Healthcare Worker in a Multidisciplinary Center

location
8 - 50 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Very Good 4.3  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Gain experience in an international setting and learn from different medical disciplines.
  • Gain Spanish fluency by following one of our Spanish courses, living with a host family and sharing daily life with locals.
  • Make memories you’ll never forget while working in our daily projects and during weekend excursions with your fellow participants.
  • Experience the Ecuadorian way of life. Ama la vida!
  • Visit Cuenca, Montañita, Baños, The Galapagos Islands, Cuyabeno and all the other wonderful places in Ecuador during your free time.


Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
Wheel Chairs

About the program

As a volunteer or intern you can provide medical care at in a prestigious institution, where you can work in different roles with professionals helping you on the way.

Our partner is a non-profit organization that provides medical care to the community of the city of Cuenca. The foundation envisions the distribution of medical and therapeutic services and the implementation of technological innovations, such as orthotics, prosthetics, and mobility aids. To ...

About the program

Our partner is a non-profit organization that provides medical care to the community of the city of Cuenca. The foundation envisions the distribution of medical and therapeutic services and the implementation of technological innovations, such as orthotics, prosthetics, and mobility aids. To guarantee a complete service, a multidisciplinary team of specialists was formed. Volunteers and interns are of indispensable value to them.

A unique feature of the organization is its special program for people who would not normally have the resources to access good medical care. A group of sponsors and donors and creative solutions make it possible for these people to be part of this institution.

Within this health project you have several options, depending on your level of Spanish, the duration of your stay, the courses you follow and also your work experience. There are a variety of health disciplines in which you can get involved. We name them here:

  • Physical therapy
  • Neurorehabilitation
  • Ergotherapy
  • Speech therapy
  • Massage therapy
  • Traumatology
  • Orthotics and prosthetics
  • Audiology
  • Odontology
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Urology
  • Clinical psychology
  • Psychology and child psychology.
  • Clinical laboratory



Typical day

You can work part-time or full-time at the care center, depending on your further program. Normally you start at 9 AM and finish your day around 5 PM. In between you have ample time to have lunch with your colleagues and fellow volunteers.

The content of your program mainly depends on the specialisms ...

Typical day

You can work part-time or full-time at the care center, depending on your further program. Normally you start at 9 AM and finish your day around 5 PM. In between you have ample time to have lunch with your colleagues and fellow volunteers.

The content of your program mainly depends on the specialisms in which you participate. For example, if you are a physiotherapy student, then you will logically spend a lot of time in this department.

The extent to which you are allowed to treat patients yourself depends very much on your knowledge and skills and on your level of Spanish


Free-time activities

During your stay with Local Dreamers, you will live with one of our local host families or have a room in our volunteer house. Both the host families and the volunteer house (located above our office) are located in the center of Quito, close to the historic center and the tourist center. This ...

Free-time activities

During your stay with Local Dreamers, you will live with one of our local host families or have a room in our volunteer house. Both the host families and the volunteer house (located above our office) are located in the center of Quito, close to the historic center and the tourist center. This depends a lot on the city where you are volunteering. In Cuenca, for example, you will live with a host family, another type of accommodation is also possible on request.

On weekends you are free to come and go wherever you want. Ecuador is incredibly versatile, but still relatively small and easily accessible. From Cuenca you can easily go on a discovery tour and learn more about this fantastic country. If you want to take a little more time for a trip, it is of course always possible. We are a flexible organization.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level) or Spanish (basic level)

Criminal Background Check

required

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Be aware that you can only get involved in this project when you have a background and experience in health care disciplines OR if you have the ambition to work in the medical world and are following or want to follow training in this field. To become a volunteer or intern for this project, a minimum stay of two months is required.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 09:00 - 17:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Foundation Local Dreamers

The mentioned costs involve room, breakfast, airport pickup and preparation & guidance

Airport Pickup at Mariscal Sucre International Airport

When you arrive at airport Mariscal Sucre, our driver José Luis will be waiting for you at the gate. We always provide him with some pictures of you, so he will for sure recognize you. Together with José Luis you will make a one-hour drive to our office in the centre of Quito. At the office, one of our coordinators will welcome you and show you around in the neighborhood. After a little small talk we will bring you to your host family/ the volunteer house where you have all the time to recover from your flight.

If you prefer, you can also travel directly to Cuenca, at the airport there will always be one of our guides waiting for you

Accommodation

During your stay with Local Dreamers 

In Cuenca you will live with a host family, another type of accommodation is also possible on request

Food & Beverages

Our host families provide a daily breakfast which is included in the price. All our families are happy to introduce you to the Ecuadorian cuisine, and will provide you with varied meals. They also like to take into account any allergies or vegetarian requirements, please let us know during your application.

In our volunteer house we have a large kitchen with everything you need to prepare great meals. We often see volunteers doing the shopping and cooking together. There is a large supermarket on the same street.

