• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • e-Catalog
  • Volunteer Portal
  • Register Now
  • Contact Us
Call Us: 800-487-1074
Global Volunteers
  • Support
    • Donation Opportunities
      • Donate Now
      • Changemakers Club – Monthly
      • Gift Catalog
      • More Ways to Give
    • Foundation Opportunities
      • Funding Opportunities for Philanthropic Partners
  • Volunteer
      • Individuals
      • Families
    • Groups
      • Employer/Employee
      • University
      • High School
      • Faith Based
  • Countries
    • International Partnerships
      • China
      • Cook Islands
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Greece
      • Italy (Sicily)
      • Nepal
      • Peru
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • St Lucia
      • Tanzania
      • Vietnam
    • USA Programs
      • Aguadilla – Puerto Rico
      • Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
      • Española – New Mexico
      • Rio Grande Valley – Texas
  • Projects
    • Community Work Projects
      • Delivering Essential Services
      • Teaching Conversational English
      • Supporting Community Development
      • Supplementing School-Based Curricula
      • View All Community Work Projects
  • Dates & Fees
    • Seasonal
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Monthly
      • January
      • February
      • March
      • April
      • May
      • June
      • July
      • August
      • September
      • October
      • November
      • December
      • All Service Program Dates
  • Impact
  • News
  • Request Information
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Volunteer Voices Ecuador

A Glimpse of the First Day of Service in Ecuador

The first day of service in Ecuador started after much anticipation by team members. Our Team Leader, Maggie, emailed detailed messages and did a thorough orientation on Sunday, so we felt prepared to work at the daycare center.

We left for Calderón shortly after breakfast. Our rocky drive up the mountain on a narrow road revealed a spectacular view! We sat back and enjoyed being taken care of by our very experienced driver, commenting endlessly about the beautiful scenery which will surely be shared with family and friends for years to come. We reached our destination after approximately 30 minutes.

first day of service in Ecuador

The mountains around Quito on the road to Calderón

After we introduced ourselves to the daycare center caregivers,  Maggie pointed out project after project completed by previous teams of Global Volunteers over a 20-year partnership with FUNDAC. I wanted our team to work equally as hard and to be just as productive as previous teams. I mentally noted that we’d be assisting and nurturing children one to three years old. There would also be an English class taught for the tías. The sole male on our team was offered additional duties of painting, replacing tiles, and sanding.

Work Begins on the First Day of Service in Ecuador

We were each assigned to a tía’s class. I worked with Tía Fernanda and the three-year-olds. Tía Fernanda introduced me to the class and morning activities began. Today’s lesson was the naming of animals. The students repeated the name of the animal as each animal was revealed. Then Tía Fernanda cut out a picture of each animal, pronouncing and reinforcing the animal’s name again,  before handing a picture to each student. The students, in turn, repeated the name of each animal. I was asked to paste each animal on a poster as each child passed me an animal, then we taped the poster to the wall.

Washing Hands…and Eating Snacks

At this point, we stopped for the kids’ morning fruit snack. There was a flurry of activity with bathroom breaks as we helped them wash and dry their hands. Next, we took them to the dining area and supervised their snack break, then took cutlery back to the kitchen, cleaned the table, and had another round of washing hands before going back to class.

service with children in Ecuador

Global Volunteer Barbara with her class in Ecuador

We resumed our morning activities by coloring animals. After each child’s animal was colored and their name and date written on their picture, it was placed on the wall. My picture was also placed on the wall, to the children’s delight! Another round of washing and drying hands and bathroom breaks followed; then to the cafeteria for lunch and afterwards, nap time. There was a change of clothes as needed after nap time, followed by…washing and drying hands! And then, an afternoon snack.

By day’s end, I reflected on my apprehension about how our team would measure up to the impressive work by previous Global Volunteers teams. I knew that our work, though not all visible, was just as important as other volunteers’ construction, painting, and mural drawings we saw earlier in the day. I felt confident I had truly helped Tía Fernanda with her day’s work!

