Culture and Community and Programs in Bolivia with Projects Abroad (2-Week Winter Special)

  Bolivia

Cochabamba

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks and 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Sunday December 28 2008 - Saturday January 10 2009

Description: Your first day will be a tour of the city of Cochabamba and a general introduction to the Bolivian culture. The next morning, you will be introduced to one of the sites of our care and community projects. Working in a small group made up of volunteers and local staff, you will tackle the large task of renovating parts of the orphanage that are in dire need. Volunteers in the past have built greenhouses and compost areas, worked on building renovation, and helped restore outdoor and indoor play areas. Volunteers can stay with host families by themselves, in single sex pairs, or there is also the option to stay in a separate room in one of the orphanages you are working on. During the weekend, you will visit Totora, a colonial pueblo near Cochabamba known for its beautiful colonial buildings and the traditional lifestyle of its inhabitants.

Highlights: Bolivia is a fantastic option for your volunteer project or internship abroad. Landlocked Bolivia occupies the heart of South America. Its attractions include Andean Peaks, tropical Amazonian forests, bustling cities and peaceful traditional communities. Bolivia will give you a real taste of this varied continent, usually a long way off the tourist trail.

Squeezed between five other countries, it's unsurprising that Bolivia's history is full of border disputes. Consequently, Bolivian culture is a melting pot of Amerindian and European. On any visit to Bolivia you will encounter local festivals and activities; people might be throwing water-balloons at each other, or there could be street processions full of color and vibrancy.

All accommodation is organized, paid for and monitored by Projects Abroad. All project placements are regularly visited and checked. We require high standards of supervision and accommodation, which are verified before you arrive in Bolivia.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: none

Cost in US$: US$2,195

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open-minded with a willingness to travel.

Age Range: 16-19

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Bolivia Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 10-20

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992