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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
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