Overview
Volunteer Travel in Bolivia

Come and do your volunteer work in this beautiful rural area of Bolivia and you can help children to get an education which they might not be able to afford otherwise. Although education is free in Bolivia, parents often cannot afford to buy the materials required for a child to partake in their state-sponsored education. In conjunction with leaders of local communities in the area, GVI are developing projects and programs to provide teaching and educational reinforcement for those children who can’t. College credit may be available for those attending this project. Consult GVI’s college credit page for helpful tips and advice.

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Bolivia is one of South America’s poorest countries; therefore efforts made in education are of paramount importance.

Dom Williams, 2005

What Difference Does This Project Make?

Most rural families in the Yungas live off $1 a day, which must stretch to meet the demands of a family first, and education second. Therefore many children have to leave school prematurely as the families cannot even cover the costs of basic school materials. Global Vision International has started this project to encourage and improve levels of education in several of the communities around Coroico. As part of this, GVI, along with some of the volunteers’ fees, will be supplying the materials needed in the school in which we work and the materials needed to run the ‘aulas abiertas’ on a regular basis.

Highlights

Living with a host family in Coroico; teaching indigenous communities; learning Spanish; enjoying the many side trips that include mountain biking, hiking, horse riding and visiting Lake Titicaca.

Location

For the first two weeks you will be based in Coroico; a tropical town filled with colourful markets, cocoa fields, orchards and emerald-green fields. For the work, you will actually be based in the communities in which you will work, which are all within one hour’s drive from Coroico, in the Yungas, a town with a population of under 5,000. The town has many amenities including internet, bars, restaurants, shops and a hospital.

Field Conditions

Living with local families in Coroico and the surrounding communities in basic accommodation allows volunteers to fully immerse themselves in the local way of life, to have an enriching cultural experience and get the valuable opportunity to practice their Spanish! You will have your own private room, hot water, and three meals a day will be provided when with the family. The food is very typical of the area and is varied, including meats, plenty of vegetables and fruits. Vegetarians are also well catered for.