Community Outreach with Indigenous Families

The pretty colonial Cotacachi Valley is located about three hours north of Quito and 20 minutes from the beautiful town of Otavalo. 90 percent of the people living there are of indigenous origin, who still speak the language Kichwa; Spanish is the second official language. For some time now, this region has been particularly famous in South America, but also internationally, for its traditional craft markets. It is said to be the largest market for handmade indigenous products in South America. Women from various local communities sell their famous cabaret, leather goods, bags, fabrics, decorative items and souvenirs, hats, jewelry and much more.

Most families of these communities live off income from sales on the markets and / or agricultural activities. Many families own small farms or fields with agriculture. The proceeds are used by families for self-sufficiency, surpluses are sold on local markets.

As a volunteer in this project, you live directly with a family of these communities and assist them in making the local arts and crafts. Volunteers who are not so skilled in manual labor help on their mini-farms.

Here you will get to know the typical life of the indigenous inhabitants of Ecuador. You dive into the lifestyle of a local family and you will learn a lot about traditions and regional culture. You are part of the simple but efficient life of the local communities and contribute to economic progress through volunteering.

The families of the indigenous communities in Cotacachi work very hard for their income. In this project, you are part of this lifestyle and support the families in their daily work. You will learn a lot about various craft techniques and assist in the preparation and sale of traditional Ecuadorian craftsmanship.

In addition, you also help with the daily work on the fields and farms. Most families care for themselves and live off the profits of their farms, surpluses are sold on local markets. Daily work can vary from week to week, and agricultural activities depend on weather and season.

If you have a particular interest in working with the children of indigenous peoples, please let us know in advance. We are happy to assist with other activities such as in the local schools with schooling or homework clubs.

Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, weather, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.

There are many activities to do in your free time, such as exploring the volcanic lands, visit national parks or go explore the amazing region. Many volunteers hike around the local area to see the magnificent landscapes that Ecuador has to offer. The region is also very famous for its artesanal markets and rich cultural heritage.

For longer trips (e.g. weekend) we recommend a visit to Quito, the country's capital. With its rich pre-Columbian history, Quito was founded on the ruins of an Inca city, and nowadays offers everything a modern traveler may need. Quito remains one of the best preserved historic city centers in Latin America and UNESCO declared it a world heritage site. This huge city stretches over a fabulous Andean valley surrounded by volcanic peaks. Among its streets, you can find 40 churches and chapels, 16 convents and monasteries with their respective cloisters, 17 squares, 12 convent and refractory courtyards, 12 museums and innumerable beautiful patios.

On a day-trip you can also visit the "Middle of the World", the place with the line that divides the planet earth in the northern and southern hemisphere. An amazing place and a Must See!

Further north is Otavalo, the largest indigenous market in the world. To the south, you can visit Latacunga and the Cotopaxi National Park, with the very high volcano of the same name. Further southeast the cities of Ambato and Baños are worth a visit, with the spectacular view of the Tungurahua volcano, which can be climbed to the top. Especially Baños is real fun place to visit due to countless of sports and adrenaline activities.