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ECUADORNATIONAL PROFILE

ECUADOR NATIONAL PROFILEQuito, 2017.

(Important: the underlined texts are links. Some of them could link you to online information)

ECUADORNATIONAL PROFILE - CONTENTS

ECUADORGeneral aspects. p. 2

Regions. p. 4Culture. p. 9

Economy p. 15Government. p. 19

Food. p. 23

ECUADORNATIONAL PROFILE - CONTENTS

VASE The foundation p. 25

Volunteer p. 33Aplication p. 40Projects p. 45 Contacts p. 47Credits p. 48

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ECUADORGENERAL ASPECTS

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ECUADORGENERAL ASPECTS

Capital cityQuito

Official LanguagesSpanish and Quechua

GovernmentUnitary Presidential Constitutional

RepublicPresident

Lenin MorenoCurrencyUS- Dollar

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Straddling the equator in western South America, Ecuador has land in both the

Northern and the Southern hemisphere.It borders Colombia in the north and Peru in the South and the East. The Pacific Ocean is Ecuador’s western

border.The land area totals 283.560km²,

including the Galapagos Islands. The border with Colombia is 590km. long and with Peru 1.420km. It has a coast

line of 2.237km. The “Mitad del Mundo –Center of

the world” is where the equator crosses Ecuador at latitude 0°0°0°

ECUADORLOCATION

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Ecuador is divided in four natural re-gions

ECUADORGEOGRAPhIC REGIONS

LIkE NOwhERE ELSE ALL IN ONE PLACE

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ECUADORGEOGRAPhIC REGIONS

PACIFIC COAST(tropIcal weather 23 to 36 °c)

This region consists of the low lying western portion of the country

including all of the Pacific coastline. The coastal plain extends far inland,

then rises at the foothills of the Andes mountain range. The region

was primarily forest, but most of the original forests have been cleared for

timber, cattle ranching and agriculture. There are remaining forest fragments, including tropical dry and wet forests,

that form part of one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.

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ECUADORGEOGRAPhIC REGIONS

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS(22 to 32 °c)

The Galapagos Islands consist of 13 main islands and 17 islets, and is

located about 1000 kilometers west of the Ecuadorian coast. The Galapagos

islands are famous for their unique species, remarkable marine life, and for

the work of Charles Darwin, whose observations there gave rise to his

theories of natural selection as a means for evolution.

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ECUADORGEOGRAPhIC REGIONS

ANDES(cooland 10 to 18 °c)

This region is the central belt of Ecuador, running from North to South

and including the Andes mountain range and the Avenue of the Volcanoes.

The region contains several snow capped mountain peaks, including

Chimborazo, an extinct volcano rising 6,297 meters and the farthest point

from the center of the earth, Cotopaxi, the second highest active volcano in

the world, Pichincha, an active volcano overlooking the capital city of Quito, and the peaks of Cayambe, Antisana,

Tungurahua, and the Illinizas.

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ECUADORGEOGRAPhIC REGIONS

AMAZON(tropIcal weather 23 to 36 °c)

The Amazon region extends from the eastern slopes of the Andes into the

Amazon basin, including cloud forests of the eastern slopes of the Andes and

the lowland forests, mostly tropical moist broadleaf forests. This region

includes both the Cuyabeno Reserve and the Yasuni National Park, the latter designated a World Biosphere Reserve. In spite of severe degradation due to oil development in many areas, this region remains among the most biodiverse on the planet, containing large unspoiled areas of pristine primary forests and

amazing natural beauty.

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ECUADORCULTURE

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ECUADORSOCIETY

Ecuador’s mainstream culture is defined by Ecuador’s “mestizo” majority,

which is a mixture of European and Amerindian influences infused with

African elements inherited from slave ancestors.

Ecuador is a multiethnic and multicultural country with a population

of about 15 million people.Although Ecuador’s official language is Spanish, 11 other indigenous languages

are spoken. The principle indigenous language of the highlands is Quechua.

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ECUADORCULTURE

FAMILYEcuadorians are known as family-people.The family life plays an important role and children normally live with their

parents until they get married. Families often spend the weekends together.

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ECUADORCULTURE

GENDERGender roles are different than in

Europe, placing an emphasis on the woman’s role in the household, which some people identify as a “machismo”

mentality.

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ChILDRENPrimary education is obligatory in

Ecuador, however only about 50% of the population continue studies in high

school. Also, many children work on the street as vendors, shoe shiners or

performers.

