Intern or Volunteer with a Grassroots Health Organization in Bolivia

  Bolivia

Cochabamba

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Trimester, Winter 
Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: See FSD Website

Description: Examples of how you can be involved with Health initiatives in Bolivia:

* Launch educational campaigns and workshops on medical themes including nutrition, sterilization, prenatal care, and sexual health within marginalized areas of Cochabamba.

* Observe and assist with treatment and general patient care in a 24 hour hospital and its surrounding clinics. Services include family medicine, pediatrics, neurology, cardiology, gynecology, radiology, surgery, physical therapy, reconstructive and plastic surgery, 24 hour emergency care, dentistry, pre and post natal care, and other specialties. Assist in the hospital laboratory.

* Assist with an organization's activities in dealing with and preventing domestic abuse: Provide holistic socio-physical recuperation, education, counseling, and health support to women and children who suffer from intra-familial violence.

* Conduct epidemiological research surveying sexuality and HIV/AIDS in the community. Analyze efficacy of an organization's public health initiatives that directly address these topics. Write and publish articles for national and international newspapers and magazines to promote health and HIV/AIDS initiatives.
* Work with foster and adoptive families to get children out of abusive homes.

*Support the training of healthcare personnel about the medical, psychological, and social characteristics of HIV/AIDS and the precautions necessary to prevent the transmission of the virus in the delivery of healthcare services.

For more internship opportunities in health in Bolivia, visit our website or contact us directly.

About FSD

The Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1995 to support underserved, international communities in a collaborative and sustainable manner. Our model incorporates three overlapping programs:

1. Sustainable Development Training Programs for Interns and Volunteers
FSD provides comprehensive training and immersion programs for interns and volunteers seeking hands-on experience in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Program participants come from countless professions and more than 300 universities worldwide to collaborate with our partner organizations on community-driven projects that reflect sustainable practices.

2. Grantmaking to Projects and Initiatives Led By Our Partner Organizations
Donations and grants given to FSD are used to support projects and initiatives implemented by our partner organizations, site teams, interns, and volunteers.

3. Sustainable Development of Community-Based Organizations
Our professional field staff, consultants, and program participants provide on-site technical training and capacity building to more than 200 community-based organizations.

Highlights: Development Issues Addressed by FSD in Bolivia
One of the largest health concerns in Bolivia is that of malnutrition; Close to five million citizens are unable to fulfill even their most basic eating requirements. This problem poses the greatest risk to pregnant women and young children so that infant, child, and maternal mortality rates in Bolivia are the second highest in the hemisphere. In addition to the desperate need to address these issues, Bolivia also has an extremely high prevalence of tuberculosis, malaria, chagas, leishmaniasis, dengue fever and yellow fever. While HIV/AIDS has not yet reached epidemic proportions in Bolivia, the occurrence of the virus is steadily rising. Overall, there is a huge need for expansion of healthcare in Bolivia, especially in rural communities where health services are extremely limited.

FSD works with local health clinics and hospitals to expand their resources and to support them in providing health education, medical treatment, counseling, and immunizations to at-risk populations in the Cochabamba community. FSD conducts research in a number of areas to gain increased understanding of the efficacy of current health initiatives and to gain information about current health crises. With enhanced health services, and increased public knowledge, the hope is that the citizens of Cochabamba and surrounding rural villages will soon have the tools to properly address major health issues and improve their quality of life.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: Depends on Program Selected; See FSD Website

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: FSD supports participants who boldly wish to initiate the change they believe is necessary in the developing world. Interns are passionate about sharing their practical knowledge, heart-felt enthusiasm, and economic resources with communities abroad that suffer unnecessary hardship. They wish to gain hands-on, grassroots development experience because they believe change is most powerfully cultivated on a community level. The aim is to experientially learn how their work can empower the community toward applying sustainable development solutions, rather than increasing reliance on foreign aid. Participants choose FSD because the program structure enables them to design and implement their own sustainable projects in collaboration with their host organization and the FSD Site Team. They are able to test their ideas and theories in the most direct way possible, giving them the experience and knowledge they seek. The flexibility of the host organizations allows for participants at all stages and levels of experience in international development to participate, thus opening the programs to a diverse group of capable applicants.

Age Range: 18-75

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

Participants Travel to Bolivia Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 3-10

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Foundation for Sustainable Development's Mission Statement: FSD supports the efforts of grassroots organizations in the developing world that are working to better their communities, environments, and the economic opportunities around them. We believe community development is only sustainable if it empowers the people to effectively use and cultivate their own resources in a conscious manner. Through our programs, we aim to raise international awareness of the economic challenges in developing countries and to support cross-cultural communities in finding more effective solutions to development issues.

Year Founded: 1995