Volunteering in Montero, Bolivia

Volunteering in Montero, Bolivia

C.L.E.M Health Centre

Organization: C.L.E.M : “Comunidad de Libertad y Esperanza de la Mujer”

in English: Community of Freedom and Hope of Women

Volunteering in Montero

The volunteer program was designed to meet the many needs of this marginalized area and to support the community in areas of activities that may be difficult or even impossible to implement without external support such as labor, material, financial resources, skills, knowledge, and so on. In addition, the program was designed to establish a sustainable volunteer base where volunteers can focus their efforts in building healthy environments and supporting local health workers. It offers volunteers and local staff opportunities for mutual learning, sharing, and the building of friendships. All of this is included in a work-cultural schedule, which as a whole, can provide a transformative experience that allows the volunteers to see a new perspective of the human being, which helps give a new reason for living.

One of the goals of the CLEM volunteer program is the promotion of community development. The assignment of volunteers in each sector will enable efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of programs and the quality and diversity of products for the local market and internationally.

Objectives

• Improving the standard of living of the population
• Providing specialized health care
• Bring in community development
• Being part of new experiences and knowledge for volunteers and local people.

Requirements for all volunteers:

• Fill out the application (Attachment A) requested by CLEM (this would help to schedule their activities better according to their skills and interests). The application must be completed two months prior to travel in order to meet requirements for the visa and vaccines.
• Health professionals are asked to attach papers certifying their training and professional experience for submission to the Bolivian Ministry of Health.
• Be up to date on vaccines against yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria and Typhoid Fever. Extra vaccines: Hepatitis A / B. North American volunteers could attend the “travel clinics” that are specialized in vaccines for travel to Third World countries.
• Valid Passport.
• Canadians and other Europeans do not need a visa for stays of less than a month.
• People from Countries bordering Bolivia only need an ID. Card.
• Other requirements explained below depending on the type of volunteering.

Requirements to obtain entry visas to Bolivia for American citizens:

• Affidavit visa application (Attachment B) / Red background photo 4 x 4
• Passport with a validity of more than six months
• Hotel reservation or letter of invitation
• Photocopy of the round-trip airfare and / or a travel itinerary
• Economic solvency guaranteed by a credit card or any equal document
• Photocopy of Certificate International Yellow Fever vaccination.
• $ 135

To apply for an entry visa to Bolivia, present the visa application (Attachment B) properly filled out and presented at the airport for a visa and enter the country.

Volunteering with CLEM

A CLEM volunteer must be willing to give and receive. Volunteers must be eager to learn and partake in a new environment and culture, learn from situations, work to help improve the living standards of the community and Montero, be ready to develop ideas and programs to support those in need, and be open to all kinds of experiences with the people.
It requires certain qualities to work as a volunteer in CLEM like honesty and ability to work in groups or individually, flexibility, initiative, creativity, responsibility, kindness, interest and efforts in community development.

Rights and benefits

• Learn and live in a country in development
• Learn and practice another language.
• Receive guided tours
• Staying in the CLEM house with minimal cost.
• Use of the Internet at the health center and at home.

Responsibilities – obligations

• Buy and schedule your plane ticket.
• Have sufficient money to cover your costs and spending in the country: food, transportation, lodging, etc.
• Establish and maintain a friendly but professional and respectful relationship with staff members of the organization and the population that CLEM serves.
• Respect and be open to learn from the culture, knowledge and experience of other people.
• Share knowledge with the staff.
• All CLEM volunteers are representatives of CLEM in the communities; therefore their good behavior at all times is very important.

Responsibilities of CLEM

1. CLEM promises to accept volunteers if there is need for collaboration in their programs.
2. Send a letter of invitation.
3. Check the volunteer’s application and, according to their knowledge and experience, place the volunteer where needed so the experience is productive for both sides.
4. Provide a work plan and a person responsible for the scheduled activities prior to arrival.
5. Provide adequate physical space and equipment to develop the work.
6. Giving an induction about CLEM, the work areas, the facilities, home visits in the neighborhoods where CLEM works and around Montero.
7. Explain about the working procedures.
8. Evaluate the performance and behavior of the volunteer; if it is negative CLEM may terminate the services of the volunteer.
9. Accompany the volunteer to visit scheduled places.
10. Being responsible for the security, welfare and work of the volunteer while in Bolivia.
11. Give recognition to the volunteer for any product (photography, drawing, design, translations, etc.) provided during the internship.

