Bolivia: Sports Coaching

Project Summary

This project is aimed towards promoting sports and fitness among Bolivian youth. Most of the children that you will be dealing with come from orphanages and lack sufficient support systems. The children are aged 5-18 years. The sports program is a way for these children to become involved in healthy activities and stay away from crime and drugs that plague certain neighbourhoods in Santa Cruz.

Volunteers are needed in order to organize games and get the children actively engaged in physical activities. These children are able to learn important life skills through competitive sports such as discipline, confidence and leadership and positive values such as tolerance, co-operation and respect. It also offers opportunities for play and self-expression, which is especially important for children who lack opportunities in their lives. You, as a volunteer, can integrate and teach these values and skills through demonstrating your passion for sports.

At a Glance

Minimum Program Length:	2 weeks
Start Date:	Every Monday
Arrival Date:	2 days prior to your Start Date (Saturday)
Minimum Age:	18 years old
Volunteer Gender:	Male and Female
Accommodation:	Your accommodation is included in the program price. Volunteers will be staying with homestay families in rural communities throughout the central valley region. Our homestays offer single or shared rooms and three meals a day provided by your host family. Volunteer Visions feels that this is the best way to become familiar with Bolivian culture and practice your Spanish. All homestays are located in safe areas and are within short distances of your project locations. If you prefer to have your own accommodation, we can gladly arrange other types of accommodations (apartments, hostels, hotels etc.). Please inquire about alternative accommodations in advance to get pricing.
Food:	Three meals a day are included in the program fee.
Pick-up Info:	You will be greeted at the Santa Cruz airport and guided to your homestay family by a Volunteer Visions representative. A volunteer coordinator will also take you to your project location the first day so that you become familiarized with the route to your destination. The coordinator will also introduce you to the staff of the project so to ensure that you are properly placed in the program.
Project Schedule:	Volunteers can assist in the PE class in the mornings from 8:30am to 12:00pm and train in the gym during the evenings from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Project Closed Dates and Holidays :: January 1st (New years) :: May 1st (Labor day) :: August 6th (Bolivia's Independence day) :: September 24th (Santa Cruz´s Anniversary) :: December 24-25th (Christmas)

Your role as a Volunteer

You will have the chance to coach sports teams, provide training, referee games and help maintain the gym. There are a wide variety of sports you can become involved in such as, football (soccer), basketball, aerobics, etc. . . There are also extracurricular activities available that involve teaching English and helping with homework.

Project Location

The city of Santa Cruz, commonly referred to as the 'tropical paradise of Bolivia', has a population of nearly 1.3 million. It is located in the eastern part of the country. Situated 416 m above sea level, the climate is generally warm and temperate. It is also the economic heart of the country, but has avoided over-development and has managed to maintain its colonial architecture and old-world charm. The easy-going atmosphere, friendliness of the locals and the palm tree lined streets lend to its warm and welcoming feel.

Local Activities & Excursions

Santa Cruz offers a wide range of attractions and activities. A guided tour of the city is included in your program fee. This tour will allow you to become familiar with the layout of the city and give you chance to see some of the major attractions in Santa Cruz. During your spare time, you can visit one of the many beautiful cathedrals, museums, lagoons and parks that dot the city. There are also several opportunities to explore the pre-Incan ruins, 18th century Jesuit missionaries and pristine forest area that surround the city. You may also decide to go swimming, visit the theatres, learn Bolivian cooking, join a local football (soccer) team or even enroll in a Latin dance class.

Suggested Skills and Interests

Volunteers involved in the sports programs in Santa Cruz need to have energy and be able to make sports exciting and fun for these children. You should also be in good physical shape and be prepared to be physically active for a large part of your day.

Suggested Language Level

Supplementary Spanish language classes are offered at the local language school for volunteers interested in practicing and learning Spanish. The classes are run by certified ESL teachers and the groups are no typically no larger than 8 students.

Although these classes are not mandatory, we suggest that you take these classes if you have little or no background in Spanish. Classes start at $500 for 2 weeks with additional weeks available for $210. Classes are held three hours a day from Monday to Friday and accommodation and 3 meals a day are included in the program fee.