At the host family breakfast and dinner are also included

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito. We assist you to find cheap flights to Ecuador. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Ecuador provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Ecuador you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Ecuador. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Be aware that you can only get involved in this project when you have a background and experience in health care disciplines OR if you have the ambition to work in the medical world and are following or want to follow training in this field.

To become a volunteer or intern for this project, a minimum stay of two months is required.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

8 weeks (min. stay) 2,100€
50 weeks (max. stay) 12,000€
Average fees 251€/week

Program fees

251€ per week 8 - 50 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

8 - 50 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Foundation Local Dreamers during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Foundation Local Dreamers

Very Good 4.3 rating (14 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2011

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Aldert

Spoken languages: English, Spanish, Dutch

About the project

Local Dreamers is an organization that was founded by a small group of young idealists. It is created out of the passion for South-America and Ecuador in particular.

Meet your organization

After the establishment of Local Dreamers in November 2011, our Dutch founders Aldert Schriemer and Jesse van Woestijne first ran a pilot project in Quito, Ecuador, in 2012. Six years later, we are still pursuing our dream every day: deploying talent development, sport, language and creativity to develop personal and social development, self-confidence and entrepreneurship. 

Our story

We are a young team that operates quickly, openly, involved, passionately and dynamically. Every day we try to share our dreams with the community and try to make the dreams of the community come true. We do this with a healthy amount of energy and fun, but above all with an important objective: to contribute to a world that makes people happy. Step by step.

Our top mission

To create an inspiring and safe learning environment in which Ecuadorian children, youngsters and international volunteers can discover, develop, share and connect their talents and dreams with each other. We focus on the needs of both worlds and connect their different cultures and people with one another.

We use talent, sport, education, creativity and communication in order to create social development, confidence and entrepreneurship. Our goal is to build fruitful, self-sustaining projects and to convey them to local project coordinators.

  • Create ties
We create ties that last between different worlds, cultures and people. We try to broaden one´s view on the world, both for involved Ecuadorians as for international volunteers.

  •  Offer a safe environment

We offer a safe environment in which Ecuadorian children and youngsters between the ages of 6 to 16 year, regardless of gender, race, socioeconomic background, can discover and develop their talents.

  • Create self-sustaining projects

We create self-sustaining projects, which will be governed by the inhabitants of the project areas within 10 years, after which Local Dreamers’ role in the projects will be limited to advising and controlling.

  • Contribute to a better world

We arouse the interest and enthusiasm of international ‘dreamers’ in contributing to a better world by sharing knowledge, experiences, passions and talents with one another.

  • Stimulate social development

We use sports and games, language, creativity and (intercultural) communication to stimulate the personal and social development of Ecuadorian children and teenagers.

  • Contribute to local initiatives

We contribute to small-scale local initiatives through the knowledge, experience, passion and talent of international volunteers. Projects which have enough basis to survive without our presence.

14 reviews · rating4.3

Local Dreamers is providing healthy meals for kids. It is creating a safe and fun place for children and family members. Volunteers prepared fresh food and healthy meals. ..
Michele Vigano rating4.6

2023 at Soccer Trainer at the Ecuadorian Coast

Sono stato in un periodo non semplice per l’Ecuador, inizio Gennaio 2024. Nonostante questo sono riuscito a godermi a pieno un paese magnifico, con delle problematiche ma tanto potenziale. La scuola calcio è gestita alla grande da Adrian, Joshua e Klever. Sono davvero delle persone stupende e ...
Lars Rumawatine rating5

2022 at Child Care Worker at Youth Center

Amazing project in the South of Quito for the children who need it the most. I really liked the companionship with my fellow volunteers while doing some of the groceries and preparing dinner for the children. The smiles on the children's faces, while they were eating and playing games, were ...
Ruth Sophie Schrapper rating5

2022 at Conservation of Nature

I had two amazing weeks at Hacienda la Soledad with Eduardo, Carlos and basically the whole family because we even ended up joining the barbecue with the whole family! In two weeks we did something new every day and still had the afternoons and weekend to explore San Cristobal and the other islands! ...
Simona Tamburrino rating1

2022 at Child Care Worker at Youth Center

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # PROJECT STATEMENT BELOW # # # # # # # # # # # #Leider wurde mein Misstrauen nach nur einer Woche Aufenthalt in Quito gebrochen. Mein Weltanschauungsbild hinsichtlich Freiwilligenarbeit wurde von Local Dreamers komplett zerstört. Ich glaube nicht mehr daran, dass das ...
Stefanie Reiter rating2.2

2021 at Teacher at a Swimming School

***Project Statement Below*** I signed up for the project "Teacher at a Swimming School" and expected to work as a swimming teacher during my volunteering time. Surprisingly I've been told on my first day that I was also in charge of teaching English (to adults and kids) and soccer (to kids). As ...

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  Excellent response rate
English, Spanish, Dutch

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