Updated on: 23/Mar/09

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

BUILDING HOMES AND FUTURE ECUADOR

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Building homes and future is a program that allows you to be part of a unique experience. Participants work in the poorest areas of Ecuador’s Coast building homes with the families that are going to live in the new houses while spending time with the local community. The process of construction involves the volunteer 100%. The volunteer will visit the factory where pieces to build the homes are put together and are transported to the project’s location. At the project you will work hands on building the house along with other volunteers, the beneficiary family, the community and the coordinator of the project. Each house of 42 square meters takes 2 days to be completely built. You will be present to see the outcome of your effort, from beginning to end and see the positive change that you have brought to the community.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS *Guayaquil has the largest and most important port of the Ecuadorian shores, therefore very busy commercial activities takes place along with national and international banking. *Several of the best known beaches of Ecuador lie a few kilometers from Guayaquil: Salinas, Punta Carnero, Playas General Villamil; resting and recreation places for national and foreign tourists to enjoy. *Visit the Malecón 2000. This is newly reconstructed pier, one of the most representative sites of Guayaquil city in Ecuador, and a traditional tourist center. This is one of the most important civic-tourist-commercial sites from South America. *La Rotonda, Centenario Park, the community project at Las Peñas neighborhood or the Cerro Blanco ecological reserve is some of the main characters of Guayaquil’s identity.

A DAY AT THE PROGRAM

HOURS ACTIVITIES

6:30AM-7: 30AM Breakfast at the hostel

7:30AM-8: 30AM Approximate time for traveling from the hostel to the project

8:30AM-12: 30PM Morning work- hands on the construction of the new home!

12:30PM-1: 30PM Break for lunch

1:30PM-4: 30PM Afternoon work- finish the duties assigned in the morning

4:30PM-5: 30PM Approximate time for traveling back to the hostel

5:30PM-on Free time to relax, explore the city and dine out

*This is just an exemplary daily itinerary. All activities scheduled above are subject to change.

PROGRAM FOCUS LOCATION (Province and Town) Animal Rescue Center ______________ ______________ Social ______________ ______________ Adventure ______________ ______________ Environmental ______________ ______________ Construction/Building Housing Guayas, various towns Education ______________ ______________

PROJECT/ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION DESCRIPTION Organization Foundation for Social Housing Location of the Organization Offices located in Quito and Guayaquil Non-profit/private/public organization Private Number of employees 120 in all the Foundation 1. DESCRIBE THE POPULATION/COMMUNITY THAT THE INSTITUTION PROVIDES ITS

SERVICES TO. IN CASE OF RESCUE CENTERS OR ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE THE TYPE OF ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENT IT WORKS WITH.

The Foundation provides housing options that are affordable for families of low economic status. These housing options are based on the income of each family. This project focuses on families that live in poor conditions in the coastal region of Ecuador. The Foundation offers the opportunity for those families and communities that need a home a chance to have a better future, not only by providing them with a descent house but also with support services such in the fields of education, health and nutrition. 2. SERVICES THAT THE ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION PROVIDES (DESCRIPTION) The Foundation’s directory met for the first time in 1939. The head of the Foundation started the Foundation’s social work with a home for the poor and later with a housing project that will provide homes for those with low economic resources. The founder was a person who believed truly in love and in serving others. The founder in the search for helping the poor -developed social and cultural programs. These currently function at the Foundation and focus

on: housing, education, urban life and recreation, spiritual growth, development of a thinking wave, editorial, culture, nutrition, professional growth, health and others.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION 3. How many volunteers can the Project employ monthly? The organization can receive up to 15-20 volunteers at a time. 4. Has the organization received volunteers in the past? Yes, the organization constantly receives volunteers that help individually and also those who come in groups. 5. If it has received volunteers in the past, please write since what month and year: It has received volunteer for the last 5 years in all the areas that they offer services. 6. Are there any special features to which the volunteers have to pay attention to when

