Description

The Gaia Pacha Foundation is a Bolivian non-profit organization that was created by a group of fourteen young environmental engineering graduates in 2006 who wanted to combine their knowledge of the environment with a desire to help young Bolivian society having to come to terms with climate change and new environmental challenges in the 21st century. Their initiatives and efforts are geared towards raising awareness of environmental protection through research, development, and education. The Foundation currently operates various educational projects that focus on different groups of young people to help them understand the environment and the importance of its protection.

Volunteers can work on a number of different projects, including:

* Educational Project at the Manuela Gandarillas Center for the Blind
Gaia Pacha is involved in organizing workshops and ludic activities for partially-sighted young people who attend a daycare center. The activities are focused on informing the children about the environment and they have recently designed a sensory garden for the children.

* Workshops at the Natural History Museum
Gaia Pacha has set up an agreement with this museum to provide educational workshops focusing on the environment and natural sciences.

* Environmental education program for children at Aldeas Infantiles SOS-Cochabamba.
The aim of this program is to implement an environmental education program for groups of visiting children that is both accessible and enjoyable. Workshops, classes and activities covering climate change and environmental protection are planned and delivered to groups of approximately 30 children in a model ecological house complete with solar panels, greenhouse, biomass kitchen and flora and fauna in an extensive garden.

Volunteer activities associated with all of these programs include designing and implementing educational materials, planning projects to raise environmental awareness among young people.

Highlights

Our primary objective is to provide Bolivian organizations with much needed human and financial resources while providing international travelers, students and professionals the opportunity to gain practical work experience through internships and volunteer opportunities in Bolivia.

For all individuals wishing to donate their time, Sustainable Bolivia offers free airport pick up, free orientation and city map, as well as 24 hour staff support. Additionally we provide low cost Spanish or Quechua language lessons, free internet access, unlimited free calls to US and select European landlines, family stay opportunities, private or shared accommodations and reduced travel prices to one of our sustainable ecotourism destinations. We also organize optional social and cultural activities in the evening and on weekends

Qualifications

* Intermediate Spanish
* Interest in the environment and conservation
* Experience with working with children
* Minimum commitment period of three months

Intern Types

• Education
• Environmental Studies
• International Relations
• Spanish
• Sustainable Development

Languages

• Spanish

Cost in US$:

USD 450

Program Fees Include:

* A custom-designed volunteer or internship position
* Accommodation
* Food (3 meals/day)
* Internet access
* Unlimited telephone calls to the US and most of Europe
* Orientation (pre-departure as well as in-country)
* Pick-up from airport
* Cleaning services
* Sponsored cultural events
* 24-hour staff support

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Resume

Sustainable Bolivia's Mission Statement

Sustainable Bolivia is a developmental institution headquartered in Cochabamba, Bolivia. With projects in the Andean highlands and the Amazonian lowlands, our primary objective is to assist local communities in the development of environmentally, socially and fiscally sustainable ecotourism programs. Through the promotion of sustainable tourism, language studies and volunteer placement, our mission is to provide the conscientious traveler a way to experience the immense natural and cultural wealth of Bolivia in a way that is non-intrusive and environmentally, socially and fiscally sustainable.