Teach English in the Galapagos Islands
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world.
Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
How this vacation makes a difference
Environment
When travelers are in ecologically sensitive areas like the Galapagos it is essential that they minimize waste and recycle. Guides will make the travelers aware of their impact by telling them the adverse effect that littering can leave on the local environment, but at the same time it is also the responsibility of each individual traveler to be culpable for their own actions.
In mainland Ecuador, we work with different rehabilitation centres that work on the rehabilitation of injured animals and illegal pets. We also work with conservation projects throughout the Galapagos that focus on restoring native species and conserving the current state of the islands. Through our programs, our volunteers are encouraged to participate in their efforts. They actively participate in the activities of these foundations and a portion of their program fees goes directly towards operating finances of these projects.
In our office we try to maintain environmental consciousness by recycling, limiting our water usage and using energy efficient light bulbs. We also try to limit unnecessary waste by using electronic documentation when possible, rather than paper documents.
Community
This program enables you to become a responsible tourist mainly because the revenue you will leave during your trip will go to the local community in the islands, as you will be staying there and having meals there, as well as using local guides and facilities. This is quite different from traveling on a cruise, where most of the revenue goes to companies based on the mainland or internationally. With this, you help the community to develop and you get a chance to meet them, learn how they live and understand all the problems they are facing in the islands. We work with family run hostels, especially in Isabella where you will get a chance to meet Adolfo and their grand kids, his wife Petita will sit and talk to you during meal times, sharing with you their stories.
You will be reinforcing the teaching of English language to the kids in the islands, which is extremely important to them. Considering the number of tourists the islands receive and by learning English they will be prepared to be local qualified guides and keep the revenues in the islands for its development.
We employ local staff, all from Quito or Ecuador. Most have attended local universities and new staff are trained accordingly. We have partnerships with local hostels and hotels. We work in contact with local producers to try to limit our carbon footprint.
Many of our programs directly involve community members. Whether it may be from teaching football to local youths, to teaching English to indigenous children or helping to build homes for needy families, we are always community oriented. We do encourage our participants to take public transportation or walk, most find it refreshing and easy to use. There are three main public transportation systems in Quito: the Ecovia, the trolley and the bus system. We inform all of our participants about these services.
When we do not provide food services to our participants and encourage them to eat at local restaurants. There is a great number of local restaurants that offer an incredible variety of food at affordable prices. Travelers get to experience new cuisine and this money goes directly to the local community. We have informative information sessions before the travelers begin their program.
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