• 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

Little Ones in Ecuador Teach Volunteer About Openness and Heart

In this journal entry from her third day in service, Ecuador volunteer Ann Hite reflects on what the young children at an early childhood development center on the outskirts of Quito have taught her while she has played with and taken care of them. Ann served at a center that feeds and educates 60 children from very disadvantaged backgrounds. Here she describes playing with the children, and experiencing how for them, everything is an awesome learning opportunity. Ann describes what the little ones taught her about being in the present and getting attached at the heart.


By Ann Hite

Today was our third day at the Centro Infantil (Early Childhood Development Center), so we decided to rotate into different classrooms. This change added some layers to my experience. I became very aware of how tightly tiny humans attach themselves to your heart and your leg. When Logan saw me with Teacher Cinthya’s class, he wrapped himself around my leg and would not let go until his teacher noticed and said something to him. I missed my group from the past two days but also quickly connected with these littler ones who made Teacher Diana’s group seem like sort of big kids!

  • Children play with legos.
  • Little ones play gleefully with balls.
  • Samuel gets ready to start building with magnet tiles.

“I became very aware of how tightly tiny humans attach themselves to your heart and your leg.”

– Ann Hite

So many things are amazing to me about working with small children. They are SO OPEN! Every thing and person they encounter is an awesome learning opportunity. A small ball of play dough could be a flower, a cup, a heart or a snake, and every new object was as interesting and exciting as the last. They observe and explore without self-imposed barriers. Julieta quietly tried every combination of legos without frustration for 30 minutes with total concentration. They are in the moment! David worked hard to collect as many of the magnetic tiles as he could for the sophisticated structure he was creating, but as soon as his mom came to pick him up he couldn’t wait to pass all the tiles back to the other kids. They move easily, if emotionally, from one situation to the next. Paulette was NOT having the melon for morning snack, but when it was soup for lunch she slurped it up and proudly announced “¡Como!” “I’m eating!” They are resilient and look to their leaders for cues. When Samuel landed on the floor by accident, he gave me a worried look, and when he saw my encouraging smile, he bounced off to play.

  • A little girl smiles at the camera.
  • Ann helps Paulette build and learn.
  • This little boy is ready to play.

So, truly, if self-awareness is about honesty and non-judgment, and if I can get there by losing myself in service to others, then I choose the little ones for my teachers! In three days they have reminded me to be open to new learning, to observe without fear, to be patient and present in the moment, to feel my feelings and move on, and to take cues from those who know. And, also to get attached at the heart through play and stories and humor.

“So, truly, if self-awareness is about honesty and non-judgment, and if I can get there by losing myself in service to others, then I choose the little ones for my teachers!”

– Ann Hite
Ann helps children build with magnet tiles.

For more information on how you, too, could play with and learn from these adorable little ones in Ecuador, chat with a Volunteer Coordinator today.

You might also like:

  • Service Experience in Ecuador Helps Volunteer Gain Deeper Perspective
  • Gleeful Children Play at Water Table in Ecuador
  • Squealing With Excitement at the Park

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
November 22, 2019/by Maggie Bjorklund
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ecuador-Volunteer-1.jpg 1125 1500 Maggie Bjorklund https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Maggie Bjorklund2019-11-22 13:28:312019-11-22 13:28:39Little Ones in Ecuador Teach Volunteer About Openness and Heart
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 (114)
  • Ecuador (89)
  • Greece (70)
  • Italy (53)
  • Montana (49)
  • Nepal (20)
  • New Mexico (2)
  • Peru (111)
  • Poland (97)
  • Portugal (44)
  • Puerto Rico (3)
  • South Dakota (8)
  • St Lucia (56)
  • Tanzania (230)
  • Texas (6)
  • Vietnam (33)

Categories

  • Classroom Assistance (8)
  • Conversational English (95)
  • Cultures and Traditions (136)
  • Development Impact (123)
  • Family Volunteering (61)
  • Free Time Options (79)
  • Group Volunteering (19)
  • News and Updates (149)
  • Partners' Stories (16)
  • Projects for Professionals (23)
  • Reaching Children's Potential (240)
  • Ripple Effect (6)
  • Service-Learning (50)
  • 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.
FAMILY DISCOVERS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE THROUGH SERVICE IN GREECEJuly team to Crete.Mother-Daughter Pairs Serve Together in Peru and Broaden Their Horizons
Scroll to top