Why does this organization need volunteers?

Because patients arrive from all over Ecuador, especially from isolated, poorer areas (as this is a government funded facility) there is a lack of funding and personnel to take care of all the children. For this reason volunteers are greatly appreciated for the work they do, as well as the element of hope and care they add to the atmosphere in the hospital.

What tasks will you be required to fulfil?

Volunteers are needed to help with tasks according to their qualifications and abilities. General volunteers without any training that want to help out in the hospital will be doing social visits to patients, placed where there is the most need. Tasks include visiting patients, filling out charts, restocking supplies, changing baby diapers, giving out meal tickets to family members and helping with the daily routine of the permanant volunteers in the hospital....Volunteers are kept very busy and are greatly valued!

Other tasks that you may be requested to preform outside of your core duties:

As this hospital is an under-funded state facility, they are desperate for any funds possible. There is a great need for any help in fundraising operations of the hospital for interested individuals.

How many days per week will you be working?

Volunteer are needed to help Monday to Friday.

How many hours per day?

Volunteers are needed to work at the placement from 9am to 1pm. In the afternoon the volunteers will be asked to help children one-on-one with language skills or help to prepare crafts or other fun activities for the children to do.

What age-range will you be working with?

Patients in this hospital range in age from newborns to 14 years old. As this is the largest children's hospital in Quito there are hundreds of children who are in-patients in the hospital at any time and hundreds more out-patients.

What kind of background may be useful at this placement?

Volunteers do not need to have any prior training for general social program volunteering in the hospital. Volunteers who are specialized in medicine or health will be placed according to their qualifications.

Will you be required to operate any special equipment?

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What personality traits would be useful for a volunteer at this placement?

Volunteers need to be energetic and compassionate individuals. Some of the children you will see are very sick or need treatments that the family cannot afford. Volunteers should therefore be strong individuals who are ready to see these children on a daily basis and add some brightness to their day.

Who may have a difficult time at this placement?

People who have a hard time seeing extreme medical conditions and may be disturbed by the state in which people may arrive at the hospital.

What specific skills are they looking for at this placement?

What is the purpose of this organization?

Hospital Baca Ortiz is one of the biggest childrens' hospitals in Ecuador and provides emergency as well as long-term care for Ecuadorian boys and girls. The mission of this hospital is to provide children from all over Ecuador with excellent health care and to provide a happy environment for children who are sick.

Although the hospital is state-funded, it does not have enough funds to cover patient care, and therefore even the poorest families are charged for their medical treatment. The hospital's major units include a cancer care ward, a trauma ward, a burn unit, cardiology and repiratory units, intensive care for new borns, infants and older children, and out-patient care among many others.

Children's Hospital Baca Ortiz, was founded on July 14 1948, which means they have been saving the lives of children for over 60 years and as a result have become recognized as a National Specialized Children's Hospital.

According to recent statistics approximately 140,000 children from all over the country are treated each year in the various departments of the Hospital.

What community(s) does this organization assist?

Children come to be treated from all over Ecuador at this location in the heart of Quito.

Does this organization have any religious affiliations?

The hospital does not have a religious affiliation, however some of the women who volunteer in the hospital are Catholic Religious Sisters.

When was this organization founded?

1976

How are they funded?

This hospital receives minimal funding from the Ecuadorian government, and patients are charged for any treatment they receive. There is a group of women who volunteer in the hospital and they often try to fund raise for terminally ill children whose parents cannot afford even basic treatments, however, the demand for this kind of financial support is overwhelming.

How many people at the organization speak English?

A few of the permanent volunteer organizers

If you find sponsors interested in sending donations, here is what they need:

The organization would appreciate any type of donation that is given to them. Donations that they have suggested include: shoes for children from infants to teens, blankets, bed sheets, pillows, children's clothing (especially warm sweaters, because it gets cold in Ecuador), pencil crayons, pencils, pens, notebooks, coloring books (make photocopies of pages so it lasts longer), reusable diapers, construction paper, memory games, educational games for young children to learn English, fun games or toys for small infants, books in Spanish, latex gloves, puzzles for small children and building blocks, (large ones that can not be swallowed), plus donations to help provide surgical or medical treatment for children who can not afford it.

Location description

Children's Hospital Baca Ortiz was founded in 1976. Although the hospital is state-funded, it does not have enough funds to cover patient care, and therefore even the poorest families are charged for their medical treatment. As the hospital became known for it specialized treatments and an expert in pediatric care more people wanted to bring their children to the hospital. The reality for many people who came with their children for medical attention was that they were unable to pay for the care that their child/children needed.

One of the primary reasons that these patients were being turned away was because their parents could not afford the feeding fees or any on going costs associated with the care that their children were going to need. The feeding fee is a very important fee to pay otherwise your child will not be on the list to receive food while in the hospital.

Many of the children who were unable to receive health care came from single mothers or came from a very low income area of Quito. As the numbers increased, a group of 14 ladies decided to start a social program in Hospital Baca Ortiz. This group was formed fourteen years ago and still works today. They decided that they needed to create a program that was committed to helping families of sick children who were unable to pay for the treatment that was required.

