Description

Background:
In 1996, Puntiti reached an agreement with the Bolivian government to provide social services to orphans and abandoned children with severe special needs. It initially received twenty children with mental and physical needs but has grown to serve 140 youths between four and twenty-five years old. As of today, it is one of a few institutions operating in Bolivia with residential services.

Objectives:
The main goal of Puntiti is to offer rehabilitation services and special education to young people with special needs. More often than not, these children are orphans or have been abandoned, so special care is taken to provide familial conditions and a safe environment in which the children may grow. Puntiti offers medical assistance of the highest standard and strives to offer the children the opportunity to live independent and dignified lives.

Who does Puntiti help?
Puntiti works with young people up to age thirty who suffer from severe mental and physical disorders such as cerebral palsy, spinal bifida, mental retardation, autism and epilepsy.

Working conditions:
The Puntiti center is located close to the main road to Sacaba, a twenty minute bus ride from Cochabamba. The center has a multi-disciplinary staff of approximately 60, which includes teachers, doctors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, physiotherapists, and administrative staff.

Puntiti Programs:

Health Program:
The Puntiti Health Program provides healthcare for over sixty children between four and eighteen years old, all of whom live at the center. Services include bathing, personal hygiene, dressing, nutrition, mobility, administration of medication, as well as physical, occupational, and language therapies.

Education Program:
The Puntiti Educational Program provides academic instruction and support for 100 students, all of whom suffer from moderate to severe developmental needs. San Benito Meni Special Educational School recently opened a class for students with autism, the only class of its nature in Bolivia. The center offers the children breakfast and lunch daily and also runs an afternoon workshop where the children make greeting cards, jewelry, and notebooks by hand. These items are sold to the public in order to generate funds.

The Community Outreach Program:
The Community Outreach Program educates the families of disabled children about developmental special needs and emphasizes that, although dealing with such needs may be tough, a healthy quality of life is attainable. Beyond families, the program strives to educate the community, hoping to foster an environment of understanding and acceptance for those who have special needs.

Qualifications

* Intermediate Spanish
* Motivated and patient
* Willingness to work with children with special needs
* High tolerance in stressful situations
* Special education teachers, art teachers, and those trained in special needs services (desired but not required)
* Experience in pediatrics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, or psychology (desired but not required)
* Two-month commitment period

Intern Types

Languages

• Spanish

Cost in US$:

450

Program Fees Include:

Long Term Volunteers/ Interns (Monthly Prices)
Shared Room = USD300 a month
Private Room = USD400 a month
Family Home Stay = USD500 a month

Short Term Volunteers/ Interns (Weekly Prices)
Shared Room = USD100 a week
Private Room = USD125 a week
Family Home Stay = USD150 a week

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• 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.