Family Service Adventures
Helping Families Serve in Orphanages


Bullet 1 OVERVIEW 
Bullet 2 READ BEFORE APPLYING 
Bullet 3 APPLYING & PAYING FOR TRIP 
Bullet 4 PRE-TRAVEL PREPARATION 
Bullet 5 HOW YOU CAN HELP THE ORPHANAGES 
Bullet 6 INFO TO PREPARE YOU FOR BEING IN ECUADOR 
Bullet 7 HEALTH & SAFETY IN ECUADOR 
Bullet 8 RULES/POLICIES 
Bullet 9 THINGS TO DO IN ECUADOR 
Bullet 10 PREP FOR WORKING IN THE ORPHANAGES 
Bullet 11 OTHER INFORMATION 

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OVERVIEW
 Who Should Consider a Family Service Adventure 
 Where 
 What You’ll Do 
 Accommodations 
 Food 
 About the Long-Term Volunteer Program 
 Sample Itinerary for Cuenca 
 Sample Itinerary for Quito 

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READ BEFORE APPLYING
 OSSO’s Priorities 
 Expectations/Points to Consider Before Applying 
 OSSO’s Rules and Policies 
 Religious Affiliation 

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APPLYING & PAYING FOR TRIP
 Available Dates 
 Age Requirement 
 Cost (Application Fee and Program Fee) 
 What the Program Fee Covers and Doesn’t Cover 
 Payment Deadlines and Refund/Transfer Policy 
 Tax Deductibility 
 Applying/Processing of Application 
 Payment of Fees 
 Finding Sponsors to Help Pay for Your Trip 
 Deferring/Cancellation 
 . 
 SHORT-TERM VOLUNTEER APPLICATION 

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PRE-TRAVEL PREPARATION
 Passport 
 Immunizations and Health 
 Insurance 
 Spanish Manual (specifically tailored to use with children in orphanages) 
 Packing List 
 Luggage Allowances 

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HOW YOU CAN HELP THE ORPHANAGES
 Raising Money to Help the Children in the Orphanages 
 Getting Supplies/Donations to Ecuador 
 Giving Donations to the Orphanages 
 Become a Child or Orphanage Sponsor 
 Donate 

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INFO TO PREPARE YOU FOR BEING IN ECUADOR
 Money 
 City and Weather Info 
 Time Zone Difference 

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HEALTH & SAFETY IN ECUADOR
 Avoiding Illness 
 Medicine and Pharmacies in Ecuador 
 Pedestrian/Traffic Dangers 
 Recommendations to Avoid Getting Important Items Stolen 

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RULES/POLICIES
 OSSO’s Code of Conduct 
 Rules Specific to Cuenca 
 Rules Specific to Quito 
 Why Such a Strict Policy for Taking Pictures of Orphanage Children? 
 Picture Policy Regarding Orphanage Children in Cuenca 
 Picture Policy Regarding Orphanage Children in Quito 
 Confidentiality in the Orphanages Policy 
 Internet Policy Pertaining to Orphanage Children 
 How You Dress While in Ecuador 

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THINGS TO DO IN ECUADOR
 Service Activity Options 
 Independent Travel 
 Optional Trip to the Amazon Rainforest 

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PREP FOR WORKING IN THE ORPHANAGES
 Conditions of the Orphanages and Children 
 True Orphans vs. Being Abandoned 
 Cultural Differences in Caring for Children 
 Sometimes Not As Appreciated in Orphanages As You Deserve 

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OTHER INFORMATION
 Internet/Phone Access 
 Travel Information to Return Home 

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