Santiago de Quito, most popularly known as Quito, is the capital city of Ecuador. Located at an elevation of 2,850 metres above sea level in the Andes Mountain Range; it is home to approximately 1.5 million people.

Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador after Guayaquil and it serves as a major hub for all types of travel in Ecuador. Quito is located on the eastern slope of an active volcano and many different volcanoes and mountains around the valley can be seen from the city on clear days. Due to the nature of the landscape surrounding the city, Quito has taken on a long narrow shape and is approximately 40km long and 5km wide.

Quito was founded in 1534 and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its beautiful historical architecture. The colonial centre of Quito is very well preserved and a large restoration project was recently completed. The narrow streets in this part of town are extremely vibrant and offer something for every sense. Once outside of the historical centre of the city, Quito takes on a completely different personality in the “new town” where many high rises and government buildings are found. Quito is located very close to the equator and just outside of the city limits there is a monument and museum which marks the equator's location.

Though Quito is old and historic, the public transportation is fairly efficient and the city is served by a network of buses that travel throughout most of the areas. Using the bus system is what most people do as it is a cheap way of getting around. Since the city is very long and narrow, it is divided into three zones and many buses run in each zone of the city.

Pichincha, the volcano located west of Quito, is still active with its last eruption occurring in 2006 when a blanket of ash was deposited on the city. Pichincha has many different summits with its highest one rising to 4,784 metres above sea level. Both peaks are visible from Quito and can be climbed by adventure seekers.

Historical significance of the area

Quito was inhabited by indigenous people long before the arrival of the Spanish in the new world. When the Spanish arrived in what is current day Ecuador in the year 1526, Quito was a major indigenous city. Instead of letting the city be conquered by the Spanish, the indigenous people living in Quito decided to destroy the city and leave. That destruction means that there are no pre-colonial remains in the city of Quito today.

The current city was founded in 1534 on top of the ancient ruins. Many of the old colonial buildings that were constructed in this era can still be found in the city's historic core.

After approximately 300 years of colonization, the people of Quito started a movement for independence in 1809, which was not successful and was squashed in 1810. The thirst for independence did not go away, however, and a new movement started in 1822 which turned out to be successful. The city joined the Republic of Gran Colombia which was eventually dismantled in 1830 and Quito became the capital city of the newly formed nation of Ecuador.

What is the weather like?

Quito's Climate is shaped in large part by its high elevation and is classified as a subtropical highland climate. The temperature is fairly consistent throughout the year with an average midday temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and an average nighttime temperature of 9 degrees Celsius.

There are two seasons in Quito: the dry season and the rainy season. The Dry season is from June to September with the rainy season occurring October to May. It is important to pack rain gear for the wet season.

What fun things are there to do in the area on days off?

Teleferico, the world's highest gondola (chair lift), is a must see for people travelling to Quito. This gondola rises up to 4,100 metres above sea level on Mount Pichincha. Once at the top of the gondola, there is the option of hiking to the top of the mountain which is 4,657 metres above sea level. However, due to the thin air, it is only recommended for people who are acclimatized and feel that they are up to the challenge. Those willing to take on the hike will find that it takes between 4 and 6 hours, depending on your fitness level.

Approximately one hour by public transportation outside of the city of Quito is the “Mitad del Mundo”, Spanish for “middle of the world”. This area marks the location of the equator and a monument, park and a few museums can be found here. It is easy to spend a couple of hours going through the museums and learning more about the equator and its relation to Ecuador's history. It is highly recommended that visitors see the Mitad del Mundo, if they have the opportunity.

Located 2 to 3 hours outside of Quito is the town of Otavalo. This town has a world famous market that is held every Saturday and it is easy to spend an entire day shopping and walking around in it. Otavalo is an indigenous town and the vendors at the market are known for their wood carvings, traditional textiles and handmade crafts.

People who enjoy hiking and being active will appreciate the Quilotoa Loop. Quilotoa is an extinct crater has filled with water and has formed a beautiful lake. Hiking the “Quilotoa Loop” will take you through different highland villages and eventually to the very scenic crater lake of Quilotoa where you can hike down to the water's edge!

Another great option for hiking lies 28km south of Quito at Cotopaxi. This volcano has the second highest summit in Ecuador and there are many different options for tours. Should you choose to hike Cotopaxi, the most popular tour takes travelers onto the glacier approximately 5,000 metres above sea level and then has them bike to the bottom!

Adventurous tourists with more time than just a weekend may travel to the town of Banos which is located significantly south of Quito. The tows of Banos has many different attractions for travelers and there are many options to see beautiful waterfalls, hot springs and to go white water rafting. There are even options for bungy jumping!

For people interested in eco-tourism, the town of Mindo, located northwest of Quito, is in a beautiful forest and offers zip-lining, waterfalls, a butterfly museum and hiking. This area is also popular with people who enjoy bird watching.

Visitors to Ecuador naturally want to see the Galapagos Islands which are known for their amazing diversity of animals. However, visiting the Galapagos Islands is more than a weekend event and should probably be done after the volunteer program is completed. Arrangements can be made with the staff at BaseCamp, Ecuador.

How do you get to your placement after your orientation?

You can walk to this hospital which is located 5 blocks from Basecamp.