ECUADORCULTURE

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Religion in Ecuador is an expression of the different cultural heritages in the Ecuadorian culture including

the Spanish colonization, the Native Amerindian and the Afro-Ecuadorian. According to the Ecuadorian National

Institute of Statistics and Census, 91.95% of the population have a

religion:

80.44% Catholics11.30% Protestants

1.29% Jehovah’s Witnesses6.97% Other

7.94% Atheists0.11% Agnostics

ECUADORRELIGION

ECUADORECONOMY

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ECUADORECONOMY

Ecuador has varied natural ecosystems that allow the growth of many plants, fruits, vegetables and crops. The main products are oil, bananas, flowers and

shrimp.Deteriorating economic performance in 1997- 98 culminated in a severe

economic and financial crisis in 1999. The crisis was precipitated by a number

of external shocks, including the “El Niño” weather phenomenon in 1997, a sharp drop in global oil prices in 1997-98, and international emerging market

instabilityin1997-98.

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In 2000 the government announced the adoption of the United States

dollar as the national currency. While debatable, it has helped the country to gain economic stability as well as a better image for foreign investors.

Nevertheless, Ecuador now depends on the monetary policy of the USA due to

its currency.

ECUADORECONOMY

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ECUADORECONOMY

In 2011 28,6% of the population lived below the poverty line (less than

USD$2,47 daily); however, the situation is improving rapidly and general poverty has decreased significantly over the last

years, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC). But there are still big differences between

rural and urban poverty rates as well as between different minorities.

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ECUADORGOVERNMENT

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ECUADORGOVERNMENT

Ecuador has been a democracy since 1979. The political situation in the late 1990s and early 2000s was very unstable, a condition which sparked

three presidents’ ousting. however, there has been an increase instability in the past years, since the election of Rafael

Correa, who was officially declared president of Ecuador on December

4, 2006 and sworn in on January 15, 2007 as the 56th president of Ecuador. President Correa is the 9th to occupy

the post since 1996. Correa was reelected for a second term in February

2013.

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Since Correa assumed office, his main goal was to transform the Ecuadorian

political system through a Citizen Revolution (“Revolución Ciudadana”). On April 15th, 2007 Correa called for a national referendum and 81.7% of

voter supported the establishment of a Constitutional Assembly, whose aim was to create a new National Constitution. The new Constitution was approved by

more than 63% of the population.

ECUADORGOVERNMENT

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With Raphael Correa not running again, the governing lefttist Alianza PAIS (Country

Alliance) party presented former vice-president Lenin Moreno as candidate during

the presidential elections in 2017.As vice-president, Moreno, set out

to improve the rights of people with disabilities.

During his campain, Moreno promised to increase employment opportunities and

ensure that all Ecuadorians have the chance to a higher educacion.

(BBC, Miami Team, 18 Febrero 2017)

ECUADORGOVERNMENT

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ECUADORFOOD

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ECUADORFOOD

Ecuador Food mainly includes a great variety of fruits and vegetables, as there

are plenty of them. Ecuador is also greatly recognized for its high quality fish and Seafood and the innumerable

varieties of Andean potatoes.

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The regular diet includes rice, potato, meat as beef and chicken, and pork in

Sierra. One of the most important sauce in Ecuadorian Cuisine is aji which is a hot sauce. Most homes and restaurants in Ecuador have their own versions of this sauce. Soups are also a specialty of

Ecuadorian Food.

ECUADORDIET

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VASEFOUNDATION

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VASEGENERAL ASPECTS

Voluntariado Internacional Ecuador

“Fundación de Voluntariado para la Ayuda Social del Ecuador” (VASE) is a non-profit, non-governmental,

non- religious Ecuadorian organization dedicated to provide intercultural

education and volunteer community service. VASE is officially recognized

by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion.

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VASELOCATION

VASE’s office is located in the heart of Quito, the capital of Ecuador.

UNESCO declared the old town of this city as the first site in the world of “Cultural heritage of Mankind” for its rich architectural beauty, which can be seen in its churches, convents, parks,

and streets.

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VASEMISSION

VASE´s mission constitues over five objectives:

• Provide volunteer service support for the elderly, children, women, indigenous groups, human rights

organizations, hospitals, schools, and community centers.

• Implement intercultural education and inspire global citizenship through

international cultural exchange programs.

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• Proclaim peace, solidarity, friendship, tolerance and mutual understanding as

basic values for mankind.• Promote understanding and

appreciation of cultural diversity.• Create sustainable community

projects in order to promote social and economic development of the

disadvantaged communities in Ecuador.

VASEMISSION

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VASESEMINARS

ORIENTATION

You will be taken directly to the orientation venue upon arrival to Quito. You will have an intense,

five days orientation which covers the following topics: volunteering, intercultural learning, safety and

Ecuador’s culture. You will also be taken on trips to the historic down town of

Quito and indigenous villages. After the orientation, you will have two weeks (30hours) of Spanish classes before

starting to work in the project.

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VASESEMINARS

MID-TERM MEETING

VASE will take you on a retreat for four days, during which you will evaluate and reflect on your living and work

situation during the first months. You will be prepared for the second half of

your stay in Ecuador.

