Volunteer with Sustainable Bolivia - La Colonia

  Bolivia

Cochabamba

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and over 2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: 05/15/2008-15/04/2009

Description: La Colonia is an environmentally conscious orphanage and daycare center where volunteers can help with extracurricular activities, childcare, and building projects.
The organization serves children and adolescents who are orphans, children who live or work on the streets but maintain contact with their families, or children who live with relatives because their parents have migrated elsewhere.

Approximately 500,000 children between the ages of six and nineteen work in the informal sector and are poorly paid and often exploited. Witnessing the reality of the situation, La Colonia saw the necessity to provide children with a safe environment in which they can grow. La Colonia focuses on keeping children off the street, preventing children from dropping out of school, and raising academic levels. For its residents, La Colonia is dedicated to providing a secure and comfortable living situation.

La Colonia Programs:

Study Huts:
There are ten study huts in La Colonia, with two in construction. Each hut has study space for seven children and is assigned a "study aunt or uncle" who help the children with their studies. Reading is a compulsory daily habit in an effort to increase vocabulary and general knowledge.

Volunteer opportunities include:

    * Develop and run extra curricular activities
    * Help with homework
    * Create educational resources/activities
    * Help with the construction of more study huts

La Colonia does not offer many set programs, as the organization focuses on educational support and general interaction with the children. La Colonia also encourages the children to strengthen their characters and expand their practical skills by participating in small projects involving minor manual labor. Along the same lines, all children are required to complete an hour of chores per day, including such tasks as cleaning, taking care of the orchard, washing up, mowing the lawn, cooking and general maintenance.
Children and volunteers frequently engage in sports and other games that aid in the development of motor skills and physical potential. Children who excel in their academics are rewarded with such activities as camping, mountain climbing, hiking, and cycling. In November 2007 a group of adolescents cycled from Cochabamba to Uyuni.

Highlights: Our primary objective is to provide Bolivian organizations with much needed human and financial resources while providing international travelers, students and professionals the opportunity to gain practical work experience through internships and volunteer opportunities in Bolivia.

For all individuals wishing to donate their time, Sustainable Bolivia offers free airport pick up, free orientation and city map, as well as 24 hour staff support. Additionally we provide low cost Spanish or Quechua language lessons, free internet access, unlimited free calls to US and select European landlines, family stay opportunities, private or shared accommodations and reduced travel prices to one of our sustainable ecotourism destinations. We also organize optional social and cultural activities in the evening and on weekends.

Qualifications: Volunteer requirements:

    * Beginners Spanish
    * Interest in working with children
    * Motivated, patient, energetic
    * There is no minimum commitment period

Cost in US$: 550

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Someone who is open minded and willing to learn. They are also interested in cross cultural communication and in helping the local communities in a non-intrusive manner. Sustainable Bolivia volunteers are environmentally conscious and eager to learn more about Bolivia. They are adaptable, understanding and cheerful.

Age Range: 18 +

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 Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Resume

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Job and Internship Network

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.