Description

Your position as an intern will allow you to work with local communities to develop ideals of social change. Provide the support that the areas may be lacking. Examples of how you can support Community Development and work with community based organizations (CBOs) in Bolivia:

* Organize work projects with the community of Maria Auxiliadora, a communally owned neighborhood for women who have experienced intra-familial violence. Build houses, widen and cobble roads, plant trees, and work with city officials and community leaders to help improve the water, garbage management, and composting systems.

* Support the construction and maintenance of the schools infrastructure, including school buildings, school dormitories for children and staff, as well as the infrastructure of greenhouses and model gardens.

* Support construction of a media center for hosting plays, art exhibitions, and videos that address issues such as HIV/AIDS.

* Assist in the design and construction of housing improvement projects such as internal bathrooms and kitchens for lowincome and peri urban areas.

* Research social, political, environmental, economic and cultural issues and assess their impact on marginalized communities.

* Conduct radio appearances to raise HIV/AIDS awareness. Prepare material for radio and television programs that provide information on HIV/AIDS, such as public service announcements.

* Write and publish articles for national and international newspapers and magazines to promote health, human rights, gender
equality, and HIV/AIDS education.

For more opportunities in community development in Bolivia visit our website or contact us directly.

About FSD

The Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1995 to support underserved, international communities in a collaborative and sustainable manner. Our model incorporates three overlapping programs:

1. Sustainable Development Training Programs for Interns and Volunteers
FSD provides comprehensive training and immersion programs for interns and volunteers seeking hands-on experience in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Program participants come from countless professions and more than 300 universities worldwide to collaborate with our partner organizations on community-driven projects that reflect sustainable practices.

2. Grantmaking to Projects and Initiatives Led By Our Partner Organizations
Donations and grants given to FSD are used to support projects and initiatives implemented by our partner organizations, site teams, interns, and volunteers.

3. Sustainable Development of Community-Based Organizations
Our professional field staff, consultants, and program participants provide on-site technical training and capacity building to more than 200 community-based organizations.

Highlights

Development Issues Addressed by FSD in Bolivia
The most pressing community development issue in Bolivia is its lack of essential infrastructure. In the nineties, many important services were put into the hands of private companies. One of the results of this privatization was that certain neighborhoods were denied access to basic rights such as clean water, proper sewage and garbage systems, irrigation, plumbing, and basic housing. Families that live without these important services are more likely to contract illnesses, be malnourished, have problems with their children's education, and have difficulty sustaining their incomes. These problems in turn affect community development, so that in Bolivia, supporting fundamental infrastructure is essential to building strong communities.

Safe drinking water is at the center of many community development initiatives in Bolivia. Those who suffer from illnesses related to the paucity of safe drinking water lose more than their health. When sick, the community members are unable work in their fields, thus losing potential income due to this decreased time planting, weeding, and harvesting their crops. Also, local school teachers say that the youngest students are especially susceptible to becoming sick from unsafe water - resulting in missed school days and a fragmented education.

Many NGOs have already stepped in to address these pressing concerns. FSD partner organizations work to bring safe drinking water to rural communities and support infrastructure on various levels. Interns in Bolivia have the opportunity to work on the front-lines with these issues without needing engineering experience.

Minimum Education

High School

Intern Types

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Depends on Program Selected; See FSD Website

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Living stipend
• Medical insurance
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Your contribution fee covers all program costs (excluding airfare) and is 100% tax deductible for U.S. residents. Included in the fee is: a one-week orientation; family homestay will all meals provided; language lessons (not available in Latin America); development trainings and workshops; group sessions; midterm retreat (9+ weeks only); final debriefing session; on-going in-country support from FSD site team and U.S. staff; USD 200 mini-grant; eligibility for additional project funding up to USD 500, medical evacuation and limited health insurance; and pick-up from the airport.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

FSD supports participants who boldly wish to initiate the change they believe is necessary in the developing world. Interns are passionate about sharing their practical knowledge, heart-felt enthusiasm, and economic resources with communities abroad that suffer unnecessary hardship. They wish to gain hands-on, grassroots development experience because they believe change is most powerfully cultivated on a community level. The aim is to experientially learn how their work can empower the community toward applying sustainable development solutions, rather than increasing reliance on foreign aid. Participants choose FSD because the program structure enables them to design and implement their own sustainable projects in collaboration with their host organization and the FSD Site Team. They are able to test their ideas and theories in the most direct way possible, giving them the experience and knowledge they seek. The flexibility of the host organizations allows for participants at all stages and levels of experience in international development to participate, thus opening the programs to a diverse group of capable applicants.

Age Range

18-75

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 or in Groups of 3-10

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Phone/Video Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

1 months

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Foundation for Sustainable Development's Mission Statement

Founded in 1995, the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) supports the efforts of more than 300 grassroots, community-based partner organizations throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. FSD's programs provide multi-faceted support that relies on active community participation to mobilize lasting solutions. FSD programs include:

• Capacity Building: Our professional field staff provides on-site training and networking opportunities to more than 300 community-based organizations worldwide.
  
  
• Training Programs Abroad: FSD provides comprehensive training and immersion programs for interns and volunteers who seek hands-on development experience.
  
  
• Grantmaking: Donations and grants given to FSD are used to support sustainable projects led by our partner organizations.
  
  
• Engaged Philanthropy: FSD Giving Circles organize groups of donors who pool their time, talent, and resources to make international grants to our partner organizations.

• Year Founded

  1995