Volunteer in Cuenca

Welcome to Cuenca - a small, historic city nestled high in the Andes Mountains in the southern end of Ecuador. You’ll love living amongst the green picturesque mountains, colonial architecture, and cobblestone streets. As a volunteer , you’ll have the opportunity to serve in several different orphanages and work with children of all ages! During your free time, you can explore Cuenca and eat at delicious cafes, visit the local cathedrals, and go souvenir shopping at the artisan markets - and don’t forget the

weekly group activities!

OSSO has partnered with orphanages in Cuenca and provided volunteer abroad opportunities here since 1999!

If you’re looking for a meaningful volunteer abroad experience with a well-established nonprofit - Cuenca is for you!.

Apply now

What's it like to volunteer in Cuenca?

AT A GLANCE:

Number of Orphanages: 6 orphanages + 1 daycare for low-income families

Age Range of Children: 0-17

Unique to Cuenca: One of the main orphanages you’ll serve at is specifically for children and adults with disabilities.

THE BASICS:

As an OSSO volunteer, your main service is to help meet the emotional need of children and youth living in orphanages. These children have their basic needs met by the orphanage (food, shelter, clothing, etc.), however, what they most often lack in is love. This is where YOU come in!

OSSO volunteers help fill in the role that orphaned children are often missing - parents, older siblings, mentors, and friends. As a volunteer, your job is to help each child receive the individual love and attention they need to truly thrive. While this might seem like a big task, the volunteer service itself is typically very simple! The smallest actions often have the greatest impact on a child’s life - such as a smile, a hug, or even just remembering their name.

UNIQUE TO CUENCA:

Cuenca is home to Hogar de Ángeles (“Home of the Angels” in Spanish) - OSSO’s orphanage for youth with disabilities.

While most of the orphanages we partner with in Cuenca are run by local organizations or Catholic nuns, Hogar de Ángeles is the only orphanage fully run by OSSO! This is one of the main orphanages you’ll volunteer at during your time in Cuenca.

Most of the residents at Hogar de Ángeles first came to us as young children and are now adults. The vast majority of the residents are wheelchair users and many of them are nonverbal. While the service you’ll give here is very different from the other orphanages, the impact you have on the children and youth here is huge!

You won’t need to have any prior experience working with individuals with disabilities in order to volunteer in Cuenca but you will receive training and orientation once you arrive.

Hogar de Ángeles is often a volunteer favorite - come volunteer in Cuenca to see why!

A TYPICAL DAY

Your average day volunteering in Cuenca might include:

- Taking care of babies and young toddlers while they explore the playroom

- Playing soccer with the older kids outside in the courtyard

- Taking an adult with cerebral palsy on a walk by pushing their wheelchair

- Helping feed a young girl with disabilities who can’t feed herself

- Bringing a fun craft for the teenage girls to do after school

- Comforting a child who is crying

- Helping a child with his homework

What is there to do in Cuenca?

Every Wednesday, you’ll have the entire day off for an OSSO-organized group activity. We take care of planning all weekly activities - meaning you can just sit back, relax, and soak up every experience!

Cuenca and the neighboring region is rich with incredible destinations - you won’t need to go far for amazing sightseeing! You’re bound to fall in love with the people, places, and culture of Ecuador during your weekly travels.

Some of the weekly adventures you go on may include: