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
$1,200.00 after the $500.00 deposit
$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.
Our 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
In Partnership with Jadan Leaders
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.
We do our best to prioritize projects based on need. The need here is tremendous and we are a small organization.
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.
Where You'll Stay
With a Family
The first night is a hotel in Cuenca. After that you’re in a home in Jadán, with a family who has agreed to host you, for the rest of the work week. Basic, and real. You eat what they eat.
Most host families speak little or no English. That matters less than you’d think — a week of gestures, laughing at each other, and pointing at things gets people surprisingly far.
Your Host Family
Your host family is eager and a little nervous to meet you and welcome you into their home. Host families have volunteered to provide a safe place with a private bedroom and a shared bathroom. They will feed you and make sure you make it to the activities. They want to spend time with you and learn about your life far away.
What it costs...
$1,700 total, with a $500 non-refundable deposit at registration. Balance due 4/1/2027.
Included
- All lodging — hotel and homestay
- All meals
- Transportation to Jadan and all transportation in Jadan during the work trip
- A guided hike in the Cajas on Saturday
- One Nomads of Hope t-shirt & one to share with a host family member
Not Included
- Airfare
- Travel and medical insurance
- Extra food
- Souvenirs
- A guided hike in the Cajas on the weekend
- Spa visit
- Hotel upgrades like single rooms
If you cancel: more than 30 days out, everything but the deposit is refunded. Inside 30 days, no refund. If Nomads of Hope cancels the trip, you get everything back including the deposit.
Questions People Actually Ask
Do I need construction experience?
No. Our Maestro assigns the work and there is plenty that needs no skill at all. People come back for a third and fourth year still not knowing how to lay block.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
No. There’s an interpreter with the team, and most communication on a worksite is pointing anyway. Learning “buenos días” goes a long way.
What if I can't do physical labor?
There’s real work that isn’t construction — Kids Camp in Llayzhatan most mornings, food prep, photography. Nobody is idle and nobody is pushed.
Do I need a visa?
North American and European citizens get a 90-day tourist visa automatically on arrival. Your passport must be valid at least six months past your departure date.
How high is it? Will I feel it?
Cuenca is 8,300 feet, Jadán about 9,300. Some people feel the first day or two. Go slow, drink water, and it passes.
What's the weather like?
Daytime 60–70°F, nights 40–50°F. Layers. The UV is severe year round — sunscreen every day, even when it’s cool.
Can I drink the water?
Tap water in central Cuenca is potable. In Jadán, bottled or boiled.
What if I get sick or hurt?
Cuenca has excellent hospitals, about 40 minutes from Jadán. Travel medical insurance is required — ideally one that pays providers directly.
What vaccinations do I need?
Talk to a travel clinic — the recommendations change and they’ll know your history. It also depends if you are planning an additional trip either before or after your Jadan Work Trip. Our health page has what most people are told.
What should I wear?
Work clothes you don’t mind ruining, and conservative dress off the worksite. Long sleeves, hat, closed shoes. Your after trip activities will determine what other clothing you need. Spa: bathingsuit and flip flops, Hiking: good shoes, poles, layers
Which airport do I fly into?
Cuenca can be reached through Quito and Guayaquil. We recommend Quito.
Can I bring my kids?
Yes. Children under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult or guardian.
after you register
What Happens Next
You don’t need any of this yet. We’ll send each piece when it’s time.
- Pay the depositYour spot is held. We'll email you within a few days.
- Check your passportValid six months past your departure date. Renew now if it's close.
- Fill out the health profileWe'll send you the form — allergies, medications, anything we should know.
- Book your flight and send us the detailsWe'll send the flight form. Details are due [date].
- Buy travel medical insuranceMedical, evacuation, and trip cancellation.
- Read and sign the code of conductWe'll send it with your welcome email.
- Pay the balanceDue [date].
- PackWe'll send the packing list and the full itinerary about a month out.
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!