The racial and social environment:

Different racial groups populate Ecuador, a 250,000 Km2 territory, located in the northwestern part of South America, with 13 million inhabitants. About 30% are Indian native belonging to different indigenous groups; 55% is composed by “mestizos” a mixture of Indian and white population in different proportions; the remaining 15% includes white, black, and other races. Ecuador, a democratic republic and a market oriented economy, is a peaceful country witnessing no major social disturbances normally registered in its neighbouring countries of Colombia and Peru. Ecuador is composed by three main social groups: the poor class, which is the majority of the population (60%), the lower and the upper middle class (38%) and the rich. In the main cities like Quito, the capital (2 million), Guayaquil (3,5 million) and Cuenca ( 600,000) it is possible to witness clearly the main characteristic of the Ecuadorian reality: economic and social contrasts. Huge poor neighborhoods and small well to do residential areas. Street vendors at the poor areas and very modern and huge shopping centers. Over-populated free public schools and private ones with all comfort and facilities.

Over the last 25 years, the middle class, which is now composed mainly of professionals, has in general improved its social and economic conditions. This is especially true for women. Today women in Ecuador participate more actively not only as professionals like medical doctors, engineers, researchers, etc., but in the political scene, sports, aviation, etc. At least 25% of the members of the Congress are women, presently 6 out of 13 members of the cabinet are women, in fact the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Health, etc. are outstanding women. The armed forces, police and the national airline increasingly employ women as career officers.

The economic environment: Income per capita is about $1400 per year compared to other Latin American countries which do not reach the $800 level. Ecuador is the 4th largest oil producer of Latin America, first world producer and exporter of various products like bananas, flowers and shrimps.

The landscape environment: Almost no other country in Latin America has the variety of landscapes, climate and a multiethnic population: from snow to the jungle! Ecuador is an evergreen country having all races welcoming the rest of the world.

Quito with its typical cloudy winter environment

The environment on streets: On the Ecuadorian cities, towns and villages you will meet mostly the population of “mestizos” and among them, street vendors and some Indians. To see children on the streets selling lottery tickets, cigarettes, fruits, etc. is normal. The major part of the population in Ecuador is poor children and youngsters. Volunteers should know in advance, if necessary, that although our poor children at the public schools are not in rags or others laying down on the streets, dying of hunger and illness by the thousands and thousands like in the African South Saharan countries, Ecuador still needs help for its youth, especially in terms of nutrition, health, and education.

Your host family environment: Host families are from the middle or upper middle class. This means educated persons. The experience of VE is that many of its former volunteers do return to volunteer again, to study, to tour or mainly to visit their former Ecuadorian host families as a result of the pleasant environment they enjoyed during their volunteering.

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Ecuador. Girls, including our volunteers, attend games on weekends sporting the ecuadorian national team shirt. The VE organises, competitions, soccer games and other sports for the volunteers.