From Lions to spider monkeys to endangered species like the Giant Armadillo, the wildlife in Ecuador is in fact so diverse that the World Conservation Monitoring Center lists it as one of seventeen Megadiverse countries in the world where the majority of Earth’s wildlife is to be found.

As a South America volunteer on an Ecuador wildlife protection program you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with this extreme biodiversity.

Lead Adventures operate four rescue and education projects designed to safeguard the country’s wildlife from the effects of illegal animal trade and maltreatment.

You can help feed and clean animals as diverse as Galapagos Turtles and sloths; you can volunteer help on endangered species breeding programs; you can assist with the intake of new animals confiscated by the Ecuadorian authorities, and help with their rehabilitation and rehoming or re-release into the wild. It is a South America volunteer adventure you’re unlikely to forget!

Animal abuse in Ecuador remains a massive challenge. Laws and attitudes are changing slowly, but help is still very much needed. If you’re an animal lover with a lust for travel, what could be more inspiring than a trip to Ecuador on a two-week wildlife volunteer program? It’ll take your breath away!

- if you easily get in contact with people,
- speak the language in your destination country,
- are flexible and have some time to research first,
- just want a hands on experience opposite be a part of long-term development.

Yes,
- if you just travel for a short period,
- have no in-country contacts,
- do not speak the language,
- want to contribute to long-term development
- want someone who guides you through cultural differences and helps you with adjusting.

Certainly everyone could organize his / her own travel and volunteer experience abroad – and some do. Most choose to let someone do the organization for them and arrive at their placement knowing there is volunteer work waiting for them and they will have company from staff and other volunteers to share all new impressions and experiences with. This is especially helpful if you choose to volunteer in a cultural setting that is completely different from your own. You will feel much more comfortable if you have someone at your site who can explain and help with understanding the differences.

If you are active in an organization at home, start asking around if they have partner organizations abroad and can help you with contacts. Some volunteer organizations like the Red Cross operate in many countries.

If you never volunteered before, ask yourself how much support you need.
Did you travel before?
Do you have experience with living in a group?
Do you need a room on your own or are you comfortable with simple, shared accommodations?

What kind of volunteer work do you have in mind?
What kind of experience (everyone has some!) can you offer?

There are many different kind of organizations and projects around that take volunteers. Most charge a fee or ask a donation to cover their expenses.

Even if it seems unfair to you that you offer your time and energy and they ask you for money to do it, keep in mind that they have to pay the staff that takes care of you, your housing etc.

There are also companies who organize volunteer trips like they organize sightseeing tours. They usually charge much more, but will accept you for very short stay like a few days only.

Course, a gap year has long been an acceptable way to spend time after secondary school in order to build up your ‘life experience’ and to enjoy some well-deserved freedom. But with so much concern about debt, can you really afford one? The easy answer is believably yes, but you must plan and budget carefully.

Whether you decide to volunteer close to home, or want to fly to the east coast of Australia, it is likely that you will need to save up some money for the experience. Of course, earning is one thing, but saving is quite another and it is important that you’re taking enough money from your monthly pay and arranging it somewhere safe. The more research you can do on this at the moment the better as the best savings accounts available tend to be fixed term – meaning you are more likely to get good returns if you leave your savings alone for a certain amount of time.

Another positive boon to your funding could come from tax. If you’re only working for a few months before leaving and not working for the rest of the year, you may be eligible for tax back. If you earn £6,475 or less over a year you do not need to pay tax.

Once your funds are in place you need to estimate how you want to access it, and the currency (or currencies) you are likely to use. Internet banking is a great way for travellers because it is free and is available 24 hours a day. After you know what currency you will need and where, it may also be worth considering a prepaid credit card – despite the bad reputation there are certain credit card options available that are free of debt risk and allow you to take out foreign currencies abroad for no charge.

The next plan is to budget the trip. If you are travelling abroad it is becoming increasingly important to take out travel insurance – and it is a good idea to research specialist gap year cover. If you are planning any special activities such as extreme sports, ensure that these are included on your policy also.

Who can take a volunteer vacation?

Everyone who has free time and is fit enough to visit Thailand can take a this form of vacation. Thai-Experience.org and many other organization are receiving people from all countries and all ages. The only conditions are an open mind and tolerance on your side.

If you want to travel with your family, that is no problem in many place. Choose a country which is easy to travel and where children are welcome like Thailand for your first trip. Your children can either accompany their parents while they do their volunteer work or have a program on their own if they’re old enough.

Where are volunteer vacations available?

Volunteer chances can be found world wide. You can organize your volunteer trip on your own. In many countries charities are thankful for an extra hand. If you prefer someone to help you, give you an introduction and meet other volunteers, choose a volunteer organizations to assist you.

To find them just use among the major search engines and search for “volunteer +country of your choice” and you will find lots of opportunities. Or have a look at Guiding-Stars.com one of many directories listing volunteer placements.

Why should I consider a volunteer vacation?

There are many possible reasons. Maybe you travel alone but want to share experiences with others. Or you feel you prefer to see more of a country than the normal backpacker or tourist does. Or you just got a brand new TEFL certificate and want to practice your new skills before trying them on a paid position. Or you plan getting a TEFL certificate but want to test yourself first and get some practice. Or you spend a gap year abroad and want to try something new. Or you just retired and do not feel old enough just to sit at home and watch TV. Maybe you want to do something useful and look for a place where your skills are still valued?