Projects Abroad volunteers work in several orphanages and day care centres in Bolivia, all in the Cochabamba area. Some projects work with just boys or girls, other homes have children with mental and physical disabilities. We also have care projects working with a range of ages, from babies and toddlers to teenagers.

Please let us know of any preferences you may have so we can match you to a suitable placement.

An orphanage where there is a particularly pronounced need is the Maria Christina orphanage. Projects Abroad now plays a key role in the general management this orphanage and has totally renovated the orphanage buildings. The orphans here are all teenagers and all have some form of learning difficulties, there is no shortage of work for enthusiastic volunteers.

Volunteers often work in pairs at a placement which means you can share ideas and perhaps take some of the children out on a trip. Our staff in the Cochabamba office are also always happy to help you with new ideas and materials, and a member of staff at your placement will act as your general supervisor and be available for help and advice.

Volunteers are required to help with homework, sports, music, crafts, art and dance. They also accompany children to school, give basic literacy lessons in Spanish, teach the importance of hygiene, help with kitchen duties, tidy rooms, and clean the garden areas. At some placements, practical help is needed, so previous volunteers have joined forces a few times a week to work on community projects such as painting walls in the orphanages, creating a garden or helping with clearing up and rebuilding.

The thing all the care placements have in common is that they are designed to help children who have precious few other people to whom they can turn. Volunteers are always warmly welcomed by both staff and children and their help greatly appreciated.

Accommodation in Bolivia is with local host families who are picked for their warn hospitality as well as their interest in meeting new people. As well as providing support and advice, host families also provide three meals per day which tend to be traditional recipes and give volunteers a fantastic insight into Bolivian cuisine!

All Care volunteers based in Cochabamba are also entitled to free Spanish lessons.

0845 344 7562

Help, Learn, Explore. You can do all of these with Projects Abroad. We organise flexible volunteering programmes in the developing world. We have sent 20,000 volunteers away to 23 different countries since 1992. We offer projects such as Teaching, Care, Conservation, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Journalism, Business, Law and Human Rights amongst others.