Fundación Cielo Azul
Code: 18823623-a882-11ed-b9af-fa163ef8d720 Copied
About the project
Fundación Cielo Azul
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Fundación VASE (Voluntariado para la Ayuda Social del Ecuador) is a non-profit organization, created in 2008. We work to strengthen intercultural relations, promote volunteer social aid and inspire the commitment of a global citizenship.
We believe in a world full of solidarity, social and personal development, as well as respect for diversity. Through volunteering we build new generations with values dedicated to improving global social conditions.
Fundación VASE is the only member in Ecuador of the ICYE (International Cultural Youth Exchange) federation. ICYE is an international non-governmental organization with more than 70 years of experience in promoting youth activity and global citizenship. Today ICYE is a federation with more than 40 national committees in America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
💼 What the programme involves
Aims of the project:
The “Cielo Azul” foundation works in different communities around Otavalo (30.000 people) with indigenous people in their rural schools. At the moment, there are 11 schools cooperating with ¨Cielo Azul”. The aim is providing education to the indigenous communities.
Project´s activities:
Cielo Azul’s schools are located on the outskirts of the city of Otavalo, where classes are given to children and young people from the communities. Activities include agriculture, environmental care, sports, computers, and arts and crafts. As they are community schools, the family of each student is very involved in order to promote development. The mothers prepare the food for the school children and promote the consumption of the products they grow and take care of.
Volunteer´s tasks:
The volunteer works from Monday to Friday every morning between 8am and 1.30pm. S/he helps in the school in the areas of: English, Sports and Arts or in other areas where help is needed. Depending on the school they will be working at, the volunteer can help in the school garden harvest vegetables for lunch or get active offering workshops or free-time activities for the children. Many families live from agriculture and expect volunteers to help in this task and in their daily activities (e.g. help with the homework).
🏠 Accommodation on site
The volunteer lives (3-4 days) in a local family in the community during the week. The family offers a simple life and food, most of the families neither have hot water, nor internet, nor washing machines, and sometimes they cook on the open fire. Because of this situation we have a flat in the center of Otavalo and it is open on Wednesdays and weekends for washing clothes and for taking a hot shower. Once a week, the coordinator of the project meets with all volunteers to share experiences, plan activities and work tasks, and resolve problems. Normally, the coordinator visits the volunteer four times a year directly in his or her project, or more often if necessary. Every three months they have a meeting in the office (Otavalo) with all the mentors of the volunteers to exchange and cooperate.
🍲 Food
Included.
📍 About the location
Communities in the rural surrounding of Otavalo, an indigenous town about 2 hours from the north of Quito.
⚠️ Requirements
It’s an advantage to speak good Spanish because the local people often speak Kichwa and you don’t learn a lot of Spanish in the family. They have to be very flexible and adaptable because the schools generally suffer from poor management and so things are always changing a lot. Volunteers have to communicate with people and integrate themselves within their community. Sharing food or activities with the family and the teachers can open doors.
ℹ️ Additional information
Participation fees from August 2023 to January 2024 :
- 4 weeks: 500 €
- Add 125 € for each additional week.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
ICYE/CIELOAZULAUTO-EXTAUTO-EXT
31/05/2026 at 00:00 → 27/10/2027 at 00:00
ICYE/CIELOAZULAUTO-EXT
01/01/2025 at 00:00 → 30/05/2026 at 00:00
ICYE/CIELOAZUL
05/08/2023 at 00:00 → 31/12/2024 at 00:00
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–99 years old
Solidarity donation
500.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Otavalo, 170124 Quito, Ecuador
Ecuador
🌍 Location info
Local currency
United States Dollar (USD / $)
Exchange rate
1 USD = 0.895608 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
Ecuador Time
Local time: 21:20 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
🗣️ Languages spoken