Orphanage Support Services
About Orphanage Support Services
OSSO is the kind of organization that treats ordinary care as something worth organizing around. It places volunteers in orphanages in Latin America, supports partner homes with financial and in-kind help, and works with children and youth who are orphaned, abandoned, abused, or disabled, especially in Ecuador and Mexico. What stands out is the steady, on-the-ground nature of the support. Volunteers are there for the small, human parts of the day, and donor support helps keep that care going for children who need it most.
OSSO’s work is rooted in regular presence, not one-time visits. It also serves children with disabilities, including Hogar de Ángeles in Cuenca, which it fully runs, while maintaining ongoing relationships with partner orphanages.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Semester Abroad
Volunteer service for 3 months, or 6 weeks for Summer Semester, in orphanages in Ecuador and Mexico with housing, meals, training, and in-country support.
Short-Term Volunteering
Volunteer service for 1 to 11 weeks in orphanages, with program pricing based on the length of stay.
Teen Service Adventures
A teen service program created and led by OSSO in 2023 and 2024.
Financial and In-Kind Support
Monetary and in-kind donations that help fund the needs of partner orphanages and the children living in them.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
OSSO provides love and care to children deprived of parental care and supports vulnerable orphans and disabled youth through financial donations and volunteer service.
Who they serve
Orphaned, abandoned, abused, and disabled children and youth living in orphanages, especially in Latin America, Ecuador, and Mexico.
Their impact
- Served thousands of children over more than two decades.
- Hosted over 4,700 volunteers.
- Sent more than 5,000 volunteers who dedicated nearly 1.5 million hours of face-to-face service.
How your donation helps
- Physical needs of children
- Nutritional needs of children
- Psychological and emotional needs of children
- Professional staff at partner orphanages
- Financial and in-kind support for orphanages
Our story
Orphanage Support Services was founded in Rexburg, Idaho in 1998 by Rex and Melodie Head. The work began in Cuenca, Ecuador in 1999, then grew to reach orphanages across Latin America.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
We believe in a world where every child can feel loved.
We believe the greatest treasure in this world is to love and be loved and that every child deserves love.
Our mission is to provide love and care to children deprived of parental care and to change the lives of the volunteers who love and care for them.
Events
Wednesday group activities
weeklyWeekly OSSO-organized group activities and excursions for volunteers.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Orphanage Support Services has shared.
Volunteer opportunities
- Semester abroad volunteer service in Ecuador or Mexico
- Short-term volunteer service for 1 to 11 weeks
- Daily orphanage support through reading, crafts, soccer, homework help, feeding, and diaper changes
- Volunteer service at orphanages and care centers through daily presence, activities, and emotional support
Recognition & press
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
What do volunteers do during a typical day?
A typical day is hands-on and simple in the best way. Volunteers usually serve in morning and afternoon shifts, playing soccer, reading books, doing crafts, helping with feeding or diaper changes, teaching English, and offering emotional support.
How long can volunteers serve?
It depends on the program. Semester Abroad volunteers serve for 3 months, or 6 weeks for Summer Semester, and Short-Term volunteers serve anywhere from 1 to 11 weeks.
Do volunteers need to speak Spanish?
No, Spanish is not required. It helps to be familiar with it, but volunteers can still serve without it.
Where do volunteers live?
Volunteers live in gated, secure housing compounds, with men’s and women’s dorms and family accommodations.
What safety measures are in place for volunteers?
OSSO provides gated housing, high perimeter walls, electric fencing at its facilities, trusted drivers for transportation, and rules and a code of conduct for volunteers.
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