Service Learning

Join us abroad program – Not just another travel & help experience

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One week  with us is in fact unique… a month unforgivable. Not just as a tourist or volunteer, is about sharing and experience deeply   the life here and the impact you can make to other people’s life.

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Community empowerment with Vivientes is the combination of 3 main missions to guarantee the development in rural communities on the coast of Santa elena Province.

The key of Vivientes work are:
– Complementary education
– Good Nutrition and organic production
– Cultural Rescue & values

We work with several towns from the coast of Santa Elena, this programs will allow you to visit several places, see awesome landscapes and meet a variety of people and activities.

The most important for us is that our working methods is not only Help others, we use the Service Learing philosofy, that means that ALL the activities have to be realeted to a topic of interest and a skill /knowleadge that will be usefull for you after the stay with us.


Expected Tasks While Volunteering:

Internship applicants must select one area to join and take part of a project (Goal)
Interns can participate in other areas of activity without neglecting their assigned project.

Example of schedule and activities.

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* We work 5 days per week with 2 days off.  Wednesday and  Sundays ussualy are “rest days”  

What is a day with us looks like?
Go and check our post “A perfect Day on Vivientes” written by previous interns. There you can see the journey of a wonderful day.

Also below are listed the timetable of previous interns groups.
Date:  2o15/June –  Link
Date: 2o16/July – Link

As community needs change everyday, the timetable activities does too. But we keep the core and our goal is that the interns and the community members get the most on each period.

We divide or activities in:
– Courses for interns (Introductory, intercultural or skill development in a specific area)
– Project development
– Community work (project implementation)
– Free or rest time.

The courses and community work are strictly scheduled. This also means that they are obligatory.
Project development time is more flexible as long as you reach the assigned goals..
Free / Rest time are for having fun. Because we consider is importan to enjoy life and experience fun with locals an other travelers. We do snorkel, horse riding and much more. We have also Responsible Tourism activity suggestions.

The Intern Perfect for this Program:

– People who likes work with children
– People that want to learn and improve themselves
– People that want to get involve with community activities
– People that love outdoors
– Anyone who loves the hot weather, beach and countryside life.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROJECT

Joining us for a week as an Intern on the “Share + Learn” system requieres a contribution of

– $400 USD per month
– $350 USD three weeks
– $250 USD two weeks
– $150 USD one week

This contribution cover: hosting, pick up from Montañita Bus Station and of course all the assistance, support and basic materials to follow the program and develop a project with us and apply it on the local communities we work with.

Food is not included, but you have full access to a kitchen and storage facilities as well to

HIGHLIGHTS: All the money gather from “Share + Learn” system are invested on Viviente’s community projects, this means the staff do NOT get any PROFIT of it… just happiness.

Price :

– $400 USD per month
– $350 USD three weeks
– $250 USD two weeks
– $150 USD one week

*Prices are in $ (US dollars) as it’s Ecuador national currency.
** This is a Non-profit program, the found are directly directed to local families and project developing. Thanks to your contribution  the developing initiatives are possible!

Price Includes:
– 24/7 support during the program
–  Trainee session of the develop área of your chose
– Lodging in the Project facilities from Dos Mangas Station near Montañira
– Contribution to the Foundation
– A Work & Volunteering Recommendation Letter

Minimum Time Spent Volunteering:
– 1 Week Minimum
(Maximum 6 Volunteers at a Time)

Other Questions? see our FAQ

Difference Between Internship & Volunteering?

Internship programs are for everyone willing to learn from us.  The program allows you to help the community while learning from the diverse workshops we offer. Internships requieres a fee that includes housing, half-food meal plan, workshops material & travel between different stations, communities and fun places. Internships also offer a certificate of joining the project. Your contribution also makes affordable travel to the 2nd Station in San Vicente Community, where is much more poverty and need more our contribution.

On the other hand Volunteers come to the “Acclimation station” only to  fulfill an specific task, this means you will be selected due your skills, background and experience, the Volunteers don’t include trips and the exploring of the surroundings you will have to do it by your own.  The Travel to the diverse points and to the San Vicente Community (where is the 2nd station and the school project) usually is not archivable.

There is a lot of joy and learning of staying with us. Not only the immersion experience with local culture, but also the opportunity to enjoy surroundings, learn new skills and life on an amazing camping facility while making a true impact on the community.

Hosting on our station: 

Experience nature in new form – Sleep on a Glamping Tree house in Dos Mangas Station

This allow you to experience nature in a new form and activate your body.

camping-house

Some of the services on the Station are:

tick_64-1  Hot Water shower
tick_64-1  Wifi
tick_64-1 Confortable bed with mosquito tent and fan
tick_64-1 Bathroom
tick_64-1 Wood, Bamboo and Art Workshop
tick_64-1 Full equipment kitchen
tick_64-1 Two Bicycles
tick_64-1 Gym
tick_64-1 Local bus stop  to near town: Manglaralto and Montañita (famous tourist stop)
tick_64-1 and more… Check Dos Mangas Station for more information and pictures.

*Remember! this is NOT an hotel, we welcome you as a Ghest on the Dos Mangas Station as a member of the Viviente’s project. We will be your family for one week 🙂

Lunch & community support: 

We understand that gastronomy is an essencial part to know a culture, so now we include it on your stay on the station.

But is not only good quality food, but also meals provided by diverse local restaurants. This is a way to activate local economy and support good quality bussiness.

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The family restaurants or initiative we choose not only because they are good chefs, but also because they have certification of good process of cooking and choose good quality ingredients.

HIGHLIGHTS: We can get sort arrangement with the “meals” such as vegetarian or avoid some alergic ingredients, but in overall is an stardard menu for the week that depends on season ingredients.
We do not include food, but you can cook on the station or go to the town and buy lunch for $2.5. This can vary in some cases.

We will provide you a big bottle of purified water that you can refill when it runs off.

Responsabile tourism activities:

Is not only about help, we also have FUN!  An opportunity not only to enjoy the most common touristic areas / activities, but also to get access to uncommon opportunities to travel into the mountains or jump inside a natural pool, snorkel, fishing and more!

We do this to enrich you experience with us, but remember we are NOT a travel / tour agency. We enjoy as friends.

We also run a Adventure Club, where you can get more information below.

As an intern we will do some responsable torusm activities, so you can enjoy. We only ask to pay for your entrance/ticket (if apply).

<<< For more info check Responsible tourism  and Adventure Club page >>>>

 “Share + Learn” system : 

The Vivientes “Share + Learn” System allows interns  to contribute to the developent of low resource communities while learning and improving skills for their own lives

This is a unique chance to live something diferent and is what make your stay with us unique.

Please go to this link so you can learn more about the “Share + Learn” system.

ARRIVAL DATE & APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Candidates for internships must apply -preferably at least- one month in advance.
Please response this questions and send the answers to karen@vivientes.org
If your profile and dates are approved a skype interview will be programmed.

we recomend Interns to Join our project every second weekend OR last weekend of each month. Apply to get more specific information.

REMEMBER, please respect the arrival date, any delay will directly affect the community activities and may require us to cancel your reservation.
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2 Responses

  1. I had such a great week with Karen and Nando, I just wish I could have stayed for longer. I felt really at home in their little treehouse, which is so beautifully constructed and so cosy. All the other volunteers formed a real bond and we had a lot of fun cooking, working and talking together.

    The children at the school are so keen to learn and friendly, it´s really a pleasure to be there and I have felt my spanish improve so much! I would highly recommend volunteering here if you want to learn more about local issues in ecuador and make a difference. Thanks Karen and Nando!

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