Description

Volunteer assistance is desperately needed in a variety of locations in Santa Cruz caring for the needs of children and adults who are socially, physically and mentally challenged, or have been diagnosed with other disabilities.

Each project location needs help in different ways and all welcome both lay volunteers and trained specialists.

Duties are many and varied depending on the location and speciality of the project, including:
* Education
* Group activities
* Workshops
* Life skills classes
* Sports
* Arts and crafts
* Music and drama
* Cooking
* Carpentry
* Gardening
* General maintenance
* Or simply spending time with the clients

Each and every activity that you will be helping with plays an important role in giving the clients of the centres the physical and emotional support they need to help them perform the simple everyday tasks that most take for granted, and to improve their confidence and self-esteem.

Most centres are under-funded and under-staffed, relying on volunteer assistance to provide adequate care and attention to their clients.

With your help, the centres will be able to concentrate their resources and offer their clients more individualized care allowing them to develop and progress at an accelerated rate.

Also provided by the Bolivia Volunteers Social Care programme is more specialized assistance at locations with a specific area of focus.
* Hearing impaired
* Sight impaired
* Down Syndrome
* Alzheimer's
* Parkinson's
* Orphans
* Street children
* Young mothers

Each of the projects we support is in desperate need of assistance from qualified and experienced volunteers but everyone is welcome, and all will benefit from your help regardless of your qualifications or experience.

The projects are normally open through the day Monday to Friday, giving plenty of flexibility in the hours you can attend. Your time schedule will be arranged in consultation with the Project Manager and a member of the full-time staff who will be supervising and co-ordinating your activities.

Please note that some locations require volunteers to have at least an intermediate level of Spanish, others require some form of Disclosure documentation, and a small number accept only female volunteers.

Please contact us if you would like to volunteer in Bolivia, especially if you have experience or an interest in a specific area of focus that you would like to be involved in.

Highlights

Bolivia Volunteers, with over fifteen years' experience, is the leading independent provider of low cost volunteer placements in Bolivia.

Our volunteers give direct, meaningful and lasting help where it is needed most.

We see no need to charge excessive fees to provide everything necessary to ensure your time with us is comfortable, enjoyable, productive and rewarding.

Qualifications

No formal qualifications are required, but applicants must be native English speakers or have attained an advanced level in English as a second language. Far more important are your compassion, flexibility, patience, and enthusiasm.

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

600 for 4 weeks

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support

Program Fees Include:

* Pre-arrival support & information
* Meet & greet service on arrival
* Escorted transfer to accommodation
* Host family accommodation
* Private room with access to bathroom, kitchen & social areas
* Three meals a day
* Welcome meeting & city orientation
* Free volunteer project placement
* Project materials & protective clothing if required
* Bi-lingual (Spanish-English) placement co-ordinator
* 24-hour emergency contact numbers
* Pre-departure assistance
* Transport to point of departure

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Social Services, Social Work

Age Range

18 - 65

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

One week

Bolivia Volunteers's Mission Statement

Volunteering should be about giving direct, meaningful and lasting help where help is needed most. We see no need to charge excessive fees to provide all the services and facilities necessary to ensure a volunteer's time with us is comfortable, enjoyable, productive and rewarding. Our volunteers work in a variety of placements including sports coaching, orphanage support, street children, tourism, journalism and teaching assistant projects. Accommodation is provided through Family Homes so that volunteers are able to play an active part in a traditional family life and the local community. Through our programmes, volunteers experience the customs, traditions and cultures, architecture, cuisine and leisure facilities of their chosen city, whilst helping those who need it most.

Year Founded

1993