Social Work Internship in Ecuador

Are you currently enrolled in a social work program at university? Would you like to gain practical experience overseas? Then our Social Work Internship in Ecuador is perfect for you.

You will gain practical experience working alongside local staff at a kindergarten on the island of San Cristobal in Galapagos. You will work mostly with underprivileged children from single parent homes.

Apart from your academic background in social work, you will also need loads of energy to work with little ones all day.

To join this project, you must be studying social work, and you need to speak intermediate Spanish. This will help you communicate more effectively with the children you work with, as they don’t speak English.

Our Social Work internship in Ecuador runs from May to March every year and you can join at any point during this time. You will need to spend a minimum of four weeks on the program. We encourage you to stay longer to learn as much as possible.

You will normally start your day with a hearty breakfast around your host family’s table or with your fellow interns. After this, you will set out to the kindergarten you’re working at. You can use public transport, but in most cases it would be close enough to walk. Projects Abroad staff will show you where to go on your first day.

Your working day will normally start around 8am and end at about 3pm.

The first part of the morning will be dedicated to stimulating educational activities, such as playing games, singing, and doing crafts. By mid-morning, the children will normally have a break, where they can go outside and play. You will use this time to observe the way they interact on the playground and make notes of any behaviour that might require attention.

You will get an hour and a half’s lunch break between 12pm and 1:30pm. If you live close by, you can head home to eat and have a quick rest. Alternatively, you can enjoy a packed lunch.

After lunch, the children will take a nap. You can use this time to discuss activity plans with local staff and fellow interns. You can also fill out assessment forms and input your findings into our Global Impact Database.

Evenings and weekends are your free time to rest, relax, and explore. There is a lot to see and do on the Galapagos Islands, so be sure to plan some adventures. You can visit national parks, go on hikes, head to the beach, or visit some of the other islands.

There are two main aims for this internship program: to offer you the chance to gain practical social work experience in Ecuador and to help serve the local community.

Ecuador is known for its idyllic islands, beautiful scenery, and abundant wildlife. However, marginalized groups are neglected, and children are especially affected. Those that need the most help in Ecuador are underprivileged children from single-parent homes and children who have special needs, such as autism. It is crucial that these children receive the stimulation and care that they need to thrive and reach development milestones.

We have outlined four goals in our Care Management Plan for Ecuador, of which Social Work forms a part:

• Promote early childhood development
• Improve hygiene
• Improve English
• Improve the level of stimulation for each child

You will work at a kindergarten, helping to providing children with the support and care that they need. You will be also gain first-hand experience in a developing country while working alongside a qualified professional.

Join our Social Work Internship in Galapagos and gain invaluable experience while helping us provide care to children who need it most.