Sustainable Bolivia is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the Bolivian Amazon that partners with local initiatives to provides resources that support ecotourism, nature conservation, health and education. Volunteers and interns are placed with partner NGOs throughout the country, namely in and around Riberalta, Bolivia.
Sustainable Bolivia is supporting the Centro Nuevos Horizontes (New Horizons) which is working with children with special needs. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this Centre is able caters to the unique physical and psychological needs of each individual. Services include assessment and evaluation, physical therapy and rehabilitation, individualized educational programs, speech and communication support, play therapy and vocational training. The program also serves as a day care for young children of varying levels of independence.
Using a multi-disciplinary approach, Centro Nuevos Horizontes is able caters to the unique physical and psychological needs of each individual. Services include assessment and evaluation, physical therapy and rehabilitation, individualized educational programs, speech and communication support, play therapy and vocational training. The program also serves as a daycare for 15 children of varying levels of independence.
In addition to providing rehabilitative services, Centro Nuevos Horizontes advocates for rights of disabled persons within the community. They partner with the school for disabled children as wells as the families/caretakers ensuring that each young person learns to adapt and relate to the world around them and that the adults in their lives can successfully carry out a consistent treatment plan. Centro Nuevos Horizontes serves as leverage for community resources by providing education and organizing events to combat stigma and injustice for differently-abled persons.
Objectives:
- Provide physical therapy and rehabilitation to physically and developmentally disabled individuals both at the center and at their homes; Evolve and adapt new methods of teaching to enable differently abled children to work smoothly
- Work one-on-one with families and caretakers ensuring a sustainable treatment plan is carried out in all areas of their life
- Empower individuals to become as independent as possible through adaptive education, vocational training, and teaching self-advocacy
- Advocate for the inclusion of intellectual, developmental and other disabilities in society; Link the community to valuable resources
- Provide direct care to disenfranchised individuals who cannot afford treatment
Typical day
Responsibilities may include:
- Provide physical therapy and rehabilitation, based on your own personal qualifications, to physically and developmentally disabled individuals both at the center and at their homes
- Evolve and adapt new methods of teaching to enable differently abled individuals to live independently
- Work one-on-one with families and caretakers ensuring a sustainable treatment plan is carried out in all areas of their life
- Empower individuals to become as independent as possible through adaptive education, physical rehabilitation, and teaching self-advocacy
- Provide direct care to disenfranchised individuals who cannot afford treatment
Working Conditions:
Centro Nuevos Horizontes is located a short walk or motortaxi from the Sustainable Bolivia volunteer house in Riberalta. Full-time staff include 3 full time physical therapists, a social worker, a psychologist and other administrative and grounds staff. The campus includes comfortable office works space, 5 large rooms for adaptive therapy and an outdoor play area for children.
The volunteers will work directly with the staff. They will work from 8.30am to 12.30. The reeducation center is closed for 10 days around Christmas and New Years’ Eve.
Details on Arrival
- Airport Pick up
- Orientation upon arrival
Free-time activities
In their free time, volunteers can enjoy a lot of activities around Riberalta such as enjoying the nature of the Amazon (tours, trekking) and the animals, enjoying the rivers (boat tours) or the swimming pools close-by. It is also very easy to go to Brazil where you there is a lot of amenities for shopping.
Program Requirements
Experience or background in medicine, public health
Included Services
Before your journey
On-site services
- Pre-arrival support
- Accommodation
- Volunteer or internship placement
- Internet access
- Orientation
- Pick-up from Riberalta airport
- Grant funding through mini-grant program
- Cleaning services
- Drinkable water
- Access to Plant Medicine Retreat Pisatahua
- Sponsored cultural events (workshops, shared dinners, yoga classes, documentary screenings, etc.)
- 24-hour staff support
- A contribution to our scholarship program
- 3 meals a day (only for Family Home Stay option)
All Prices Include:
Pick up at the Riberalta airport. The team is available everyday at anytime for pick ups.
- 250$ per month for a shared room in the volunteer house (depending on availability)
- 350$ per month for a private room in the volunteer house (depending on availability)
- 450$ per month for a private room in a host family (incl. 3 meals per day)
- Bottled water available at all times
- For host families 3 meals per day are included. An adapted diet for allergies and vegetarians is possible, even though difficult as Riberalta is a small city where veggies are quite expensive. In case of vegetarians, the best is to help your family in cooking cheap vegetarian options for you and be flexible. You can ask advice to the team.
Program Fees
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