Description

Whether you work in the rehabilitation clinic for disabled children, in a boarding school, in a psychiatric institution or with an equine therapy program, you will find the experience gratifying!

In the rehabilitation clinic for children there are doctors, nurses and physiotherapists who take care of the children. Their aim is to support the patients, always being compassionate, understanding, and friendly and having a big smile. In this institution physiotherapists are desperately needed!

Volunteers who work at the boarding school will help the children in the school with their homework. Volunteers organize educational activities and games and practice sports with the children.
The equine therapy is a new rehabilitation program! Currently they have two horses at the medical center that are used to carry out therapies with the children!

For those who are interested in medicine, working at the psychiatric clinic is an excellent opportunity! Currently there are 400 patients as well as a team of doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists and Bolivian medical students. In the psychiatric clinic there are also many elderly people who need help moving around in their wheelchairs, reading newspapers, washing and eating.

All these institutions are placed in and around Sucre, a city which is located in the southern part of Bolivia at an average elevation of 2,750 meters above sea level. Up until 1899 Sucre was Bolivia's capital city before it was relocated. It is now the country's judicial capital. Sucre is famous for its cultural richness which is especially highlighted by its colonial architecture.

Your tasks include:

- Take care of the children and patients
- Organize educational activities and games
- Help with homework and exercises
- Strengthen self-confidence
- Practice sports with children (horse therapy)
- Assist therapist, doctors and nurses

During your volunteer program you will have the opportunity to either work in a rehabilitation clinic for disabled children, in a boarding school, in a psychiatric institution or with an equine therapy program. It's up to you to decide which of these programs best matches your interests! In these programs you will find yourself working with handicapped children, elderly people, people with medical conditions, or with children that lack the care and attention of their families.

For example, in one of the health institutions, approximately 170 disabled children ages 1 to 17 years old currently live. All of the children have poor family backgrounds, either with parents that lack the necessary resources to care for their disabilities or without parents at all. Because of their disabilities, these children are not accepted in orphanages because they have to be taken care of in special institutions. You will participate in caring for the patients by supporting the work of the doctors and nurses.

In any of the volunteer institutions, you will assist in organizing activities and games such as singing songs, dancing, drawing pictures and doing crafts. Additionally, you will help the children with homework and other exercises helping to build their self-confidence. It is ideal that you are creative, open-minded and tolerant. You should also be flexible since you might be asked to help wherever your assistance is most needed to a given moment.

Please keep in mind that these kinds of projects are relatively poor and do not have modern equipped institutions or well-furnished buildings. It is best to be modest, friendly, compassionate and warm-hearted so that you bring a smile on the children's faces.

Highlights

Accomodation:
Every effort is made to ensure that your stay is as pleasant as possible. Therefore accommodations are carefully chosen and regularly assessed. During your volunteer program you will live with a Bolivian host family which gives you the excellent opportunity to practice and improve your language skills and to immerse yourself in the country's culture. Accommodations include half board (breakfast and lunch) as well as laundry service once a week. Your host family will warmly welcome you allowing you to experience the real Bolivian way of life!

Alternatively, you can live with other students in the student residence if you prefer to live with other travelers like yourself. In this option, you will live in a private room but share common areas as well as the kitchen and bathroom with your housemates. Sheets and towels will be changed once a week but there is no cleaning service. It's the volunteers' responsibility to keep the apartment clean and tidy. Living in the student residence can be a lot of fun and is a great place to meet other travelers from many different countries to explore the city with.

Qualifications

Language:
Spanish skills required (you can book your Spanish course in Bolivia with us!)

Skills:
No professional skills or experiences required.

Age:
18+ years

Vaccination:
Not required. Please consult us and your doctor for specific recommendations.

Insurance:
Full travel & medical insurance for Bolivia. (bookable through us)

Visa:
Tourist visa valid for 90 days. For further information regarding visa requirements please contact us and the corresponding embassy or consulate in your home country.

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

depending on the duration of your stay

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country staff support

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

open-minded, flexible, open to new cultures

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Guest House
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Other

Typically The Application Process Time is

Flexible

South America Inside's Mission Statement

Our programs are addressed to the humanitarian traveler, whether you are a student, professional or retiree. Anyone who wants to explore Latin America not as a mere tourist, but rather as an insider through an experience that goes beyond the ordinary, we invite you into our community! We organize Spanish and Portuguese courses as well as internship and volunteer work positions in nearly all countries of Central and South America. We help in organizing language courses, internships, volunteer work projects as well as in choosing the right country for you. We aim to select partners who are just off the beaten path and/or entail unique and special features to make your experience unforgettable!

Year Founded

2003