the history of Quito and interesting things about Ecuador.