Post by Barbara

day of service in Ecuador

Hadley posing with children from her class

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
May 16, 2016/by Maggie Bjorklund
Tags: teaching children
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Quito-2.jpg 1125 1500 Maggie Bjorklund https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Maggie Bjorklund2016-05-16 21:46:192016-10-18 09:53:27A Glimpse of the First Day of Service in Ecuador
You might also like
Reymontówka is a beautiful and comfortable 200-year-old restored manor house in Siedlce county.“Reymontówka” – Volunteers’ Home Away from Home in Poland
Having fun learning English in GreeceVolunteer Teacher Recalls her Greek Classroom Adventure
Falling in love with TanzaniaStudent Volunteer “Falls in Love” with Tanzania
Volunteer with children in EcuadorUp Close in Ecuador: “Here I am. Welcome to my life.”
volunteer in PolandSummer English Language Camp in Zakopane, Poland
Prepare food for children in PeruPreparing Food at the Largest Children’s Home in Peru
work with teens and youthVeteran Global Volunteer Circles the Globe to Work With Teens
Erin teaching children in St. LuciaA Day to Teach Children in St. Lucia
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Partner Communities

  • China (62)
  • Cook Islands (44)
  • Cuba (115)
  • Ecuador (90)
  • Greece (70)
  • Italy (53)
  • Montana (52)
  • Nepal (20)
  • New Mexico (2)
  • Peru (113)
  • Poland (97)
  • Portugal (44)
  • Puerto Rico (3)
  • South Dakota (8)
  • St Lucia (57)
  • Tanzania (237)
  • Texas (7)
  • Vietnam (33)

Categories

  • Classroom Assistance (8)
  • Conversational English (96)
  • Cultures and Traditions (136)
  • Development Impact (127)
  • Family Volunteering (61)
  • Free Time Options (79)
  • Group Volunteering (19)
  • News and Updates (150)
  • Partners' Stories (16)
  • Projects for Professionals (23)
  • Reaching Children's Potential (245)
  • Ripple Effect (6)
  • Service-Learning (51)
  • Staff Worldwide (26)
  • Volunteer Voices (685)
  • Why I Give (18)

Tags

American Indian culture Care for children Caribbean island College groups Conversational English Cuba people-to-people development impact Earthbox gardens Essential Services food insecurity Funding your fee gender equality Health and nutrition High school groups Labor projects retiree volunteers Spring break student volunteer summer volunteer program support children Support women teaching children teaching english team leader things to do peru top places to visit peru tourism cook islands tours peru travel peru volunteer benefits Volunteer impact volunteer time off work on reservations Work with youth youth volunteering

Get Global Volunteers News Here!

Enter your email address to receive fresh new posts in your inbox.

  • About Us
  • Boards of Directors and Advisors
  • US and International Staff
  • Our Beginnings
  • Our Vision
  • Community Partners
  • Collaborators
  • Compare Us
  • Volunteer Vacations FAQs
  • Accountability and Agreements
  • Travel Risks
  • Impact and Outcomes of Service
  • Donate to Global Volunteers
  • Donate to a Volunteer
  • Money Matters – Explaining Your Service Program Contribution
  • Discounts & Fundraising
  • Alumni Center
  • Covid-19 Policy
  • News/Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Agreements
  • Site Map
  • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Volunteer Portal
  • Employment
Global Volunteers
375 East Little Canada Road
St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA
(800) 487-1074 | toll-free
(651) 482-0915 | fax
globalvolunteers.org
email@globalvolunteers.org
Federal EIN: 36-3352680

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST!

Subscribe to receive updates, new blog posts, and inspiring stories from our work around the world.

Global Volunteers - Partners in Development ® | © Copyright 2002 - Present Global Volunteers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. Our tax ID is 36-3352680. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the law.
  • Send feedback about this web site and its administration.
Alumni “Pay it Forward” Through Program ScholarshipsView of QuitoHugs, Kisses, Laughter Reward Volunteer Opportunity in Ecuador
Scroll to top