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VASESEMINARS

FINAL EVALUATION

The final evaluation will consist of a three days retreat where all the

volunteers and VASE staff will unite to debrief on their time in Ecuador,

reflect their experiences, and prepare for departure to home country.

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VOLUNTEER

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VOLUNTEERPROFILE

AGEVolunteers must be older than 18

ChARACTERYou must be enthusiastic and

motivated to work with people that need your assistance. You

must be flexible, honest, patient, communicative, compassionate, proactive, show solidarity and empathy with under privileged

people.

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ACCOMMODATIONOPTIONS

You could be hosted in one of the following ways

LIVING IN A FAMILYhost families are different, so be prepared to adapt to a variety of

circumstances, such as number of people in the house, income level, etc.

LIVING IN ThE PROJECTThere are some projects that require the

volunteers to live on site.

Accommodation will be sent to you about 1 month before coming to

Ecuador.

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MONEYINFORMATION

MANDATORY EXPENSESVolunteers have to pay $ 10 for their

passport registration. In addition, volunteers will spend around $50 USD

on a cell phone.

POCKET MONEYVolunteers will be given pocket money

monthly to cover basic expenses.

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MONEYINFORMATION

ITEM USDhamburger Combo 5.50Bus ride 0.25Coca-Cola (1l) 1.50 Letter to Europe 2.00Bottle of water (1l) 0.70 Cinema Ticket 5.50Beer 1.50hour of Internet 0.70 Newspaper 1.00Shampoo 6.00Entrance to a dance club

Free - 15.00

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TRANSPORTATION

The projects are all close to your living arrangements, however, in most cases you will need to ride the bus to your

project. You will be given transportation money from VASE for this purpose.

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TRANSPORTATION

Taxis are fairly cheap in Ecuador ($1.50 USD for a short ride of approximately

2km).To cover longer distances (for example to Guayaquil or Cuenca), you should use a well-known bus company. These

buses run several times a day.Ecuadorian transportation system is

generally good, but crowded. Taxis run 24 hours, and buses run from 05:00 am

until 10:00 pm.

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APPLICATIONPROCESS

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VISAINFORMATION

You should generally start the visa process at least 3 weeks before your departure, since the process can take from 1-10 working days. It is your responsibility to contact the nearest consulate and ask for any specific

requirements that they might have.0-90 Days: Nationals from US, Canada

and most European countries do not need visas for stays less than 90 days. Your passport will be stamped with a

tourist visa (T-III) upon arrival.If you are planning to stay more that 90

days in Ecuador, you will be required to have a temporary residence for

volunteering Visa. For the application you will need the following documents.

GENERAL ITEMS FORMAT ITEM SOURCEA passport which is valid for at least 6 months after your planned return to home country.

Physical Volunteer

Completed application form with photo.

Physical - Online Ecuadorian consulate

Police Record with apostille and translation to Spanish.

Physical Volunteer

Exits and entries record, migration certificate.

Physical - Digital Ecuadorian consulate

VISAFOR VOLUNTEERS

SPECIFIC ITEMS (VOLUNTEER VISA)

FORMAT ITEM SOURCE

Two letters or certificates issued by the host organization in Ecuador describing the tasks and duration of the volunteer service.

Physical VASE

A copy of the document that states the name and address of the legal representative of the host organization.

Physical VASE

A copy of the Official Registry, RUOSC and Statutes of the host organization.

Physical VASE

Activities timetable Physical VASEFees: Application $50, Visa: $200 Physical Volunteer

VISAFOR VOLUNTEERS

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VASEREQUIREMENTS

To complete your application you have to send the following documents, in

digital format, to VASE:Passport

Completed ICYE application formhealth certificateMotivation letter

Projects of your interest

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PACkING LISTRECOMMENDATION

ITEMPassport.All your pre-departure papers.Small gifts from your country to give to people in your project, host family, and friends.Clothes for layering (consider that Quito can experience four ¨seasons¨ in one day). Electronic adaptor (Ecuador uses 110V, 60hz; plugs have two flat prongs).Debit card.Credit card in case of an emergency (i.e. to leave as a guarantee at a hospital).Rain jacket and umbrella.Flash-light. Towel, bathing suit and sandals.Soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo and plenty of sunscreen -it’s expensive here-. Any medication that you take regularly (enough to last your entire stay).

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PROJECTSVOLUNTEER wORk

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PROJECTSVOLUNTEER wORk

VASE volunteers support a variety of projects in areas such as: education,

disabled people, elderly, gender, health, and environment. All the projects

available can be found in the VASE work profile.

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for more information contact with usPrincipal

María Belén Mora(593) 999 201000

Incoming Coordinator Renato Noriega Baldeón

(593) 99 270 2119 Outgoing Coordinator

Pamela Villagómez(593) 987282254

Office Quito, Ecuador.

