Project Coast Soccer
In our newest partner project, located on the beautiful coast of Ecuador, you will be immersed in the relaxed and laid-back costal life of Puerto López, an upcoming village where the people live from fishery and tourism.
Los Canarios
In 2007, local villager Freddy Soto started a project using the local love of soccer to reach young people in Puerto López and the surrounding villages. Soccer school ‘’Los Canarios’’ was born. There are currently 80 teenagers and young adults being supported by the project.
The goal is to use soccer as a way of encouraging self-discipline, motivation and promoting self-development. To give young people the life skills they need and support them to gain the education they need to avoid the traps many young people of Puerto López fall into. Enabling them to build an alternative future for themselves and to act as positive role models. We foster creativity, initiative and talent.
What can you do?
Spanish
Costs
Requirements
Typical day
We send both volunteers and interns to Puerto López. For interns, we are keen to discuss and ensure that this project fits school and personal requirements. We can also bring you in touch with former interns.
- Prepare and give soccer training in a challenging and structured manner (there are two trainings every day);
- Help out during the supplementary education classes, currently: English, Spanish grammar, electrics, math and computing;
- Stimulate discipline, confidence and a pro-active attitude;
- Enforce values and principles such as respect and collaboration. We hold sessions on self-esteem, values, protection of the environment and sexual protection and health;
- Support local initiatives to raise money for the project;
- Organize and give regular sessions with the young people’s families to involve them in the project and to promote the values of the project and address any issues the young people may be facing;
- Promote youth leadership, supporting the young people in the project to become involved in issues facing their home town.
Before participating in the Puerto López project you need to first complete an intensive Spanish course at our office in Quito, unless you can prove that your knowledge of Spanish is already sufficient. For more information, see our Spanish course page.
It is important to take spanish lessons to be able to participate and communicate with local people. In our office in Quito we have experienced teachers. During the lessons besides Spanish you will learn about culture and get enough experience. This is ideal because you will also have the opportunity to participate in all our projects in Quito: English school, swimming school, soccer school and other interesting activities.
Local Dreamers offers its volunteers and interns excellent Spanish classes for the price of only € 11 per lesson. Every volunteer and intern are very excited about our Spanish lessons.
- Spanish Basic: €264,-24 lessons
- Spanish Intensive: €440,- 40 lessons
- Spanish Specialist: €660,- 60 lessons
First 4 weeks: €790,-
From the 5th week: €175,- p.w
Important:
- The minimum stay at the coast project is 3 weeks.
- In Puerto López you will stay with a local host family that has room for two people. There is a private bathroom, mosquito nets and others. Meals go according to the volunteer and exist of a daily varied breakfast and dinners with fish, shrimp, chicken or vegetarian food.
As a serious and responsible organization we ask for the following requirements to participate in our projects:
• Fill out registration form
• Sign general terms and conditions
• Sign code of conduct
• Have travel insurance
• Vaccines
• Criminal background check
• Copy of passport
Important: to reserve it is necessary to pay a registration fee
There are normally two soccer trainings per day. One in the morning and one at the beginning of the afternoon. The rest of the day you have time for the other activities and of course to see more of the area or work on your Spanish or surfing skills.
Free-time activities
In the weekends you are free to come and go wherever you want. The region is one of the tourist attractions of Ecuador. Visit Isla de la Plata, Los Frailes National Park or make friends in nearby Montañita.
Puerto López is originally a small fishing village, but is also known as one of the best surf spots on the Pacific Ocean.
Video
During the spring of 2016 intern Joachim van Imschoot did his internship at Los Canarios in Puerto López. He had a blast and shot this beautiful video, which gives a nice impression of soccer school Los Canarios and the typical beach life in Puerto López.