The 6 [Best Cheap] Ecuador Orphanage and Children Volunteer Providers 2024

Are you looking for an affordable and safe way to explore a new country while also giving back to the children who reside there? Would you like to discover Ecuador’s diverse and social culture while working with orphaned children living in poor conditions? Would you like to find the best and most affordable Ecuador childcare volunteer programs and providers?

When you start searching online, you’ll notice there are many providers offering orphanage programs in Ecuador. With so many organizations offering similar programs at different prices and with varying impacts, it’s easy to pick the wrong one. Choosing the wrong company can result in wasting a lot of money and ending up in the wrong program.

While it might seem logical to go for the cheapest provider, it’s important to dig deeper to avoid negative experiences. TravellersQuest has done the legwork for you. After extensive research, we’ve narrowed down the top 10 orphanage volunteer program providers in Ecuador based on cost, online reviews, company reputation, and program value.

Keep on reading to discover the best orphanage and childcare volunteer providers in Ecuador.

Plan My Gap Year (UK)

Plan My Gap Year (PMGY) offers life-changing experiences and opportunities to volunteers across 17 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Volunteers with the goal to reach out to more volunteers worldwide founded this award-winning volunteer organization that currently has offices in both UK and the US. PMGY provides a safe, structured and social platform for volunteers to travel and change the world while immersing in different cultures with opportunities available from 1-40 weeks.

Plan My Gap Year’s Ecuador Childcare Volunteer Program

Ecuador is home to over 200,000 neglected children due to abandonment, death, and alcoholism. Many children are forced into homes and living on the streets due to dysfunctional settings or abuse within their own families.

Volunteers Ecuador childcare volunteering program help with the daily chores like cleaning, helping to feed the children, singing them songs, teaching them about hygiene and other important skills, playing with children in a recreational setting outdoors is also a big part of the job due to the limited time the caregivers have to do such an activity. You will have the chance to interact with the kids by organizing games, manual activities, and other things to keep them busy. Taking the initiative and applying creativity is an important skill to have in this kind of work.

The Fee

Program registration fee for the childcare volunteering programs in Ecuador is $249, two-week stay at the project is $555 or for four-week stay is $825. The fee pays for food and accommodation, airport pickup orientation and full safety briefing, 24/7 local support network, and project placement and onsite supervision.

Reviews

Very impressive online reviews about PMGY include statements such as “great local staff” “great connection” and “best volunteering experience ever.” If you’re looking for an organization that offers Ecuador orphanage Volunteer that are impactful and transparent then you might need to check PMGY further. Read more reviews on Go Overseas. 

Global Crossroad

Global Crossroad is an American based international volunteer abroad organization. Founded in 2003, Global Crossroad offers a variety of programs including individualized placements, travel and adventure, cross-cultural learning experiences, in-country travel arrangements, free-time exploration, and other services as per the special needs of participants. Since its inception, the organization has been growing substantially each year an increase of nearly 300% since 2003 that is true reflects the unique volunteer vacation and travel abroad programs.

Global Crossroad Volunteer In Orphanage Program in Ecuador

The population of Ecuador has doubled in the last 2 decades, creating a growing population of abandoned children. Most of these children are from poor and/or indigenous families. Growing poverty, lacking education, and limited governmental resources further exacerbate the problem of street children and orphans in Ecuador.

When you volunteer in an orphanage program in Ecuador, you will help the underprivileged children of the orphanage by teaching Basic English or Spanish. During your stay, you will also have the opportunity to explore and learn Spanish. You will help by feeding, caring for, and simply playing with these very young children.

The Fee

The registration fee for this Ecuador Orphanage Volunteer program is $299. The cost for a two-week stay is $590 or $1080 for a four-week stay. The program fee covers airport pickup, program orientation, food and accommodation, personalized projects, pre-departure information, and certificate of completion.

