Help Disabled People

The Project

This project was originally started to offer free medical care to people with chronic illnesses and disabilities in the capital of Quito, Ecuador. Years after the founding of the medical center, another facility was created to help adults and children who suffer from down syndrome, autism, speech difficulties, psychological ailments, and other special needs. Patients here are often live in poverty and need the free healthcare to survive. Due to this, volunteers are a crucial part of what keeps this project running, and they come from both local areas and various countries around the world.

When caring for the patients, volunteers need to have a lot of patience and empathy. It is essential that you are very active and creative because will often have to participate in activities. Throughout your stay, you will build relationships with both colleagues and patients in a fun atmosphere. Workers should be very flexible, as the demands of this project are constantly changing. 

Your Tasks

While working, you will assist with: language therapy, physical therapy, health programs, teaching different subjects, recreational activities, sports, and preparing meals. 

On a typical day, your tasks will include assisting with the daily morning physical therapy sessions that aim to develop the patients’ writing and drawing capabilities. Afterwards, you will help with the teaching of various subjects, prepare food and help feed patients, and plan and participate in many games. 

Once a week, you will accompany the patients and staff to their therapeutic horseback riding or swimming sessions, both of which are very effective in treating people with disabilities. 

 In your spare time, you can explore the city of Quito. The capital has many different activities to choose from such as concerts, and you can also socialize with other volunteers in some of its many bars and restaurants. On your free days you can find many interesting offers to spend your time outside the city doing outdoor sports, cultural sightseeing, hiking, climbing and so on.