Florian in Quito : My Life Journey Started Through This Volunteer Trip

After my flight, I was picked up by my host family immediately - they were so nice and welcomed me warm-hearted in Quito. The very next day they made me familiar with my volunteer project, a childcare center for disadvantaged families. They showed me around and explained the daily routine, the way of communication and additionally informed me about the relationship with the children. I really loved taking care of them! The kids were so kind and really became close to my heart. Saying goodbye was really hard, not only for me - for the children as well.

My duties mainly consisted of playing with the children and helping them to do their homework correctly. Furthermore, I took care of them on one-day-trips, helped them with meal preparation, and was also involved in the design of the new school pupil's classrooms. Everyone was so excited! The staff was extremely kind and helpful. During my stay, they always included me in all of the tasks. Therefore I was able to make many different experiences at work!

Besides my volunteer work, there were so many things to see and explore in Quito! The old town with its beautiful colonial buildings is amazing! In the city center, there are many parks with gorgeous markets and many viewpoints as well - among them “El Panecillo”, the cablecar “Teleférico” and “La Basilica del Voto Nacional”.

But also the nightlife in Quito is something to be proud of. At the Plaza Foch, there are numerous bars, restaurants, and clubs where you can dance to pulsatile Latin-American rhythms. During this time, it was very easy to get into contact with other people. I've spent all my free time with them, especially on the weekends. The Quiteños are super nice!

Quito is an excellent starting point for many trips - whether for one day or for the whole weekend. You should definitely see the Cotopaxi, a volcano almost 6.000 meters high. It was an indescribable experience for me.

A weekend trip to the hot springs from Baños or to the cloud forest in Mindo is definitely worth a visit too. And also the craters Quilotoa and Cuicocha are very impressive. What should not be missed during a stay in Ecuador is an excursion to “Mitad Del Mundo”, the equator where you can stand with one foot on the southern hemisphere and the other on the northern hemisphere.

My time in Quito was beyond amazing! It was an indescribable experience that I would not want to miss!

If you have some time left after your volunteer work, you should definitely stay 1 or 2 weeks longer in Ecuador to discover this beautiful country!