Volunteer In Ecuador

Note: We currently are not accepting volunteers in Guayaquil, Ecuador, due to the continued unrest. You may keep an eye on our website for future updates, or contact us to be notified of any updates to our plans.

In the meantime, please view our virtual volunteering opportunities to see other ways to support our students.

Tutoring Program Volunteer (Variable Duration*)

(* = A minimum commitment of 8 weeks is required. We seek, and strongly encourage, longer commitments.)

Volunteer and offer supplemental learning opportunities at our tutoring program in Guayaquil, Ecuador, for our Starfish Scholars and other neighborhood students! Tutoring program volunteers live with a host family in the neighborhood where we work, Flor de Bastión. Accommodations are basic, but comfortable.

Responsibilities:

• Tutoring and role model for students

• Leading a project or club

• Community engagement

• Contributing innovative ideas to our programs

We're always open to ways to use your skills to help our Starfish Scholars!

See the document below for a full description of responsibilities.

Financial Commitments:

• Airfare to and from Guayaquil 

• International health insurance

• Up-to-date vaccines

• Personal items (i.e., toiletries)

• Free-time travel expenses

• Tutoring program volunteer fees (see below)

Constelación de educadores activos (C.E.A.)
(1-year program)

Who: College graduates and young adults ages 21 and older

What: Volunteering to work with our staff and high school students in Guayaquil, Ecuador at The Starfish Foundation

When: August to August

Where: Guayaquil, Ecuador - C.E.A. volunteers live with a host family in the neighborhood where we work, Flor de Bastión. Accommodations are basic, but comfortable.

Why: To enhance the education and lives of Ecuadorian families and students who lack access to a strong educational system by mentoring staff, teaching students, and improving the overall educational offerings at Starfish

C.E.A. Program Pillars

• Community

• Cultural immersion

• Education

• Simple living

Responsibilities:

• Daily mentoring of staff members

• Leading professional development

• Teaching classes to students

• Goal-setting and measuring

• Community engagement

• Contributing innovative ideas and techniques to curriculum and pedagogy 

• Additional responsibilities, based on the particular position (see below)

Financial Commitments*:
(* = Scholarships may be available.)

• Fundraise $3,000 

• Transportation to U.S. orientation

• Airfare to and from Guayaquil 

• International health insurance

• Up-to-date vaccines

• Personal items (i.e., toiletries)

• Free-time travel expenses

Timeline and Deadlines

TUTORING Program Volunteers (Variable start dates)

Completed applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Interviews will be completed after receipt of completed applications. School-year tutoring program volunteers have flexible start dates, but must volunteer for at least 8 weeks. Please apply at least 10 weeks before your intended start date. For summer volunteers, we ideally try to coordinate a start date based on the availability of all accepted volunteers since we tend to receive more volunteers during this timeframe, usually during the beginning of June.

Tutoring Program Description

Year-Round C.E.A. Teaching & Program Volunteers (August-August)

Applications become available in mid-November.  Completed applications are due by February 15 each year. Interviews will be conducted in February and March, and acceptances will be sent in early April. C.E.A. volunteers must commit to a full year and meet the requirements for the position to which they are applying. (See more details below.) Orientation in the U.S. will be in July, and the start date in Ecuador will be in early August.

• Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator Description

• Program Coordinator Description

• ESL Coordinator Description

• CEA Reference Form

• CEA Brochure