Volunteer Placement Profile Construction and Maintenance Volunteer

Un techo para mi Pais Ecuador Quito, Ecuador

www.volunteerbasecamp.com Un techo para mi Pais Ecuador

Placement ID: 771 Country: Ecuador Location: Quito Placement Category: Community Development Placement Type: Organizational Support Organization Type: Emergency Services Minimum Duration: 4 weeks Language Skill: Intermediate Placement Fee: 45 USD Accommodation: BaseCamp OR Host Family Months Not Available: Jun,Aug,Sep,Oct,Nov

www.volunteerbasecamp.com Quick Facts: Placement ID: IND-771 Location: Quito, Ecuador Sector: Community Development Category: Min Duration: 4 weeks Lodging: Language: Intermediate Placement Fee: 45 USD Job Description

Techo is an organization which seeks to overcome poverty for thousands of people living in slums, through training and joint actions of its residents and young volunteers in Ecuador. In Latin America, more than 200 million people live in poverty. Of these 80 million live in extreme poverty on less than $ 1 a day. In Ecuador the percentage is really high, so volunteers are always welcome to help make a change for these families who live in extreme poverty. Techo Ecuador is always looking for construction volunteers who will help build emergency houses in rural places of Ecuador where these living conditions exist. A construction and maintenance volunteer would be in charge of assessing the housing needs at a specific location and if deemed appropriate would then organize all necessary data, supplies and volunteers to perform the task. This would also include the best materials and type of construction in the designated location. A construction and maintenance volunteer for this placement must have adequate knowledge in the construction business including a few years of experience; as the placement job is to not only help build these homes but to be in charge of the whole operation. The volunteer must be a mature individual who is able to organize all aspects of the construction, as well as supervise the volunteers who would be working at the site. A construction and maintenance volunteer must be able to do hard manual labour in the Ecuadorian climate and have a intermediate level of understanding of the Spanish language.

Volunteer Tasks Required

Construction Allocation

It is a sub area within the construction department that is responsible for assessing the conditions of families living in these settlements. Assignments of emergency built homes is done through a methodology of surveys and interviews conducted by volunteers; who are the first and only link with the families until the time of construction.

Construction Logistics

To plan an appropriate methodology for the construction phase, which would include obtaining volunteers from the area, appropriate for the jobs. The construction and maintenance volunteer would be in charge to obtain the items needed for construction such as tools and materials, as well as transportation, food and shelter for the volunteers.

Construction

The construction and maintenance volunteer would be responsible for the design of the emergency housing and the training of volunteers to work in the construction of said homes. The volunteers would be expected to do the research necessary to determine the best materials and construction methods.

www.volunteerbasecamp.com Construction Site Supervision

The construction and maintenance volunteer would be responsible to: ensure that all safety regulations were followed; that all volunteers were directed and supervised for each day's activities and that at the end of each working day that all equipment and supplies were properly put away and the site clean and safe.

www.volunteerbasecamp.com Organization Details About the Organization

Techo is an organization operating in Latin America and the Caribbean, which seeks to overcome poverty for thousands of people living in slums, through training and joint actions of its residents and young volunteers. The people in the Techo Organization work tirelessly in the fight against poverty and the promotion of community development. "Techo Community Intervention" focuses on the most excluded slums and its key drivers are the joint actions taken by its residents and young volunteers from these areas, who work to generate solutions to the problems of poverty. This initiative originated in Chile then went to El Salvador and Peru. Now after 15 years, it operates in 19 countries of Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. Five Values That Moves Techo Towards A Better Future: 1) Solidarity - Empathy is crucial to the fate of these excluded families. It moves us to want to be and work with them, to share their difficulties and hopes, to learn from their skills and perseverance, as well as report and make an effort to correct things that marginalize these people and does not recognize their fundamental rights as human beings. 2) Conviction - To overcome poverty and injustice in our continent, " Is Possible". This certainty gives us the determination to work tirelessly with others to achieve these challenging goals and to take the risks necessary to move beyond the fatalistic attitudes of others around us. 3) Excellence - Everything we do must be of high quality. We aim to be creative, innovative and rigorous, as well as respectful of commitments made. We will acknowledge and correct errors in a timely manner, while taking into consideration proposed solutions. 4) Diversity - All young people have a space in the Techo organization, regardless of social or ethnic origins, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or political choices. We are sure that our differences are an asset to join forces in what unites us, "the fight against extreme poverty throughout this continent". 5) Optimism - The Techo Organization faces the future with hope but not naivety. We believe that the injustice we see today, is possible to be defeated and we work towards that future with joy. We recognize the privilege of devoting our lives to making our world a more humane place for all.

