Help our foundation with teaching, library and community center in Manabi, Ecuador

Details

• 

  Description

  1. Who We Are
  We are Fundación A Mano Manaba, a grassroots organization working from a small coastal village in Manabí, Ecuador. Since 2016, we’ve been building a vibrant community center where women, youth, and children can thrive through education, culture, and solidarity. Our work is rooted in trust, creativity, and mutual care.
  
  Our tiny artisanal fishing village remains peaceful and tightly knit. We can honestly say that volunteers who have lived and worked here continue to feel welcomed and secure within our community.
  
  2. What We Offer
  We provide a simple and warm place to stay, with shared rooms and a fully equipped kitchen. Volunteers are responsible for preparing their own meals, and we supply basic ingredients such as rice, vegetables, and local fruits. You'll share daily life with our small team, experiencing the rhythm of coastal life in Ecuador.
  
  Beyond the logistical support, what we truly offer is meaningful human connection: you'll become part of a community that values your time, presence, and contribution.
  
  3. What We Need
  We welcome couples, families, or individuals who want to spend several weeks or months supporting our mission. You don't need to be an expert—just open-hearted, responsible, and eager to learn.
  
  Right now, we are especially looking for volunteers who can:
  
  Support homework and remedial reading activities for children and youth
  
  Share skills in sports, arts, crafts, or music
  
  Assist with workshops in entrepreneurship, health, or gender empowerment
  
  Offer coaching or tutoring in English, German, math, or science
  
  Accompany local women in their community initiatives
  
  Experience in teaching, coaching, or nursing is very welcome—but not required. What matters most is your commitment and your willingness to be present with the community.
  
  Important: Intermediate Spanish is a must, as most of our activities are carried out in Spanish and involve close interaction with local families.
  
  If you're seeking a purposeful volunteer experience in a beautiful yet under-resourced area, and you're ready to share your time with kindness and humility, we’d love to hear from you. Come with your partner, your family, or just your backpack—and become part of our story.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
• 

  Interests

  

  Music

  

  Writing

  

  Languages

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Performing arts

  

  Photography

  

  Gardening

  

  Books

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Art & design

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Technology

  

  Self development

  

  Culture

  

  Sustainability

  

  Farming

  

  Hiking

  

  Nature

  

  Team sports

  

  Yoga / Wellness
• 

  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  What's this?
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  What You May Learn from This Experience
  
  If you are an open-minded traveler ready to adapt your lifestyle in order to truly engage with a new culture—and with yourself—this might be the perfect place for you. If, on the other hand, you’re very set in your ways or hoping to recreate modern urban comforts in a rural setting, you may feel out of place. Life here is simple, sometimes unpredictable, but deeply rewarding.
  
  We ask all our volunteers to come with a spirit of collaboration: to help solve problems, not create them. That said, once you’ve been welcomed into the community—and you will be, if you arrive with respect and curiosity—we’ll do everything we can to help you feel safe, supported, and at home.
  
  This coastal fishing village offers rich opportunities for cultural immersion and learning, such as:
  
  Artisanal fishing with local families
  
  Cleaning and preparing fresh fish and shrimp
  
  Cooking traditional Ecuadorian meals over a wood stove
  
  Learning to use a machete, a key local tool
  
  Understanding local family dynamics and everyday rural life
  
  Practicing your Spanish in real-life situations
  
  We also host Friday afternoon tea gatherings with our volunteers to read and discuss literature. The founders of the Fundación are both former Literature Professors, and they love helping curious volunteers begin a journey into Latin American literature, poetry, and history.
  
  Most of all, you'll be invited to build authentic relationships with people of all ages, share in the rhythms of the village, and discover how much can be accomplished with creativity, generosity, and very few resources.
  
  “I came for the volunteer work and ended up learning more than I ever expected—about Ecuador, about community, and about myself. It’s not always easy, but it’s the most real and rewarding experience I’ve ever had.”
  — Naomi, volunteer from Germany and now a current member of Fundación A mano manaba'''

• 

  Registered charity

  This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).

• 

  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

• 

  Help

  Who We’re Looking For
  
  First and foremost: Intermediate Spanish is essential. If you're still learning, we encourage you to reach out once you feel confident and comfortable using Spanish in everyday communication. Most of our work involves direct interaction with children and families in the community, and being able to communicate fluently is key.
  
  After several wonderful experiences with volunteering families, we are especially interested in welcoming traveling parents who are teachers, artists, or professionals, and who would like to volunteer alongside their children for a couple of weeks or months. Families with interests in arts, education, sports, and cultural exchange are particularly welcome.
  
  While we do continue to host individual volunteers, we’ve seen that families bring unique value: they model alternative gender dynamics and demonstrate positive parenting relationships that contrast with some of the norms in our region. We also treasure the friendships that form between visiting children and local youth—these peer connections provide mutual learning, joy, and a beautiful opportunity for cultural exchange.
  
