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The Project
This large orphanage in Santa Cruz is a charity funded by the Catholic church to help orphaned
and abandoned children. Children are housed in groups of 8-12 children in ‘family units’ each
with a family mother to make up a ‘village’ of homes. At present, the Children’s Village is home to
over 100 children and adolescents, from 0 to 18 years old. Additionally, on site there is a school, a
day care centre, football field and recreational centre, a residence for around 70 older teenage boys and girls.
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Why the project needs you
The project is in need of some extra pairs of hands to help the large volume of orphaned and
abandoned children at the village – to help them become familiar with other cultures, to develop
their Spanish and English and also to receive extra care and attention which they so require.
Economically, these children are completely dependent on the village’s funding, which comes from
sponsors and voluntary donors.
Project Location
Santa Cruz de la Sierra ("Holy Cross of the Hills"), in the tropical lowlands of east-central Bolivia, has
been growing at an unprecedented pace in the past 15 years and its boom continues. Besides
being renowned for its historical 18th-century Jesuit missions, Santa Cruz is well known for its
cuisine, which benefits from the agricultural richness and diversity of the region. Its local culture
and traditions are similarly distinctive - a visit to Santa Cruz during its frenetic and colourful
Carnival season will leave a lifelong impression! Besides having all the amenities of a modern city,
Santa Cruz is within easy reach of Bolivia's most stunning natural offerings including remote Andes
peaks and steamy rainforests. Santa Cruz is known as almost a country unto itself, whose residents
are very proud to call it home.
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Project Facts
• Duration: 4-26 weeks
• Cost: £1025 ($1794) for 4 weeks, £175 ($306) each extra week. Discounts for stays of 3 months or more
• Requirements: Age 18+
• Location: Santa Cruz, Bolivia
• Project Activities: Playing with and entertaining the children, getting involved with workshops, helping with English, homework
• Working Hours: Monday-Friday 14.00-18.00
• Project Availability: Open all year round
• Families with children are welcomed on this project. Please contact an advisor for more details.
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What is included
• Accommodation: Single room in a home-stay
• Food: 2 meals/day - Breakfast and Dinner
• Airport pick up and drop off
• Training: Orientation and language classes provided
• Support: 24 hour support
• Excursions: 2 excursions during your stay
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What is not included
• Flights
• Insurance
• Visas
• Optional Spanish classes available at $10/hour
• Police background check: US and UK citizens processed through Kaya (admin fee applies) all other nationalities must provide local police check.
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Role of the volunteer
Volunteers are usually required to lend their support to the Children’s Village for around 4-5 hours a day, Monday to Friday. Most of the children attend school in the morning so there are only a small number of children left on site during this time. Volunteers are required in the afternoons, from 2-6pm to help the children with their homework, teach English, engage them with arts and crafts, playing games and coaching sports. There are dedicated workshops each day too between 6-7pm, which you are more than welcome to get involved with.
Workshops include: handcrafts, computer science (there are 9 computers in the school lab), music workshops (there are guitars, bassoons, keyboards, drums, pianola and recorders on site), accounting and marketing, dressmaking, pastry, carpentry, English support and sports development.
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Skills Required
Volunteers must love children and be open minded, creative, enthusiastic, patient and flexible. You must understand that working with children in a developing country is a different reality to that in the Western world, so you need to understand these difference with optimism and kindness.
Ideally you need an intermediate level of Spanish, but beginners are ok – just try and learn as much Spanish as possible before starting the project so you can make your stay as enjoying and worthwhile as possible.
For this project a police check is required for all participants. For US and UK citizens, the check can be carried out through Kaya for a processing fee of £20/$20. For all other nationalities, you will need to arrange a police check from your home country at your own expense.
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Your life outside the project
There is plenty to see and do in and around Cochabamba and if you like shopping it is home to the largest open-air market in South America, La Cancha. It is a great place to go to get a feel of the traditional customs and culture of the city and the surrounding areas and, although it is mostly made up of agricultural products and a wide variety of Bolivian food, there are also stalls selling traditional handicrafts as well.
