New Era Galapagos Foundation

How many hours a week does a typical volunteer work?

Though volunteer schedules vary depending on the area to which they are assigned, most volunteers work approximately 20-25 hours per week. For example, English teachers typically provide 4 hours of classroom instruction daily (Monday-Friday), not including lesson plans and general classroom preparation. Those volunteers involved with environmental education or art activities usually are involved in these activities on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, as well as several hours each day from Monday-Thursday.

Does the NEGF require volunteers to speak Spanish?

Volunteers interested in teaching EFL do not need to be Spanish speakers, though some basic Spanish knowledge is recommended. Volunteers interested in all other program areas must possess conversational Spanish at the intermediate level or higher.

Can I bring anything to help the NEGF?

Basic educational supplies are always needed. If you are willing to bring along boxes of crayons, erasable markers (for whiteboards), pencils, and colored pencils, they will be much appreciated and well used. We use these supplies on a regular basis and can always use more. Other supplies that would be helpful to bring include colored paper (construction paper), paints, erasers, and small pencil sharpeners. Additional instructional materials would be helpful, especially a complete or advanced grammar text.

What kind of banking facilities are available?

There are two banks on the island, Banco del Pacifico and Banco Nacional. Hours are Mon.- Fri., 8 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m.-12 noon.

The ATM/cash machines are outside, open 24 hours and accept the following cards: Mastercard, Cirrus, and Maestro. Check on the back of your ATM card to see if it has one of these symbols.

Can I use a credit card on the island?

You can use a credit card for nice restaurants, but you are unlikely to want to count on using one. Any place that accepts them will charge you a significant additional fee for its use. Most stores, markets, hotels, and small restaurants (the majority) will accept only cash.

If a local resident approaches me about giving English lessons on a private basis, is it all right to go ahead with this?

It's best to talk with William Puga first, to ensure that locals aren't taking advantage of volunteers and that we give a relatively consistent response. Some volunteers have bartered the giving of English lessons in exchange for drawing lessons, reduced Internet fees, use of a bicycle, etc. , but it's best to negotiate these arrangements with William's knowledge.