Programs Abroad

BOLIVIA - Work in a Health Clinic

	Project: Volunteer Booking Nº: BO101 Country: Bolivia + Location: Sucre Minimum Stay: 4 weeks Start dates: all year round Price: from 4 weeks, 735 USD
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Task

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.

Accommodation

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.

Requirements

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.

Details

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.

spanischkurs_sucre

Source: Google Maps

Prices

Duration / Price in USD	Homestay (2 meals / day)	Student Residence (no meals)
4 weeks	980.-	735.-
5 weeks	1,175.-	870.-
6 weeks	1,365.-	995.-
8 weeks	1,750.-	1,260.-
Additional week	155.-	105.-

Registration fee 75 USD.

What’s included:

Accommodation
Orientation kit
Local support
24h-Emergency Number
Laundry service (Homestay)
Homestay with 2 meals per day
Volunteer Work Placement
Certificate of participation

What’s not included:

Flight
Medical Insurance
Visa (if necesary)
Local Travels

Country

Country Information Bolivia

Sandwiched between Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Chile while straddling the Andes Mountains, stands Bolivia, the “Tibet of the Americas”. Bolivia earns this title by being the highest and most isolated of all the Andean nations. About twice the size of Spain, Bolivia holds over 42,000 square miles and is home to over 9 million people. The capital city of La Paz embraces over 800,000 Bolivians and rests at an elevation of 11,800 feet.

This unique country possesses nearly every possible climate and terrain from the snow capped peaks of over 21,000 ft., semi-tropical lowlands and steaming jungles of the Bolivian Amazon Basin. The famous Lake Titicaca, which shares a Peruvian border, is the highest navigable inland sea in the world. Furthermore, the boasting crystal blue waters, reed boats and islands known for pre-Columbian ruins make Bolivia a must-see destination!

Though Bolivia stands as the poorest land in South America, the cultural landscape of this country is one of a kind. The religious and native practices of both Indigenous people and ¨hybrid¨ Christians, an influence from the Spanish conquistador Simon Bolivar, categorize Bolivia as truly prosperous in culture. As Bolivar claimed independence for Bolivia from Spain in 1825, the absence of clergy in rural areas led to the development of a hybrid Christian/Indigenous way of life. Today, overlapping cultures exist where 95% Bolivians profess faith to Roman Catholicism, however over 50% of the population maintains traditional indigenous values and beliefs as well. Visitors are exposed to these wonderful people and their lifestyle full of intriguing doctrines, rites and superstitions.

In addition to rich culture, the breathtaking terrain and wildlife of Bolivia will surely stand as the clincher to discover this country. One has the opportunity to see various exotic birds, plants, insects and animals due to Bolivia's relatively sparse population, lack of development and diverse geography. In fact, Bolivia is one of the best places to see South American wildlife, including the jaguar, llama, anteater, chinchilla, condor, and the rare spectacled bear!

Climatic consideration should be taken when planning your visit to the ¨Tibet of the America’s.¨ Remembering the high altitude of Bolivia, the weather here deserves respect. Though unpredictable, the weather more or less follows certain trends. Summer months of November to April entail heavy rains with washed-out roads making a buzzing river community of boats and vibrant colors. The winter months of May to October typically offer a more gentle travel experience with dry temperate weather during the day, breathtaking alpine glow and freezing nighttime temperatures. The most popular months, due to festivals and mostly temperate weather, range between June and September. During these months, you’ll find lots of activity and smiling faces. Remember the impact altitude has on irregular weather so investing in a hardy raincoat, sunscreen, and an insulated jacket are highly recommended!

Vast amounts of Bolivia continue to remain undiscovered and unknown. The country’s phenomenal landscapes, colonial architecture, indigenous cultures and the legacy of its ancient mysterious civilizations combined with a quiet political climate offer an extraordinary travel experience!