"It is amazing how one semester can influence one's life. I spent my service time in Guayaquil at a vocational school for children and adults with mental retardation. Today I carry a Latino caseload as a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the State of Connecticut."
- Torrey, University of Vermont
With nearly 2.5 million inhabitants, Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city. Like many cities in South America, Guayaquil has experienced tremendous population growth in recent years; parts of the city have undergone impressive redevelopment while other areas of the city have become vast tracts of squatter housing lacking basic urban services. Urban growth is also putting significant pressures on unique, delicate ecological reserves that provide homes for endangered flora and fauna. These many challenges form the framework for the community service agencies in which IPSL students are placed.
You will serve 15–20 hours a week in an established Ecuadorian agency. Some of the service placements are in the “invasion” communities of rural and poor migrants. The service theme of the June program is ecology; the theme in July is community health. Individualized service placements that differ from these themes are possible by prior discussion.
Areas of service may include:
Following are examples of agencies where IPSL students have served in the past or may be able to serve. Other service placements may be available. Your placement will be determined by community and agency needs, as well as your interests, goals, and skills (including Spanish language ability).
This medical center, located in a squatter community in Guayaquil, provides medical assistance to nearly 600 families. Volunteers help with education and information activities about health and prevention.
Population Served: “Invasion” or squatter community residents
Areas of Service:
Children & Youth
/
Healthcare
/
Health education
A non-profit organization that helps poor families in two locations in the city’s “invasion” communities by providing regular medical care and health education, the foundation is also dedicated to the rehabilitation of young children (infancy to 5 years old) suffering from the effects of malnutrition. IPSL students have performed a wide range of tasks, such as checking the weight and measurements of children, feeding them, giving them nutritional supplements and vitamins, helping with patient intake interviews, assisting therapists with early stimulation routines, and providing general recreation activities for children.
Population Served: “Invasion” or squatter community residents
Areas of Service:
Healthcare
/
Nutrition
/
Recreation
A mission designed to help people infected with Hansen’s disease to live with dignity. The mission also provides patients with daily needs. This foundation provides medical care seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. It also provides well-balanced meals each day, physical therapy, medicine and basic sanitation services. Volunteers are needed in the following areas: nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, wound care specialties, recreational therapy, arts and crafts teacher. At the moment, the foundation has particular needs for work in: arts and handcrafts, hospital maintenance, informal English classes, and gardening.
Population Served: Elders who have or have had Hansen’s Disease
Areas of Service:
Healthcare
/
Elderly
/
Recreation
A partner school of Espíritu Santo University, this school provides kindergarten, elementary, and high school education to students who come from economically disadvantaged families. It is located at the foot of Santa Ana Hill (where Guayaquil was founded), and welcomes international students to serve as teacher aides in English, Spanish, sports and art classes.
Population Served: Children and low-income families
Areas of Service:
Education
/
Children & Youth
/
Recreation
/
ESL
/
Teaching/tutoring
A not-for-profit private organization founded in 1984 that provides physical and occupational therapy to handicapped adults. Volunteers are more than welcome to participate in physical therapy activities as well as in the development of fundraising strategies. This foundation supports itself by selling crafts, bread, and eggnog.
Population Served: Mentally challenged adults
Areas of Service:
Special education
/
Physical therapy
/
Fundraising
/
Recreation
A significant social problem in low-income neighborhoods of Guayaquil is that of girls who have been turned out of their homes or otherwise left to fend for themselves on the city’s streets. This agency provides a home for such girls as well as access to elementary and secondary education and health care. IPSL students provide essential back-up services to the staff of the home, including help with academic tutoring, arts projects and recreation.
Population Served: Homeless girls
Areas of Service:
Social services
/
Homelessness
/
Recreation
/
Women's issues
/
Teaching/tutoring
A significant number of children and youth in Guayaquil come from families who work on the streets during the day and expect their children to work with them rather than go to school. The goal of this agency is to provide an educational alternative for these children, linked to efforts to help parents understand the importance, for the future well-being of their children, of education rather than work on the streets. IPSL students serve as aides for teachers in classrooms as well as provide tutoring, recreation and companionship for participating children and youth.
Population Served: Children who work on the streets
Areas of Service:
Education
/
Recreation
/
Children & Youth
