Social Work Internship in Ecuador

Gain practical social work experience while working at a kindergarten in the Galapagos Islands

Destination

Ecuador

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

Requirements

You need to speak intermediate Spanish and should be studying social work or a related subject.

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

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Starting at £1,675 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Provide educational stimulation

Lead activities like singing and crafts, promoting early childhood development and addressing developmental delays in some children.

Assist local staff with childcare

Support busy local nurseries, offer extra care and attention, and observe children’s behavior to identify and address potential issues.

Give special attention where needed

Provide educational support to children with special needs like autism, helping them integrate and thrive in regular kindergarten settings.

Assess child development progress

Utilise checklists to evaluate numeracy, literacy, and social skills. Monitor progress and identify particular strengths in each child.

Experience Galapagos culture

Live in San Cristobal, explore beaches, hike volcanoes, and immerse yourself in the unique ecosystem and culture of the Galapagos Islands.

What you need to know

Overview

Are you currently enrolled in a social work programme at university? Would you like to gain practical experience overseas? Then our Social Work internship in Ecuador is perfect for you.

You will gain practical experience working alongside local staff at a kindergarten on the island of San Cristobal in Galapagos. You will work mostly with underprivileged children from single-parent homes.

Apart from your academic background in social work, you will also need loads of energy to work with little ones all day.

To join this project, you must be studying social work, and you need to speak intermediate Spanish. This will help you communicate more effectively with the children you work with, as they don’t speak English.

Our Social Work internship in Ecuador runs from May to March every year, and you can join at any point during this time. You will need to spend a minimum of four weeks on the programme. We encourage you to stay longer to learn as much as possible.

A Day in the Life

You will normally start your day with a hearty breakfast around your host family’s table or with your fellow interns. After this, you will head to your kindergarten placement. You can use public transport, but in most cases it would be close enough to walk. Projects Abroad staff will show you where to go on your first day.

Your working day will normally start around 8 am and end at about 3 pm.

The first part of the morning will be dedicated to stimulating educational activities, such as playing games, singing, and doing crafts. By mid-morning, the children will normally have a break, where they can go outside and play. You will use this time to observe the way they interact on the playground and make notes of any behaviour that might require attention.

You will get an hour and a half’s lunch break between 12 pm and 1:30 pm. If you live close by, you can head home to eat and have a quick rest. Alternatively, you can enjoy a packed lunch.

After lunch, the children will take a nap. You can use this time to discuss activity plans with local staff and fellow interns.

Evenings and weekends are your free time to rest, relax, and explore. There is a lot to see and do on the Galapagos Islands, so be sure to plan some adventures. You can visit national parks, go on hikes, head to the beach, or visit some of the other islands.

Aims & Impact

There are two main aims for this internship programme: to offer you the chance to gain practical social work experience in Ecuador and to help serve the local community.

Ecuador is known for its idyllic islands, beautiful scenery, and abundant wildlife. However, marginalised groups are neglected, and children are especially affected. Those that need the most help in Ecuador are underprivileged children from single-parent homes and children who have special needs, such as autism. It is crucial that these children receive the stimulation and care that they need to thrive and reach developmental milestones.

We have outlined four goals in our Care Management Plan for Ecuador, of which Social Work forms a part:

Promote early childhood development
Improve hygiene
Improve English
Improve the level of stimulation for each child

You will work at a kindergarten, helping to provide children with the support and care that they need. You will also gain first-hand experience in a developing country while working alongside a qualified professional.

Join our Social Work Internship in Galapagos and gain invaluable experience while helping us provide care to children who need it most.

Activities

You can use the knowledge and training you learnt during your studies at university to help local staff. During your internship, you will:

Provide stimulation for the children through basic educational activities such as singing, and arts and crafts
Assist the local staff with the day-to-day care of the children
Play with the children and observe their behaviour in and outside the play area
Give special attention to the children with special needs who are learning alongside the other children
Assess each child and identify their strengths

Your work will focus on the following areas:

Provide stimulation through educational activities

It has been shown that a lack of stimulation in early years, particularly in situations of poverty or neglect, can lead to delayed development later in life. As a Social Work intern in Ecuador, you’ll help increase the general stimulation of children in the kindergarten. You will do this by introducing fun educational activities, such as games, songs and crafts.

Assist local staff with the day-to-day care of children

In Ecuador, kindergartens are often overcrowded and understaffed. Because of this, teachers struggle to provide equal care and attention to children. You will support them by providing a very welcome pair of extra helping hands during the day.

Play with children and observe their behaviour

Watching the way children play on their own and with others is a great way of identifying any behavioural difficulties that might need to be addressed. You can observe and discuss what you see with your supervisor.

Give special attention to children with special needs

In the centres where we work, the children’s basic needs are met. However, a lack of staff limits the amount of stimulation offered to each child.

This is particularly problematic for children who have special needs, such as autism. Sending them to a special needs school is expensive, and most parents in these communities can’t afford it. Because of this, many children with special needs attend regular kindergartens. As a Social Work intern, you can help us give them educational support and the special attention they require.

Assess each child and identify their strengths

One of the ways in which we keep track of the children’s development and the specific needs of placements is through specially designed checklists.

You will assess the status of each child on a daily basis in areas related to:

Numeracy
Literacy
Fine motor skills
Emotional abilities
Social skills
Hygiene

Map & Location

The Galapagos Islands are a “living laboratory” and world-famous biodiversity hotspot. Located 1,000 km west of mainland Ecuador, their isolation has resulted in unique species found nowhere else on earth. A real “Bucket List” destination.

With no natural predators, the animals show almost no fear of humans. Get ready for up-close encounters with incredible creatures like Galapagos Giant Tortoises, Marine Iguanas, and Blue-footed Boobies.

San Cristobal

San Cristobal is the fifth largest and farthest east of the Galapagos Islands. Although not the biggest in terms of population, it is home to the capital of the Galapagos Province and oldest settlement on the islands, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

With a population of around 7,000 people, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is a sleepy, tropical settlement with all of the essentials. You’re just as likely to find friendly sea lions lounging around town as you are the welcoming locals!

Food & Accommodation

Enjoy your Ecuadorian experience with a warm and welcoming local host family, carefully vetted by us. They’ll provide everything you need for a fantastic time, including a comfortable bed, three meals a day, and fresh drinking water, with transport to and from your placement arranged by our team.

Your home away from home will be clean, safe, and secure with fast Wi-Fi and in a convenient location. Your host family will prepare your meals and you will speak with them every day, giving you a unique glimpse into the local language, culture, and cuisine.

You will live alongside other Projects Abroad participants, possibly sharing a room with someone of the same gender and age as you. This gives you the chance to share the experience, build bonds, and relax with other travellers on your trip.

Free Time and Leisure

The Galapagos Islands, famous for the research Charles Darwin did here with its many unique animal species, is the ideal location to explore and immerse in the tranquillity of nature.

While you’re volunteering here, it’s worth checking out the beautiful beaches where seabirds circle above and sea lions laze about on the sand. You can also go snorkelling or scuba diving along the coast.

Hiking around the base of one of the many volcanoes that make up the Galapagos is spectacular and thrilling! You can also follow the Darwin trail or trek through the Punta Pitt.

There are plenty of museums and art galleries for you to learn more about the culture and history. You can also chat to locals and buy souvenirs at bustling markets.

What’s great about joining our projects is the chance to connect with other volunteers. So you can choose to explore the Galapagos independently or you can travel with the new friends you make along the way.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Ecuador Arrival Procedures page.