Frequently Asked Questions on Travel to Teach Bolivia

We are not currently sending volunteers to programs in Bolivia. We have decided to concentrate our efforts on our programs in Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador and Mexico.

Why should people pay to do volunteer work?
As we state throughout this web site, we are altogether independent and hence have no external funding. Our purpose is to enable people to have this kind of experience without paying a fortune.

Travel to Teach volunteering is conceived as something between traveling and volunteer work, leaving a lot of time for activities and traveling while the volunteer comes in contact with and contributes to society by working.

Why are you so much cheaper than all the others?
The mission of Travel to Teach is to provide valuable work opportunities and chances to come into contact with the host nation's true culture, all at a cost that can be overcome by most people.

We are an international agency but our head quarters are based in Thailand and thus do not have western "overhead costs". We are cheaper than most agencies, but in any way that we can think of, we believe that we have very good arrangements in place and offer a very personal approach.

What is the average length of a Travel to Teach volunteer stay?
Normally around three months but can be as short as 2 weeks or as long as 6-12 months.

What is the average age and nationality of a Travel to Teach volunteer in Bolivia?
50% of volunteers are between the ages of 21 – 25. Most of our volunteers are from UK, Ireland, Scotland, USA, and Australia.

Do I need special skills?
Not usually. Good communication skills and a sense of humour are more important than formal qualifications.

How much notice do I need to give for one of your projects?
Once you have been selected things can move fast if that's what you want. However, most people apply around 3 - 6 months before they go; some even apply a year ahead!

Can I work on more than one project during my time abroad?
This is becoming an attractive option and volunteers frequently consider adding two or even three different projects. With our combination stay it is also possible to combine two or three different countries allowing you to experience a diversity of programmes.

How come I have to pay a contribution as well as volunteering my time?
This contribution (which is less than many other organisations) helps fund our programme costs, including some development work abroad. It covers the costs of our Project coordinators and staff, admin costs. Our aim is to be sustainable and professional and we cannot do this without the volunteer contribution.

Do I have to book my plane tickets myself?
Yes, you do. Everyone has different plans and we aim to be as flexible as possible.

Do I have to deal with the visa myself?
Currently, citizens of Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Israel, Paraguay, Switzerland, Uruguay, Scandinavian countries (including Finland and Iceland), the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Italy, Portugal, Spain and USA (except residents from Puerto Rico) do not require visas for stays of up to 90 days.

What does a placement mean?
Basically it means the time that you are working in Bolivia. Most of our projects are based in urban areas

Can I stay longer once I am there?
It depends on the programme but this is usually possible.

Is there any training involved?

You will have an induction period on arrival to help you understand the country and the culture. We provide Briefing notes in advance on the projects, health, what to wear, travel, finance etc. and to make your travel easier a Spanish program on your arrival.

What is the usual "working day"?
About 3 - 5 hours a day, depending of your project and of the amount of work available at that season. However, volunteers working in orphanages will need to be more flexible.

Clothing?
Clothing is somewhat conservative, but not overly so. For your volunteer placement, a t-shirt and pants or jeans are just fine. Shorts should not be tight or extremely short for women. Teachers should not wear shorts in the classroom. Santa Cruz has a sunny and semi-tropical weather, with an average temperature of 70F in winter and as high as 90F in summer months. During winter, rainfall occurs in short downpours, but on summer a single deluge can last for days. Santa Cruz also experiences heavy and chilly winds called surazos that blow in from the Argentine pampas.

Security and Health Issues

Am I likely to get ill abroad and what happens if I do?
Not if you take sensible precautions and follow the advice we provide on how to avoid obvious problems (eating uncooked food or drinking water from unknown sources, for example). There are reasonable medical facilities in all the places we work and very few of our volunteers have had any medical problems. However if you do have any problems you are advised to contact our local coordinator and they will assist you in any way they can.

Do you provide travel insurance?
No you need to get your own insurance

Can I get a room for myself?
All of our Bolivian projects are homestays, in each home stay you will get your own private bedroom and you will share a bathroom, kitchen and living area. At the homestay you will also be provided with three meals per day. If you are traveling with a friend/ partner we will endeavor to place you together although it is likely that you will have to share a room.