When the Organization was Founded

Techo - Ecuador was established in May 2008. At that time, they constructed five houses in the neighborhood of Carretas, sector La Bota, in the province of Pichincha. The homes were built with the help of 60 volunteers between 18 and 30 years of age. Since then Techo has built 1564 houses and mobilized more than 15,000 volunteers who constructed these homes among'st 12 provinces in the country.

How the Organization is Funded

In 1997 a group of young people funded the first Techo establishment in Chile with the help of individual

www.volunteerbasecamp.com organizations and donors. Since that time the Techo Organization in now in 19 countries and receives its funding through its own fundraising initiatives in each country and through private donors.

www.volunteerbasecamp.com Placement Location Information

Techo Ecuador is located in a large-scale district of Quito. Situated around the Parque La Carolina - the financial center - they are surrounded by banks and multinational companies. These tall buildings are made of steel, concrete and glass, giving this area a very modern and edgy feel. Many of the most important and traditional malls in the city are in this area: the Garden Mall, Quicentro Shopping, Mall Iñaquito (CCI), Caracol Mall, Mall United Nations (CCNU). Techo's office is a big house where activities and meetings take place before moving to the rescue place. In the house there is a big community area, a kitchen, three offices and a backyard. The house is just for volunteers to apply and meet there co-workers. Volunteers will go anywhere in Ecuador to help families, so volunteers will be staying in community centers, with bedrooms and kitchens.

City Description

Quito or also called "Luz de America", is the capital of Ecuador; a country located in South America, on the Equator line. Quito is considered one of the most beautiful cities in South America because of its amazing colonial architecture, historical sites, fantastic landscapes and panoramic views all surrounded by incredible mountains, rivers, parks and volcanoes. Quito was founded in the 16th century by the Incas Tribe and is located at an altitude of 2,850 meters above sea level. Centro de Quito, (colonial city) is the largest and best conserved colonial city in South America; this is why the UNESCO named it a "World Cultural Heritage Site" in 1978. The city's structure on the 320 hectare compound is an outstanding example of superb architecture from the sixteenth to the twentieth century; surrounded by volcanic stone with very narrow streets within, (built stone by stone), there is much to see. The historic centre of Quito has ancient colonial homes, priceless churches, chapels, monasteries, convents, as well as plazas, museums and republican buildings with interesting architecture. Once outside of the historical centre of the city, Quito takes on a completely different personality in the “new town” where many high rise and government buildings are found. Though Quito is old and historic, the public transportation is fairly efficient and the city is served by a network of buses that travel throughout most of the areas; it is a cheap way of getting around. Since the city is very long and narrow, it is divided into three zones and many buses run in each zone of the city. Currently, the heart of the capital is full of vigour and culture, such as "Heritage Nights" where citizens and visitors can enjoy the unique attractions in the, "jewel in the crown of Ecuador", through images and videos.

Points of Interest

In the collective memory of Ecuadorians, the founding of Quito refers to legendary times and the first inhabitants Quitumbe Quitus, whom later merged with the Caras. Quito's story does not begin or end with the arrival of the Spanish, who were but one of the important milestones in the course of ancient history lived by Ecuadorian people. Immediately after the victory over the Inca ruler Atahualpa in 1535 Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro settled in Cajamarca. One member of the expedition was Sebastian Benalcázar appointed Lieutenant Governor of San Miguel who soon formed the famous city of Quito.

www.volunteerbasecamp.com There are more than thirty religious structures in the historic centre of Quito and the Jesuit Church is considered the most elaborate structure. The populous in mainly of the Roman Catholic faith and has been since the invasion of the Spanish in the 16th century. Quito is located very close to the equator and just outside of the city limits there is a monument and museum which marks the equator's location.

Weather in the Area

Because Ecuador is located on the Equator line, Quito's weather is very unique. Due to the Equator, Ecuador has no seasons; there is summer and winter. The year has six months winter and six months summer but the number of months for each changes from time to time. Because Quito is so high up in the mountains, the sun is very strong and the wind blows really hard; it can get pretty cold at night. Quito always has a temperate climate with temperatures ranging from 10 to 27 ° C.

Transportation From BaseCamp

From the Basecamp House take a bus on 6 de diciembre that is called Guadalajara, this bus will take you on the main street called Eloy Alfaro. Get off on the Carolinas Park. Jardin Mall will be at you right so walk that way. On the corner you will see a Gas station and a street called Italia, walk up the hill and look for the blue house - that is Techo Ecuador.

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