Homestays 

Participating families are chosen for their friendliness and helpfulness. All homestays are inspected and approved by SVE staff and most have years of experience hosting foreign students.  They are located in  very safe residential neighbourhoods in the North of Quito and close to the Spanish Language school and clinical and volunteer placements.  Living with an Ecuadorian family gives the volunteer an opportunity to learn more about the culture, customs, and food of the country, while at the same practicing their Spanish.  

Each student will have their own private room, shared bathroom, 2 meals per day (breakfast and dinner Sunday to Friday), and laundry service once a week. Students will be with the same family for the duration of the program, unless the students expresses a desire to change families.  Most of the families usually have two or more students in the house which provides a travel buddy and companion during any cultural adjustment periods. Generally students share the same interests and enjoy having someone to travel with, not only to different areas around Ecuador, but while in Quito as well.

Our rural homestays (Intag) will be more rustic and do not have the commodities of Quito.  Showers will be cold and services will be basic.  However, it can be an excellent learning experience as a volunteer will experience living with less.