The information in the gapyear.com placement database is provided by each individual company. Gapyear.com claims no responsibility for inaccurate, misleading or libellious information. Please ensure that you check all details with the specific organisation before booking or accepting placement.

GYC2760 - Orphanage placements Country: Bolivia Cost: £995.00 Please note: 2 months = £1,275 3 months = £1,495 Additional months thereafter £295 Cost Includes: The price includes accommodation, food and pickup from airport but does not include flight, insurance, kit or visas     Duration: 1 months Company Rep Nearby: All the time 0845 344 7585 or

 

	This placement would suit... Caring, creative, dedicated volunteers who would like to make a difference to the lives of these special children. Known as 'the Tibet of the Americas', Bolivia is a superb country set amongst the magnificent Andean Landscapes, with traditional and caring inhabitants. Bolivians are extremely welcoming and you will instantly be drawn in by the friendly locals. This will truly be a unique experience. Our projects take place in Cochabamba, the capital of the valleys. This delightful town is surrounded by fields of cultivations and valuable pre-Inca vestiges. It occupies a fertile green bowl in a landscape of fields and low hills, and was founded in 1574. It is also Bolivia’s largest market town which makes it extremely entertaining and lively. This project will give you the opportunity to help needy children of all ages. Your help has a very positive impact on the orphans because they gain confidence from interacting with people from different countries, which is normally very rare for the children. About the orphanages We work with many different orphanages in Bolivia. Some are for very young children and babies and others are for older children. At the orphanages for younger children and babies there are trained carers, so you are there to help them and give general support where needed. Your support is excellent for the carers as well as the children because it frees their time to concentrate on other areas such as gaining financial support and working on administration and legalities of running an orphanage. By playing games with the children you really increase their confidence. This also encourages children to use English in an informal way, and even with the younger children it gives them exposure to the language at an early age. For many of the older children you are able to integrate education into games and also help with homework etc. About your work Your work here will be to help the carers with the day-to-day running of the centers, and general care of the children. Most of your work will be to help and assist the carers with their daily rounds. You will also be asked to help clean equipment and various areas within the orphanage. It is difficult to be specific about the day-to-day work you will do, but you will get a good general feel of the orphanage by working and/or observing. The type of work you will be allocated will depend to an extent on your own abilities, which is understandable given that you will be dealing with children’s health and safety. Your hours may vary, but normally you will work from nine to five Monday to Friday. However, you may sometimes work evenings or nights, sometimes over weekends, etc., but you will have time off on other days instead. The level of education of the children is generally very poor, and it will be up to you and the director to explore how best to use your skills. This may mean taking sport and games lessons or offering care for children, it may well be in the form of informal English or vocational teaching which is one of the biggest privileges to receive. You should be supervised all of the time while you are there, and you will be given help and directions. Your workload will depend on yourself and your attitude, with more work becoming available as you grow in confidence. Your work as a volunteer may include... - Preparing food for the children. - Bathing the children - Helping the children eat - Helping carers and caring for the children - Occasionally taking the children to the hospital for immunisation, treatment etc. - General cleaning of the compound and the orphanage - Washing clothes and the children - Teaching informal English, Arithmetic and sports to the children - Organising and facilitating games and plays for the children As a volunteer you will gain the following... - Skills in working with needy children - Knowledge of Bolivian society and the lifestyles of its people - Experience in working with children in difficult circumstances - Infinite satisfaction that you are benefiting the children - this is a very worthwhile project As a result of your volunteer work, the orphanage, the workers and the society at large will benefit directly or indirectly as follows... - They will get an opportunity to interact with you and learn about foreign cultures - They will have access to free workforce and services - They will have their traditional knowledge and skills supplemented with initiatives from the volunteers - The children will receive love and care which is fundamental for their growth and development.  Street work  We also work with some projects which approach important issues with children and families from the street. They try to create awareness of issues such as health, and try to educate the street children and their families with the aid of play, music, drama, feeding, sharing information, listening, and having discussion groups. One such project has been arranged for over 190 local girls, which allows them to contribute economically to their families in a way which is safe and educational. This project involves producing cards and goods and running a gift store and café. Sports It is possible for volunteers to coach at various schools, orphanages, and with special arrangements it will also be possible to coach a local team. Children in Bolivia really are a joy to teach; their enthusiasm for sports really knows no bounds. Although for the vast majority coaching won’t have a direct impact on their lives, indirectly it has immeasurable effects. Personality changes, health awareness, increased confidence and social skills are all benefits from the coaching they might otherwise fail to receive. Spanish courses If you would also like to learn Spanish, then we can arrange a combination placement for you. The combination course will integrate your work placement and your Spanish course during your stay. This is normally in groups with a private teacher. The extra Spanish course costs £395 for 20 hours (two weeks) at the same time as your project, or £795 for 40 hours (two weeks). Accommodation You will live with a local family and they will look after you extremely well. They are always friendly and will accept you into their family immediately. Most host accommodation is centrally located, which gives you ample opportunity to explore this wondrous town. Bolivians are renowned for their hospitality and possibly the most enduring thing our volunteers take with them from Bolivia is a feeling of warmth and friendship for the local people. Many develop very close friendships with our Bolivia manager, and almost everyone stays in contact with their family for many years! Some volunteers have even returned just to visit their 'family'. There are plenty of opportunities to socialise with other volunteers, and there will more than likely be a group of you out there at any one time. Food Local dishes, such as the empanadas salteñas (a type of meat pie), the plato paceño and a big variety of tuberous vegetables and sauces are a few examples of true Bolivian cuisine. You will get a variety of Western and local delicacies. 0845 344 7585 Travellers Worldwide: Live and work abroad helping children, adults, animals and entire communities in less advantaged countries. Learn about their culture from the inside! Stay from as little as two weeks to as long as one year - you choose your dates and duration!