Work in rehab with children with special needs

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

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

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.