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Riobamba, Ecuador

MEDLIFE is a nonprofit working alongside low-income communities in Latin America and Africa to expand access to medicine, education, and opportunities for growth.

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Riobamba, a small city in the Andes mountains of Ecuador, is where it all started.

This is the original MEDLIFE home, where Dr. Ellis first was inspired to start the Movement. The area is gorgeous and known as the trekking and climbing capital of the country thanks to the surrounding mountains and volcanoes that make up Chimborazo Province. If you’re looking to volunteer abroad in Ecuador, MEDLIFE Riobamba offers essential medicine, education, and development to underserved communities.

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Population

 144,795

Land Area

 990 km²

Languages

Spanish & Quechua Dialects

Currency

 American Dollars

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Why Volunteer Abroad
in Riobamba, Ecuador?

Riobamba, a small city in the Andes mountains of Ecuador, is where it all started. This is the original MEDLIFE home, where Dr. Ellis was first inspired to start the Movement. Though the area is rich in natural beauty, it is one of the poorest provinces in Ecuador, and it lacks many essential services. The city of Riobamba is surrounded by many smaller Indigenous villages where the realities of everyday life can include malnutrition, lack of healthcare, and no sanitation infrastructure. These challenges can be attributed to various factors, but as the agricultural goods upon which the economy relies continue to decline, residents fall deeper into poverty. The arrival of COVID-19 further exacerbated their difficult financial situation, leaving many families with no way to keep food on the table. To make matters worse, recent volcanic eruptions severely damaged the crops that communities depended on. 

Join us on a Service Learning Trip to Riobamba to help families bounce back from the pandemic and learn about global health in the context of Indigenous families in rural Ecuador. You will work hand in hand with the community to improve their living conditions by bringing a Mobile Clinic and Development Project to families in need.

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Highlights of MEDLIFE Riobamba:

  • Explore various inspiring and impactful service learning trip options available year-round, including classic, nursing, dental, high school, physician assistants, engineering & architecture, and more!
  • Airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals (mon-fri), and 24/7 in-country support.
  • Free medical insurance is included.
  • Comfortable dormitory-style rooms during your stay.
  • Enhance your adventure with exciting add-ons!
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How You Can Help AS VOLUNTEER

Mobile Clinics Development Projects
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Mobile Clinics

MEDLIFE tackles critical health issues in these communities through mobile clinics, preventative health education workshops, and patient follow-up. These are the stations in which you would participate during mobile clinics in Riobamba:

  • Triage
  • General Medicine
  • Dental
  • OB/GYN
  • Toothbrushing
  • Education
  • Pharmacy

 

Diseño sin título (85)

Development Projects

Discover the development projects you could participate in while volunteering in Riobamba, Ecuador. These projects are collaboratively designed and developed with the community to address their needs, resulting in meaningful and sustainable impact and empowered communities.

  • Staircases
  • Parks
  • Roads
  • Retention walls
  • School Renovations
  • and more!

To learn more about our volunteer opportunities in Ecuador, download our brochure!

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MEDLIFE RIOBAMBA SAFETY

When you sign up for a Service Learning Trip in Riobamba, Ecuador, you are automatically registered for medical emergency insurance for the duration of your trip. Visit our travel safe page or email us at info@medlifemovement.org to learn more.

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Explore & Support

Enhance Your SLT Adventure

Our optional add-ons let you dive deeper into your SLT destination, supporting MEDLIFE communities sustainably along the way.

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Machu Picchu Extension

Witness the majesty of Machu Picchu

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Ica
Extension

Experience the spectacular rolling sand dunes of Ica

EXPLORE ALL UPCOMING TRIPS

Ready to make a difference in Riobamba, Ecuador? Discover our upcoming Service Learning Trip dates and join us on an unforgettable journey with MEDLIFE!

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