Wildlife Refuge in Bolivia - from only USD60 per week

  Bolivia

Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Durations of Program: 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: 2-4 weeks
Dates: All year

Description: This is a Bolivian Non-Governmental Organisation staffed by volunteers from around the world. It is Bolivias only refuge for abused wild animals. In 1996, the organization founded a wildlife refuge in "Parque Machia, Villa Tunari. In 2002 Quest Overseas made it possible to purchase our own land on which to establish a new, much larger refuge between Trinidad and Santa Cruz, called Parque Ambue Ari. Animal numbers were growing beyond Machias capacity, and having our own land offers us the security we need to plan longer into the future. We desperately need volunteers to help with this enormous and exciting challenge. We are also working with indigenous communities, its several thousand young members, schools and colleges, the media and international organisations, to raise awareness of the cruelty of the wild animal trade and the need to protect the environment.

The organizations name means sun, star, moon in the local Indian languages Quechua, Aymara and Guarani. It represents the principal Bolivian cultures and symbolizes national unity.

The organization was founded in 1992 and today has branches throughout Bolivia, and in North America, England, Switzerland and Israel, all founded and run by volunteers of the animal refuge.

Costs: The first 15 days volunteering cost USD 120 at Parque Machia or USD 160 at Parque Ambue Ari (as foods included). (At Parque Machia there is deluxe accommodation for USD 120 - it's still basic but the bathroom is only shared between two! (We cant do reservations so its first-come first-served!))

This project is part of Ecoteer - the solution to travel and volunteering on a shoestring.

Ecoteer is a unique volunteer opportunities agency - offering a directory of cheap volunteer work opportunities, volunteer jobs abroad and working holidays. Our volunteer opportunities are cheap because we have eliminated the middleman slashing the price to volunteer abroad for gapyears, careerbreaks and working holidays. Ecoteer is leading the way in a new type of volunteer work opportunities abroad and is changing the volunteer and working holiday industry back to what it used to be benefiting both the volunteer and the volunteer project.

We have other opportunities in ecotourism, conservation, humanitarian aid and teaching in other 50 countries.

To volunteer with Ecoteer you need to become an Ecoteer volunteer member which costs only £20 per year.

Visit our website to search more of our cheap volunteering opportunities.

After the first 15 days Machia costs USD 6 - 8 per day (depending upon accommodation), and Ambue USD 8 (food incd). Machia has an ATM and internet cafe in the town. Ambue Ari in the middle of the jungle, nearest ATM is 5 hr bus ride, nearest internet cafe is 40 min. bus ride, nearest village is a 20 min. bus ride.

Highlights: The refuges house over 1000 animals - monkeys, birds, tortoises, coatis, sloths and cats. All were illegally poached and kept in private homes, hotels and circuses, often in disgusting conditions. Volunteers come from all over the world to join the "Inti Wara Yassi" community. They rehabilitate the animals, work with visitors and help run the organization during the day, and enjoy the quiet jungle life with friends from all over the world, during the evenings. Every member of staff except the vets is a volunteer.

Everyone can volunteer, you dont need previous experience or a biology degree, all you need is a big heart and the will to work hard to save the animals.

Volunteers who want to come and help in taking care of the animals are required to stay for a minimum of 15 days. Volunteers, who wish to be responsible for a specific animal need further training and therefore are required to stay for a month (usually more for the cats). Most volunteers stay for longer periods of time and often return to the refuge for a second and third time. Please not that it is difficult for the owners of this project to get to read email and it may take some time to get to answer you. They recommended that you "just turn up but this cannot be recommended by Ecoteer.

Please note that it is difficult to regularly answer emails so please be patient. However we will will accept everybody who turns up to volunteer as long as you can stay for two weeks.

Qualifications: None

Cost in US$: From USD 120 for 15 days

Experience Required: no

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

Participants Travel to Bolivia Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 5-15

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

Ecoteer's Mission Statement: To help locally run grass root organisations to achieve their aims via attracting paying volunteers and tourists. Plus we personally help develop and improve the projects we work with to help them to achieve their objectives.

Year Founded: 2005