Organization

• A school for underprivileged children
• 500 children follow education on a daily basis
• Community with a library, horticulture project, medical post and after school facilities
• Working at a better future for the entire community
• Work can be done in several projects that can be well combined in consultation
• In place there is a very friendly contact person who speaks Dutch

Project activities

• School: there is a primary school (basico) and for the secondary school (secundario) classes are still being constructed. After the secondary school (4 classes) you can go to college. At school there is a library. Here children can go to read, study or do homework. The interpretation and possibility is depending on the presence of a volunteer.  If there is no volunteer, the children simply will get traditional teaching. A volunteer can help at school in the library and set up educational and sports activities in collaboration with the teacher in the different classes. Books and game material are available. The school is closed during the summer holiday from December till half February.
• Medical post: the medical post is opened 5 days a week and occupied by an enthusiastic young team: a doctor, a nurse and a dentist. Aim of the post is providing health care to anyone who is poor and/or sick, in need of surgery or medication or other aids. Besides the goal is to give preventive and educational information. Think of sexual education, dental care, what is healthy nourishment, when is a child ill, when do you have to see a doctor, drug use, what can you do yourself in case of certain diseases, etc. A volunteer can support and supplement all these activities regarding medical care and preventive information. The medical post is closed for 2 – 3 weeks during Christmas and New Year.
• Home work support and after school care: this project was created to prevent children without a stable or good home basis to land in the streets. There is a part-time psychologist and a teacher, the children study and play games and do other fun activities. It is important that the children have or get the feeling that there are people who care for them and help them with their problems.   
  There is a space besides the medical post consisting of two rooms and an office that can be used for this aim. Volunteers with different backgrounds can work here, anyone involved with children. This project is coordinated by the teachers of the children that participate in this project. The activities consist of supporting the employees and setting up teaching and game activities.
• School garden construction and maintenance / building and maintenance activities. Besides the social projects, our Dutch contact person also likes the aid of volunteers in the projects that are concerned with school garden construction and maintenance and planting trees. With your own initiative this can also lead to giving information on nature preserve, garbage, and environment. Besides there are several projects where they can well use support in construction and/or maintenance. In short, many possibilities.

What’s expected of the volunteers?

• 21 years or older
• Independent / pro-active
• Speak well Spanish
• Positive attitude
• Motivated
• Flexible
• Like to handle children
• Medical post: medical background is an advantage

Accommodation and living environment

• There are several possibilities to stay: an international guesthouse or at a Bolivian lady at home. The volunteer is of course free to give this form him/herself.

Period / duration

• Throughout the year with a minimum of three months.
• You usually work five days a week. The working hours are to be determined, can be whole or half days. In the summer holiday the school is closed from December until half February.

Local costs

• USD $150 to rent an apartment in town

Experiences

Judith