Program Photos

VISIONS Ecuador and Galapagos

Location: Ecuador: Galapagos Islands, Otavalo

Program Duration: 2-4 weeks

Dates: June 28 - July 25

Visions Service Adventures

http://www.visionsserviceadventures.com

321 E. Main Street Suite 426 Bozeman, MT 59715 United States

Call Us

Phone: 406-551-4423 / 800-813-9283

Fax: 406-551-1525

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Description

Visions offers teenagers opportunities for ambitious service work and cross-cultural immersion in the United States and abroad. We work with and for intercultural communities that lack financial and other development resources. Through service, authentic experience, and active exploration, we encourage new perspectives and dynamic learning.

Visions Ecuador is a month of discovery in this beautiful country of contrasts, an opportunity to live and work on a Galapagos Island and in a traditional Andean village. With Vision's host partner Nuevos Horizontes paving the way, work on the Galapagos will include interior and exterior renovations to local schools and working with the children in the classrooms, including organizing campamento activities. We also will lend our labors to the organic farm program starting up in a nearby community.

After ten days on the Galapagos, we'll fly back to the mainland and make our way to Chaupiloma, an idyllic farming village situated on one of the many agricultural hillsides of the Andes. Chaupiloma is a tranquil magical place with breathtaking views of the clouds rolling in and out and genuinely kind and open people. We'll live in a large community center, the well-used gathering place for residents of Chaupiloma and surrounding villages who hold weekend workshops and fiestas there. We will work at the community's organic farm and on other agricultural projects. We will help expand and improve the community center through construction work. We'll assist a reforestation project near the headwaters of the spring that supplies water for the area, and we will organize another campamento and teach English to children. Our hosts will work side-by-side with us.

Ecuador extends independence to participants to interact, one-on-one, with local people in all manner of their lives and to integrate into the life of the community. Your service will engage you in agricultural, environmental, economic, artistic and social fronts in our host communities.

Highlights

Exploring the wonders of the Galapagos is the past-time priority for the first portion of the program, with boat trips to other islands and tortoise reserves, hiking, snorkeling and swimming off white sand beaches. The Andean explorations planned will lead us to the markets of Otavalo, on hiking expeditions to lakes and waterfalls. And we will participate in workshops to learn weaving and embroidery, music and traditional dance.

Travel Types
  • Volunteering
  • Tours
Type of Programs
  • Adventure Travel
  • Community Service / Volunteerism
  • Cultural Exploration
  • Language Immersion

Languages
  • English
  • Quechua
  • Spanish

Cost in US$:

5,600

Cost Include Description:

Fee includes round trip flight from mainland to the Galapagos; everything except airfare to and from Ecuador and spending money (USD50 - 60 per week).

Credit Available

no

Experience Required

yes

    Two years high school Spanish or equivalent
Volunteer Types
  • community development
  • community centers
Age Range
14-18
This Program is open to

Worldwide Participant.

Typical Living Arrangements
  • Group living

Participants Travel to Ecuador

in Groups

Application Process Involves
  • Physical Exam/Health Records
  • Written Application
Typically The Application Process Time is
1 week or less
Post Services Include
  • Alumni Network
Visions Service Adventures's Mission Statement

Through service work and dynamic experience, Visions offers new perspectives and deep learning while working for and with under-resourced communities. Through construction-based and other service and on-site living, Visions introduces teens to cultures very different from their own. Participants are challenged to grow thoughtfully and intentionally within a community of peers and adult leaders. The service work accomplished is a gift to local hosts who welcome Visions participants into their homes and lives. Visions assists organizations that serve under-resourced communities. We provide labor and raw materials for projects designated by communities. Depending on the duration and size of a program, Visions provides USD 3,000 to USD 7,000 for each location's projects, which we fund in full or by adding funds to local funding sources for projects.

Year Founded

1989

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