Programs Abroad

BOLIVIA - Work with Children

	Project: Volunteer Booking Nº: BO100 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
Organize educational activities and games
Teach the children how to play instruments and sports
Help with homework
Assist with household chores
Give support and advice

During your volunteer program you will either work in a kindergarten, an orphanage, a daycare center or an after school center. It's up to you to decide which of these institutions best matches your desires! In any of these locations, you will participate in many varying tasks. You will take care of the children and support their teachers and/or caretakers depending on the place that you choose. You will organize educational activities and games such as singing songs, dancing, drawing pictures, doing crafts and teaching basics like colors and numbers. If your language skills are sufficient you will also teach them mathematics, chemistry, languages, geography, history and science. In addition, it is also possible to teach them how to play instruments and other sports in order to strengthen their self-confidence. Those children who already go to school always require assistance with their homework so you will be able to give them advice and guide them through any problems. Generally, you need to be creative and open-minded, ready to help wherever your assistance is needed.

Please keep in mind that many of these children and their families (provided that they have a family) are poor and live under hard conditions with low standards of living. It is best to be modest, friendly, compassionate and warm-hearted bringing a smile to 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 and medical insurance is required. You can purchase a full coverage, no deductible health and travel insurance at a special rate for our participants by contacting your South America Inside representative.

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

You have the choice to work in a kindergarten, an orphanage, a daycare center or in an after school center. It's up to you to decide which of these institutions you would prefer to volunteer your time in!

Children in kindergartens are 4 to 6 years old. The institutions' aim is to educate the children in a safe and secure atmosphere and to prepare them well for their future. Kindergartens also work in order to develop the children's attitudes towards responsibility, autonomy, respect, creativity and security. There are also kindergartens which have specialty in teaching mental and physically disabled children.

Children in orphanages are 0 to 6 years old and have been abandoned. The institutions' aim is to take care of the children, giving them much love and attention with the hopes of finding people who are willing to adopt them.

Children in daycare centers are typically 1 to 6 years old with about 30 children per center. Many are left there since their families work long or unusual hours. The institutions' aim is to take care of the children, feed them breakfast and lunch and organize activities and games.

After school centers offer free educational support to children and adolescents from 4 to 15 years old. On average each center takes care of 60 to 100 children. The centers aim to help children and adolescents with their homework and give them support and advice concerning general problems and issues.

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/ Prices 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!