working at this project? (Religion, illnesses, extra-vaccination, etc) Volunteers need to be ready for hard work. Construction and building work involves a lot of heavy weight lifting and it is important for participants to be in good health. Various tasks different from those that involve heavy weigh lifting can be assigned to participants such as putting windows, doors, helping with the reception of materials and more. 7. Are there any requirements to attend this program? Have a profound interest in helping those in need. 8. The project receives volunteers all year round? The project is closed for Holidays. 9. Please specify holidays or other dates when the project closes and can not receive

volunteers: Dec 24, Dec 25, Dec 31 and Jan 1 10. Is there a minimum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? Two weeks 11. Is there a maximum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? There is no maximum. 12. Please give detailed description of tasks and duties of the volunteer: Day 1: Arrival to Quito Day 2: Morning orientation at Lead Adventures Office. Afternoon orientation at the

Foundation, you will visit the offices and will learn about the other services that the Foundation offers such as health, nutrition and education. You will also know in detail your responsibilities and duties during your volunteer work. Free afternoon to explore Quito.

Day 3: Morning visit to the Foundation’s factory in Quito. Here you will see how the parts for the houses are put together, built and transported to the project’s site. Night bus (approximately 10 hours) or flight Quito –Guayaquil, based on request.

Day 4: Early arrival to Guayaquil, check in the hostel. Free afternoon to rest and explore the city. Night meeting with the project coordinator for an introduction to your first day at the project.

Day 5: First day of volunteer work. The family and community along with one project coordinator work on the ensemble fo the house. Volunteers will be working with the community in the building of the homes. Duties include:

- Help with the reception of materials and make sure the delivery is complete - Carry and transport materials into the project site

- Work on putting together the foundations for the house - Ensemble the house- the walls guided by the project’s coordinator Day 6: Second day of volunteer work: - Installation of wood ceiling pillars - Fit ceiling sheets on the wood pillars

- Help with the installation of electricity lines - Assist with the installation of doors and windows - Help with the setting of water pipes, sink and toilet Day 7 - repeat the work done in day 5 and 6 depending on the length of your stay. 13. Indicate the times and days the volunteer will be working in the week: Volunteers will be working from Monday to Saturday. Volunteers leave the hostel around 7:30am, arrive a the project’s site at 8:30am and work until 4:30pm with an hour lunch break.

LOCATION OF THE PROJECT 14. PLEASE INDICATE THE CLOSEST CITY OR TOWN TO THE PROJECT. The closest city to the project is Guayaquil. Volunteers will be staying at a hostel in Guayaquil and travel to the project every day. The location of the project varies depending on the communities that the Foundation has scheduled. The communities are located from one hour to 2 hours away from Guayaquil. 15. INDICATE WHAT TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION THERE IS FROM THE CENTER OF

THIS CITY TO THE PROJECT, ITS COSTS AND APPROXIMATELY TIME THAT WILL TAKE:

TYPE COST TIME IT WILL TAKE Bus Private Bus 1 to 1.5 hours

Depends on the location of the community where houses are built.

16. DESCRIBE THE SORROUNDINGS OF THE PROJECT (country side, urban, town) The communities in which houses will be built are located in the marginalized suburbs of Guayaquil. These are poor areas that need help. Some of them might not even have paved roads.

ACCOMODATIONS AND MEALS 17. Type of Accommodation? Volunteers will be staying at a hostel in Guayaquil. 18. Are meals included? Breakfast is included at the hostel. Lunch will be packed for you to take it to the project’s site. Dinner will be included in a local restaurant in Guayaquil.

WHAT IS INCLUDED? • Accommodations throughout your program at a hostel • Private transportation from the hostel to the project and from the project to the hostel • Bus transportation or flight Quito-Guayaquil depending on request

• Orientation upon arrival • Airport transfer on arrival to Quito

• Transfer back to the airport at the end of the program • Full on-site support and assistance • On-site 24 hour emergency contact number WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED? • Personal travel insurance • All items of personal nature • Any extra activities and excursions not described on the planned itinerary • Alcoholic beverages/extra snacks

PICTURES OF THE PROJECT