Edificio Silvia Nuñez. Av. de los Shyris #37-27 y Naciones Unidas.

Oficina 303(593-2) 265932

E-Mailinfo@volunteervase.org

Websitewww.volunteervase.org

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CREDITSPhOTOGRAPhS

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CREDITSPhOTOGRAPhS

The credits are displayed in order of appearence from left to rigth.

Cover page. •Neck of the moon by Simon Matzinger Contents I •Abigail and friends by Arileu•Blue-footed booby on Santa Cruz Island by John Solaro•Huacos. La Mamá negra by Jose PereiraContents II•Yasuni-Tortue-larme by Arne Hendriks •Ecuador, Cuenca - Vendedora al mercado byMaurizio Costanzo•Cielo de Quito by XimenaPage 1•Ecuador, Quilotoa by Daran KandasamyPage 2 •Galapagos land iguana by Simon Matzinger •Cotopaxi by Ángel M. Felicísimo •El florecimiento de los guayacanes by Ministerio de turismo del EcuadorPage 3•World Map by Freepik.com by Antonia Neubauer

Page 4•Ecuador Galapagos Kicker Rock Page 5•Scène sortie d’un tableau de Géricault by Jean-François RenaudPage 6•Magnificent Frigate Bird by Andy Morffew•Peak Darwin’s Arch, Galapagos by Dag•Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), Galápagos Islands, Ecuador by Derek KeatsGalápagosPage 7•Alpaca at Hacienda El Porvenir, near Cotopaxi, •Ecuador by Dallas Krentzel•The Objective by Pete•Vue opposée sur la laguna Mojanda by Jean-François RenaudPage 8•White-fronted spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth), Amazon, Ecuador by Dallas krentzel•Comunidad kichwa Añangu en el Parque Nacional Yasuní by Cancillería del Ecuador•Yasuni-Tortue-larme by Arne Hendriks Page 9 •Woman Waiting in San Pablo, Ecuador by Marcio Ramalho

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CREDITSPhOTOGRAPhS

Page 10•Comparsas Mama Negra, Latacunga, Ecuador by jose pereiraPage 11•Ecuador, Cuenca - Mango y durazno by Maurizio CostanzoPage 12•Índigena de Ecuador by Carlos Tobón FrancoPage 13•Ecuador, Cuenca - 2009. Parque Calderon by Mau-rizio Costanzo•Ecuador, Amazonia by Maurizio Costanzo•Ecuador, Cuenca - Pase del niño by Maurizio Cos-tanzoPage 14•Ecuador, Cuenca - Parque Calderon by Maurizio Costanzo.•Cucurucho Penitente by Exedu•Virgen del Panecillo by Carlos Adampol GalindoPage 15 •Supervisors by David BrossardPage 16•Mercado de Ambato Ecuador by Jose PereiraPage 17•Five dollars by Scott

Page 18•Zaruma by Rinaldo WurglitschPage 19 • Moreno podría sercandidato by El Telégrafo Page 20 •Democracia by Christian JiménezPage 21•Informe a la Nación del Presidente de la República by Asamblea Nacional del EcuadorPage 22• Lenin lidera encuestas en Ecuador de cara a comi-cios del 19 de febrero by La República ECPage 23•Flor en la oscuridad by AndresmbernalPage 24•Still Life by Angelbattle BrosPage 25•Soup by Jeffreyw•Rice by T-mizo•Seafood Galore by Christian KadlubaPage 26•Hands by AhyakalPage 27•VASE´s brand

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CREDITSPhOTOGRAPhS

Page 28•Plaza de la Independencia by John Solaro•Quito couryard by Theodore Scott•Iglesia de La Compania de Jesus at dawn by Rein ketelaarsPage 29•Jump into a new experience by VASEPage 30•Volunteer in Ecuador by Katharina S.Page 31•VASE’s incoming camp by Raúl NoriegaPage 32• VASE’s midterm camp by Raúl NoriegaPage 33•VASE’s final camp by Raúl NoriegaPage 34•Dreams of Travel by Martinak15Page 35•Heart photowall by Kamilla OliveiraPage 36•Volunteers with host family by VASEPage 37•Mix of Money by Pictures of Money Page 38•Coca Cola nature morte by Gerry Lauzon

•Beer by DeusXFlorida•Here’s another shot of Hamburger by ChichachaPage 39•Andes Quito Explorer by Agencia de Noticias Page 40•Bus 62 by PhotocapyPage 41•Palermo Airport by Davide D’AmicoPage 42•Travel by FdecomitePage 44•Travel by Moyan BrennPage 45•Backpack by Blake BolingerPage 46•Abigail and friends by ArileuPage 47•Crossing the Plaza by Latin America For LessPage 49•Mangrove forest on Isabela Island in the Galapagos Islands by John Solaro