Volunteer work trip · Cuenca, Ecuador
The Work Continues in Jadán in 2027
The 2026 projects are finished. The 2027 projects are being selected. The dates are set. All that’s missing is you.
$1,700.00
$500.00 non-refundable deposit
April 1, 2027
Two ways to be part of it
Every project needs two things: hands to do the work, and money for materials. You can provide either.
Come and work
Eleven days in July. You’ll stay with a family in Jadán, work alongside El Maestro and the other volunteers, and eat at your family’s table. No construction experience and no Spanish required.
Fund the materials
Cement, roofing, lumber, tools — all bought locally in Ecuador. Most of the people who make this work possible will never get on the plane, and the build still has to be paid for.
Volunteer work trip · Cuenca, Ecuador
Bathrooms & Home Repair
Jadán is a rural parish in the hills about 45 minutes from the center of Cuenca. We work on homes: bathrooms where there were none, roofs, floors, walls. For 2027 the emphasis is bathrooms.
El Maestro is the professional construction director who runs the build. He decides how the work gets done and who does what. You’ll be handed a job you can manage, whatever your skills are, and there is real work for people who have never held a trowel.
how the list gets made
Together, then honestly
Local leaders in Jadán identify the households that need work, and we go and look at them together. Then we price the materials, weigh the skills each job takes, and decide what we can reasonably take on with the volunteers and the money we have that year.
Some years that means saying no to a project we’d like to do. We’d rather tell you that than pretend the list is longer than our capacity.
Before you decide
What the week looks like
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Friday
Land in Cuenca. Dinner with the team and the Jadán leaders, where you find out what you'll be building.
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Saturday — Thursday
Work days in Jadán. On the worksite by 8:00, lunch brought out to you, back to your family by 4:00. Evenings are with the community — bingo, volleyball, a movie in the center.
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Tuesday afternoon
Short work day. A hike on Pachamama, then dinner in Cuenca.
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Thursday evening
Pampa Mesa. Every family brings food and lays it out on one long cloth. The end-of-week celebration.
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Friday — Sunday
Back to Cuenca. Hike in Cajas, wander around this UNESCO World Heritage city or add-on extras like the thermal baths at Piedra de Agua or a trip to Ingapirca.
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Monday
Fly home on your own schedule.
Can't Join Us in Ecuador? Your Support Still Makes a World of Difference!
While our volunteers prepare for their journey to Ecuador, you can still be a vital part of our mission. Every dollar you contribute directly funds essential project materials, supports skilled local labor, and covers transportation costs – the building blocks of lasting change in the community.
Your support travels thousands of miles, making a real impact on the lives of those in need.
Be a part of our mission without even leaving your home!
Local Volunteers
If you’re living in Cuenca or the surrounding area or you plan to be in Cuenca and are interested in volunteering click the button and complete the form and we will contact you to chat about how you would like to get involved.