"Honestly the best experience and adventure of my life!"
-Chrissy Knopp, Ohio State University
"Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity! I had the best time of my life - great friendships, life-changing experiences, SURFING!!!, and the start of my surf film career!" -Sarah Han, Virginia Tech University
"This was an incredible, life-changing experience! After a month, I still miss Canoa and the gang, and think about them everyday." -Kelley Sabarre, Ottawa University
Eco Surf Volunteers
International Volunteer Project
**Contact us to find out more about our newest medical and pre-med volunteer programs!
Eco Surf Volunteers works in conjunction with the administration at the elementary school Escuela Bilingue los Algarrobos in Canoa and Hernan Morales Rojas, the President of the Junta Parroquial in Tomas de Berlanga, to insure the best possible developmental programming for the children of Canoa and Isla Isabela, Galapagos.
Eco Surf Volunteers donates all materials and supplies for every volunteer project. In a community where a single sheet of construction paper costs nearly $0.25 and "Glitter Glue" simply does not exist, words cannot describe the scene or express the emotion our volunteer team experiences upon our arrival with our massive bag of goodies.
Volunteers teach English abroad with the English Language Educational Program implemented by Eco Surf Volunteers. The program uses arts & crafts to teach English in a creative and engaging atmosphere. Students and volunteers agree that the program creates one of the most enjoyable and effective methods for teaching (and learning) the fundamental basics of a new language. Volunteers who speak Spanish find they dramatically improve upon what they already know, and those who speak little to no Spanish naturally end up learning the basics in the process.
In Canoa, Escuela Bilingue los Algarrobos opened in 2008 with two kindergarten classes, one first grade class, and a total of 30 students. The Phase I Building originally housed all three classrooms plus a restroom and the kitchen. Construction on Phase II began earlier this year (2009), and with the help of Eco Surf Volunteers, was completed in March of 2009. With the completion of the Phase II Building, the school has added an administrative office, library and computer room.
The school employs four teachers (two Ecuadorian teachers and two English-speaking teachers), one cook and one night watchman.
As with most public and private schools in Ecuador, the cost of tuition at Escuela Bilingue los Algarrobos is $25usd per month. Unlike most public and private schools, the students are fed both breakfast and lunch each day. Escuela Bilingue los Algarrobos currently offers financial aid scholarships to approximately 1/3 of all students attending the school. Eco Surf is proud to say that we have personally scholarshiped approximately 1/2 of the school's student-body.
Environmentally friendly materials and techniques continue to be used in every facet of Escuela Bilingue los Algarrobos. Locally grown natural resources such as bamboo and thatch are used whenever possible and the septic system uses live reeds to do the final filtering of the water. Additionally, a garden and seedling bed have been built to allow the children opportunities to learn about farming, and beach clean-ups and litter disposal programs have been implemented to educate the children and their families about the effects of waste management.
Facilitating cultural immersion opportunities while making a positive impact on our global community is just one more reason why Eco Surf Volunteers creates the most exotic surf-volunteer, overseas adventure travel experience for young people!
Teach children English through arts & crafts
Click on the link to see all ESV volunteer programs.
Other reasons students often volunteer are:
1. Enriching Experience
- International volunteers explore vibrant new cultures and spectacular
new environments, creating hands-on learning opportunities not possible
in the classroom.
2. Spanish Immersion
– Eco Surf Volunteers participants immerse themselves in the perfect
environment to effortlessly practice and learn the Spanish language.
3. Cultural Awareness
– ESV volunteers become community leaders who raise local awareness of
environmental conservation issues and enhance their own understanding
of foreign cultures.
4. Meet People
- From interesting locals to other international travelers abroad,
volunteer organizations bring together a variety of diverse and
adventurous people from all over the world.
5. College Admissions - More and more often, colleges want to see what kind of person you are in and out of the classroom. Participating in an exotic volunteer abroad program shows the kind of diversity you'd bring to their campus.
Click on the link to see all ESV volunteer programs available.