Travel and length of stay

A CLEM volunteer arranges and covers the purchase of tickets, travel insurance (recommended), lodging, and transportation costs. In Bolivia, the volunteer coordinator will be responsible for the logistics of the trip, activities such as scheduling activities, hotel, local tickets, confirming local and international tickets, costs, site information, information area, tours, food, transportation, and assistance within the country.

The time in Bolivia volunteering with CLEM is according to availability:

• 1 week
• 2 weeks
• 1 month and more

We suggest a minimum stay of two weeks for those who are volunteers for the first time in order to get used to the environment.

When you arrive at the airport, there will be a person to bring you to Montero. In your first day, you will be introduced to the new environment, locations of work, your job, health personnel, and members of the organization.

As we have a subtropical weather, it is recommended you bring sun block, insect repellent, light clothing, swimming suit, raincoat, and some warm clothes.

Health

It is important to come with good health. CLEM does not provide insurance for their volunteers, so insurance should be covered for international travel and time of stay.

Helpful hints

The following medications are very useful and necessary in the event of illness in Bolivia:

• Medicines for Yellow Fever
• Antibiotic – Ciprofloxacin: Diarrhea or infections
• Medicines for cough, fever
• Anti-malarial medication

Travel
Every volunteer must cover transportation costs: airport taxes (US $25) and transportation while in Bolivia.

Currency and exchange rate

Exchange rate is about 7 Bolivianos to the Dollar

Bring new US$ dollars: $ 10 / $ 20 or Traveller’s Cheques

In addition, there are ATMs in the city, which work with American debit cards

Electricity

220 volts .

Lodging
CLEM has one bedroom with a bed, sheets, blankets, towels, and soap to be arranged for one/two or three volunteers(maximum) at the same time at minimum cost. This includes the use of the facilities.

Hotels in Montero: Montero has 2 clean and safe hotels with air conditioning and continental breakfast included. In cases of large groups, they can also prepare meals for $5 per person per meal.

Residential Pinocho: Calle Warnes # 288.

Single room: $ U.S. 16

Double room: $ U.S. 20

Triple room: $ U.S. 25

Hostal del Oriente:

Single room: $ U.S. 18

Double room: $ U.S. 21

Triple room: $ U.S. 26

Meals:

CLEM offers a healthy and delicious buffet for volunteers with a varied menu of three meals a day. This service is performed by the members of CLEM who prepare traditional and international dishes with healthy and clean local products from supermarkets and markets of Montero and Santa Cruz city. This includes natural tropical juices, homemade bread, homemade jellies, eggs, milk, tea, coffee, and variety of fruits of the season.

They also prepare vegetarian or lactose-free menus if required.

Cultural activities

For a complete experience of Montero and Bolivia, we program activities such as, city tours, hiking in the jungle, travel to pre-Incan ruins, visiting Jesuit missions, attendance to cultural events of the season, visits to craft fairs, markets, visiting the girls’ orphanage, and cultural nights. Volunteers are encouraged to spend a couple of days during their stay in the country to learn and enjoy the Bolivian land.

Funding

The CLEM clinic depends of external funding and local funding to perform and continue with its work, and other expenses. We do not have a fund to support the people in need, such as patients who do not have the resources to buy some medicines, special tests and consultations with specialists. This is why we encourage our volunteers in addition to contributing with their time and energy, to raise money to help our patients recover their health, construction projects, and community activities such as health fairs, educational materials, lectures, and other as annual census. The volunteers will be able to live and experience such activities where their funds are used to achieve a big difference in community. Example:

• Funds raised by Work teams are used to buy materials to build or renovate health facilities. Building materials are bought within the country to support the local economy.
• Funds raised by Medical teams help cover medical expenses for patients unable to pay for services or medicines. This includes follow-up care after volunteers have returned home.
• Participate in activities and/ with the community.
• Medicines and supplies brought by the volunteers are given directly to the patients and girls at the orphanage.