Reviews

Global Crossroad is one of the fastest volunteering abroad companies. The organization is quite popular online with many past volunteers reviewing that the organization is safe and secure with very impactful projects. The price is a merit point, and the programs are worth it. If you are looking for an affordable and quality Ecuador orphanage volunteering opportunity check this provider out. Read all reviews on Go overseas.

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

With over 40 destinations across Africa Asia, Central America, North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the world.  Based in New Zealand IVHQ has hosted over 100,000 international volunteers around the world. If you’re searching for meaningful volunteer work and the opportunity to experience a life-changing volunteer vacation, gap year, or alternative break, you can trust IVHQ to make it happen. IVHQ has over 40 volunteer programs worldwide.

Volunteer HQ’s Childcare Volunteer Program In Ecuador

For many Ecuadorian children, a school is never an option. The children you will be working with on this project spend 365 days a year working in the streets and markets, selling goods, and performing with their parents to help provide for their families. In Ecuador, IVHQ works with local NGOs to enable them to widen their reach and support more children within the local community.

By joining childcare volunteer opportunity in Ecuador, you will be working with children of all ages and assisting in providing basic school lessons. You may also have the opportunity to organize singing and dancing for the children, provide hygiene awareness lessons, and introduce the children to new activities and games. The families of the children are hugely appreciative of the interactions shared with international volunteers, as this offers the children new opportunities and perspectives on life that they otherwise would not have been exposed to.

The Fee

Program registration fee will be $329, with a two-week program stay for $515 or $825 for a four-week stay in the Ecuador orphanage volunteer program. The fee paid covers for 24/7 local support network, project orientation, volunteer placement, food, and accommodation, and airport pick-up on arrival.

Reviews

IVHQ has many positive reviews because it offers very affordable and well-structured programs. Many previous volunteers state that the organization was very helpful, with an amazing local team. They also rave about affordability and transparency. When researching for a best and most affordable volunteer in Ecuador orphanage opportunities we advise you to look out for International Volunteer HQ. Read more reviews on Go overseas and Go Abroad.

IFRE Volunteer

Founded in 2006, IFRE is one of the recognized leaders in the volunteer abroad field. As a registered non-profit, the organization collaborates with hundreds of local orphanages, schools, medical centers, women’s projects, local NGOs, and grassroots organizations in 20 countries around the globe, making a huge impact with the help of dedicated international volunteers. IFRE prides itself in offering the lowest cost and highest quality volunteer programs on the market, which enables more volunteers to serve humanity and have a lifetime experience abroad.

IFRE’s Volunteer In Ecuador Orphanage Program

In the last two decades, the population of Ecuador has doubled, which has led to dramatic growth in the number of abandoned children in urban and rural areas. Due to the death of their parents, poverty, neglect, and abuse, millions of children are left in the care of orphanages where they can find the kindness and compassion they need. Since there are many orphanages and community centers in Ecuador that struggle to serve so many orphans, the need for passionate and dedicated international volunteers is always very high.

At Ecuador orphanage volunteer program, you will be helping provide orphans with the care and love they so desperately need. The goal of this volunteering program is to help these orphaned children by sharing your compassion, empathy, and skills. You will work with local staff members and participate in various skill-developing activities and change the lives of orphans and enrich your own life with memories you will cherish forever.

The Fee

You will need $299 to register for the Ecuador orphanage Volunteer program. In addition to the registration fee, you will pay $590 for a two-week stay or $1080 for a four-week stay. The fee will take care of costs such as your accommodation, food, airport pickup, and transfer, program orientation including in-country support, pre-departure information, and certificate of completion. The weekly fee does not include your airfare, daily transportation, visa and visa extension fee, and airport drop.

Reviews

With years of experience in the industry, IFRE has amazing online reviews Volunteers have left impressive comments such as “perfect home and respectful host family” “impactful programs and excellent local staff support.” Be sure to give IFRE a deeper look while researching to volunteer in Ecuador in an orphanage program. Read reviews on Go Overseas.