  Teaching experience is a plus but not required—what truly matters is a willingness to engage, share your talents, and take initiative. You’ll always have guidance and support, but after a couple of weeks, you should feel confident helping us run the Community Library in Don Juan, a small coastal fishing village in Manabí, Ecuador.
  
  We need volunteers who can: Support with homework and literacy.Teach English, German, art, recycled crafts, or coach sports. Offer creative and engaging activities for children and teens.Assist in the local grade school, especially with English games and activities. We are especially eager to find volunteers who can teach swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and other water sports. If you also know how to play or teach chess, your skills will be highly valued in our growing Community Center.
  
  Because this is an educational and community-based program, we ask for a minimum commitment of 2 weeks. Longer stays are very welcome and make a real difference.
  
  If you’re open-hearted, ready to collaborate, and excited to share your time and talents with a resilient and welcoming community, we’d love to hear from you.

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Intermediate
  English: Intermediate
  Spanish: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
• 

  Accommodation

  Your Stay at the Intercultural Center
  
  Volunteers stay in our beautiful two-story bamboo house at the Intercultural Center in Don Juan. The ground floor hosts our vibrant Community Library, while the second floor is reserved for volunteer living space. After Library hours, the house is yours to enjoy and relax in. There are two bedrooms in this main house:
  One with a queen bed (ideal for couples). Another with two bunk beds and a single bed (suitable for individuals or groups). Additionally, we have a second volunteer lodge nearby, with two bedrooms and a shared bathroom, offering more privacy or space depending on availability.
  
  You’ll share a fully equipped kitchen with the local women´s gastronomic project, and we also provide basic groceries for you to prepare your own meals along with the other volunteers. For anything else, you can shop at local vendors who sell fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and shrimp. There’s also a traditional wood-fired oven, and local women from the community will gladly teach you how to use it—this often becomes one of the most treasured cultural experiences!
  
  We also provide a laundry machine for your use. For digital nomads or those needing to stay connected, we have excellent Wi-Fi. Many of our past volunteers have comfortably balanced their remote work while participating in the daily life of the project.
  
  Life in Don Juan is generally peaceful, though village parties do happen—earplugs might come in handy now and then! But if you're looking to live simply, healthily, and with purpose in a bamboo house by the sea, you’ll feel right at home.
  
  Climate & What to Pack
  
  The beach is wonderful all year round, but the best months for sunshine and ocean swims are December through May. During this time, the weather is warm and a bit humid—especially if you're not used to tropical climates—but most of us find it invigorating and beautiful.
  
  Here’s what we recommend you bring: High SPF sunscreen (the sun is strong on the equator!) Insect repellent, light, breathable clothing, cotton long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Hat and sunglasses, swimsuit and flip-flops, sturdy shoes or sandals for hiking and walking in the community.
  
  If you come prepared, you’ll be able to enjoy every part of life here—from morning walks on the beach to late-night storytelling under the stars.

• 

  What else ...

  Beyond your volunteer work, life in Don Juan offers simple but delightful perks. The beach is just two blocks away from the Library—perfect for daily swims, sunset walks, or spontaneous surf sessions (we have a board you can borrow!). Volunteers often join weekly hikes with local youth to explore the nearby hills and nature trails. You can get around easily on foot or by bicycle, and you’ll find local restaurants, pizzerias, and small shops close by. Just a few blocks from the Library, the main road connects you by bus to any part of the country—ideal for weekend adventures!

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  Our online connection is very good. If you are planning to work during your volunteering, you need to organize your schedule so that you may be available from 9-11 am and 2-5pm. Besides this schedule you may work in the Library.

• 

  Space for parking camper vans

  El Centro Intercultural A mano manaba tiene espacio para parquear una Caravana grande, tendrás acceso a luz y agua potable.

• 

  Can possibly accept pets

  Tenemos un gato llamdo Aaron, es muy educado y buen cazador. Si tienes gatos o perros, tenemos que amistarlos con Aaron.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

• 

  This host charges a fee

  read more

  Why does Workaway allow some hosts to charge a fee?

  
  

  Workaway provides opportunities for non-monetary cultural exchanges where hosts provide food and accommodation in return for help from Workawayers. In some exceptional cases, a small fee/ donation request (typically no more than 5 dollars per day) may be approved for hosts such as registered charities with a history of positive volunteer feedback. Any fee must directly go to the charity and can only be used to cover the volunteers' food costs. This will be clearly marked on the host's listing.
  

  Listings by agents, "middle-men" or projects that appear to profit from a volunteer's stay are strictly prohibited. Any fees must be discussed and approved in advance by the Workaway team.

  US$6 per day to help host with food costs

Website Safety

Feedback (26)