Ecuador

Although most of these organizations are expensive, I think that GC is very. I paid for 12 weeks of teaching English in 2008 when I should have paid for 2 and then continued to pay my host family directly for the next 10 weeks. Your paying for a connection to a host family and insurance and that is all; there is no support. My host family found the schools for me to teach in because GC did not do it themselves. The schools didn't even know I was coming until the day I got there. The contact/coordinator in Ecuador could not help anyone who had problems. I was supposed to live in a house with a host family but ended up living with a host family plus 7 other volunteers. I was told I would be the only volunteer in the village. However, the trip was great. GC - Not reccommended.

We had the time of our life. Sahil the person at their office was there to help me and my son always and made a perfect trip for us all through. We are already planning another trip with them!

What can I say? In 1990 Monica (owner) and Maria (sis) and all the staff (wow! that was a long time ago) taught me a lot of Spanish. Though I have since travelled 51 countries I always remember those experiences fondly and will do so for the rest of my life. They were my stepping stone to the love that I have in my heart for Ecuador today. Monica and her staff were considerate, patient, and always professional. They have influenced me to this day as I have followed a similar path in the same field. Now that's about the best Spanish school learning experience anyone could hope for. I also started salsa dancing there and Galapagos would be happy to know that I am now the hottest salsa dancer(ha) in Panama.
"Si mi mochila podria hablar!" -joseph ennis

I worked with two different programs throughout my time in Ecuador as a volunteer. My first placement was at Valle Del Rio where I taught English in 5 different surrounding elementary schools and my second was with the Casa del Sol Program in el Centro Historico de Quito where I was working in an indigenous daycare.
When I was living in Valle Del Rio I would spend every morning teaching English, grading past assignments, and interacting with the children of the 5 different schools. As an assistant at the daycare, I would wash the floors, tables, chairs, help cook, play with the children, give them homework assignments, help put them to sleep, and various other daycare activities.
The highlight of my experience was when my aunt came to visit me and we celebrated Mother's day with the community at Valle Del Rio. I loved my host family, and really anything that I did with them would be considered a highlight. I also really enjoyed the time I spent with my students as many of them lived so nearby and they would invite me over to play. The local Abroaderview coordinator was absolutely amazing and Laura and Myriam were more than helpful in everything and went way out on a limb to make sure that all of their volunteers were happy. Thanks again ABV for all of your help, it was truly an amazing experience. - Chelsea
George D. father of Chelsea
I am absolutely overwhelmed and dazzled by the POSITIVE difference between your organization and others. My wife Tracy and I feel as if our daughter Chelsea is the ONLY volunteer that you are coordinating. How do you do that!? How are you able to focus such attention on each volunteer without losing your minds? We are SO grateful and happy that Chelsea discovered A Broader View. Please pass our gratitude and our congratulations re: an organization exceptionally well run, along to everybody in view at Abroaderview. That must be everybody involved with your ABV organization because there is no way you could do such a professional and complete job without everybody carrying the same torch of passionate service and attention to detail.
Thank you and Congratulations!
Sincerely,
George D. (Tulsa,OK)

I can only add to the previous reviews of this company by strongly agreeing with the comments, particularly that of GC being a business and not a charity. While the project I was involved with in Ecuador was very good, and I really felt like I was helping, it was only once I had arrived that I discovered that the cloud forest eco-lodge is run by local villagers and supported by a couple in Quito who find them volunteers. GC act as an agent in this respect, and therefore take a huge cut for doing virtually nothing. Having talked to locals and the couple who run the show in Quito, I worked out that over two thirds of what I paid ($1500 from memory) went to GC, while the Quito representatives took a fair amount of the rest (I believe deservedly) and a horrifically small amount a day went to the eco-lodge and local people to look after us. When I questioned GC about this huge discrepancy, the only answer they could give was that the rest was needed for "administration". It would be rather more understandable if the pre- and de-briefing had been of the highest quality, and I had been totally confident of how and what I was doing before I went. This, however, was not the case, and I can see no reason for them taking such a large amount of money. What upsets me most is the abuse - as a traveller, it takes experience and confidence to just turn up in a foreign country and find a project to volunteer for, but this is by far the best way of doing it; that way you are bound to find good people doing good work, and not be ripped off by opportunists who have prospective volunteers over a barrel.