Other local points of interest include the Statue of Cristo de la Concordia on San Pedro Hill. The statue itself is 33 meters tall and the views of the city from the top (reached by a climb inside the statue), are incredible. Another great day trip is to visit the Tunari National Park, located on the outskirts of Cochabamba. Tourist companies in the centre of Cochabamba offer bird watching and trekking tours, as well as options for the adrenaline junkies in the form of paragliding.
While staying in Cochabamba, take time off to visit the ruins of Incarakay and the beautiful Lago Angostura. Torotoro National Park is located to the north of the Potosi District but has access through Cochabamba. Torotoro forms part of the Western side of the Bolivia Andes mountain ranges and is a place where you can step back into old Bolivian times. While at the Park it is possible to see caverns, waterfalls, cave paintings and dinosaur footprints.
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Ideas for Independent Travel
The Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats
This is the largest salt flat in the world covering an area of 10,582km2. It holds around 10 billion tons of salt and half of the world's lithium. Its vastness is unbelievable as it stretches off into the horizon and touches the sky.
Cordiellera Real
Marvel at the most imposing mountain range in Bolivia, with 6 peaks reaching over 19,000 ft. One of the least-trekked areas of the Andes, it contains a high concentration of active wildlife including condors, bears and the occasional puma. There are treks for various levels of experience.
Lake Titicaca
Standing at the base of the majestic Andean mountains, 12,500 ft. above sea level, is the vast and imposing Lake Titicaca. This giant body of water spans across Bolivia and Peru and is the largest lake in South America. Along its banks are ancient ruins and indigenous villages to explore.
Project Quality
Kaya evaluates every project we offer to ensure that we only commit to programmes with genuine need for volunteer aid, not just financial assistance. We develop relationships with the projects and help shape initiatives to ensure in the long run that we do not encourage dependence on outside help, but rather establish foundations on which the people can build and develop themselves. We also ensure that the members of those communities are open and eager to learn and discover our culture, as we become a part of theirs. The quality and sustainability of our programmes are very important to us. We want you to have the most fulfilling and memorable time as possible, and be part of something that is going to last into future generations.
Accommodation & Meals
Volunteers are placed in local home-stays where they either have their own room. Three meals a day are provided by the home-stay family, all included in the placement fees. This way a portion of your volunteer fee goes back into the local economy, and you gain first-hand experience of true local family life.
In-Country Coordinators
Each country coordinator is there to make sure your time in your programme runs smoothly. They will pick you up from the airport and take you on your orientation. All in-country coordinators are English speaking and are there to ensure you have all the information and resources for the best placement.
24/7 Emergency Support
As well as support from your in-country coordinators, you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line managed by Kaya staff, in case any problem should arise while you're overseas.
Kaya Help-desk
Each member of Kaya staff have worked, travelled, studied or volunteered abroad, and many staff have visited and volunteered in our projects knowing firsthand the country and nature of the programme placements. Their knowledge of international travel and volunteering is invaluable, and they can give you good advice and tips to make the most of your international placement.
Briefing Pack & Materials
Once you have booked a programme, an information pack will be sent out detailing everything you need to know - from specific project details and vaccinations required to the visa application process.
Airport Pickup
When you arrive at your destination a member of Kaya staff will meet you with a warm welcome at the airport and take you to your accommodation to get you set up for your stay.
Cultural Excursions
Kaya staff are at hand to help organise weekend excursions and activities, which can include visiting cultural places of significance and visiting various projects around the area. This way you can learn firsthand about each project and take part in local cultural and adventure activities.
Arrival Orientation
Shortly after you arrive you will be given your orientation by one of our in-country coordinators. They will show you your placement, local transport, take you into the local town, and show you things you can do in your spare time. Information regarding safety and security will be given along with some much needed lingo when moving and travelling around the area.
Local Community Benefits
Not only is your participation on your project of great help to the local communities, but so is the boost to the local economy that volunteers create while they are visiting.
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