Love Volunteers (New Zealand)

With programs in Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Australasia, Love Volunteers (LV) have a non-profit policy on program fees. 10% of program fees are used to cover international bank fees and the rest goes to the local charities and organizations hosting you. All the programs listed on Love Volunteers have been fully audited for safety, social responsibility, and impact. The organization was founded in 2009 by two siblings Julian and Kelly.

About Love Volunteers Childcare Program In Ecuador

This fun program is based in the beautiful city of Quito, where volunteers will find their help is invaluable and very much in need. The program offers quality childcare to parents so they can work and support their families, and ultimately leave the poverty cycle

Whilst participating in this Ecuador childcare volunteer program, your tasks will include playing with the children, feeding those in need, assisting with the acquisition of social skills and language development, as well as helping children to do their homework. The program provides volunteers with the opportunity to share their knowledge and skills with those in need, and to help shape the lives of the beautiful children of Ecuador. It promises to be an experience that a volunteer will never forget.

The Fee

Program fees include a $299 registration fee, along with $469 for a two-week stay, and $639 for four weeks. Fees cover airport pickup, orientation and safety briefing, project placement and onsite supervision, accommodations, and meals.

Reviews

Past Love Volunteers participants have praise the welcoming culture of care centers and the learning attitudes of the children, despite the conditions. Reviews include comments like “friends forever” “full of energy” and “highly recommended.” With its professional approach to overseas volunteering, Love Volunteers should be on your list to explore in finding a position as an Ecuador Orphanage Volunteer opportunity. Read more reviews on Go overseas and Go Abroad.

A Broader View

A Broader View Volunteers (ABV) is a non-profit, 501 c (3) founded in 2007 by Sarah and Oliver Elhers. Over the years ABV has raised more than $3 million for impoverished communities around the world. ABV has over 240 programs in 25 countries across South and Central America, Asia, and Africa. Over 68,900 volunteers have volunteered with ABV since its inception.

A Broader View’s Volunteer In Ecuador Orphanage Program

Extreme poverty has destroyed many families in Ecuador, forcing parents to migrate to cities in search of work, sometimes abandoning their children. These conditions create an ongoing need for volunteers in Ecuador orphanages, a need that rises every year. Orphanages provide a safe place for local children who have suffered violence, physical and psychological, or another risk to their lives.  Created to have a family environment, with emphasis on education, the children are provided with a positive outlook on their lives.

When you join volunteer in orphanage program in Ecuador you will help organize recreational activities, support the kids with homework help, encourage and teach the importance of hygiene, daily life skills and doing their daily chores at the home. There is a large garden that the children use to plant their own vegetables. This has proven to be very successful with the children and youth because they take pride in what they have planted and are always eager to learn how to improve them.

The Fee

ABV doesn’t charge a registration fee, however, the two-week Ecuador orphanage Volunteer program is $1050, and the four-week stay is $1340. Program fees cover accommodations and food, airport pickup on arrival, in-country orientation and safety briefing, and 24/7 local support network and project placement and onsite supervision.

Reviews

Positive online reviews include statements like “time well spent” “I feel like I have changed the world” “humbling and eye-opening experience.” Past volunteers have expressed great satisfaction with the company rated it at 9.9/10 in Go Overseas. Lookup for A Broader View in your research about orphanage volunteering opportunities in Ecuador. Read reviews on Go Abroad and Go overseas.

Conclusion

Ecuador is a developing country and many children find themselves alongside their families living in destitute conditions.  As a result, many children end up losing their parents very young, leaving them with no one to take care of them. Most of the time they will be roaming the streets or working for low wages without access to education.

This will be an enriching, educational, and eye-opening experience in a colorful and vibrant town in Ecuador. In addition, you will be fulfilled and satisfied knowing that you are achieving your life passion of working in impoverished communities to positively change lives while marking sustainable change.

And, now you have the 6 best Ecuador Orphanage Volunteer providers above, we advise you to choose wisely with no obligation. Most of these providers have great customer service; we recommend that you also speak to them before making a decision. Compare, choose wisely, and then take the next step.