By Lucas Mackie

Back in 2016, I was fresh from university and keen to see some of the world. I decided to go on a trip to South America, a continent which had always fascinated me. With four months of traveling around Chile and Peru planned, I want to do some volunteering and stumbled upon the Sustainable Bolivia webpage. The variety of volunteer work available through 30 partner organisations, the community of volunteers in the SB house and the opportunity to explore Bolivia all made it an appealing place to come and I was soon linked with an organisation called Fundación SODIS.

SODIS are a non-profit NGO based in Cochabamba who run a number of different projects which improve access to safe water supplies for rural communities. The project I worked on was to grow a type of health food called Spirulina, distribute it as a means of battling malnutrition and also sell it to people in Cochabamba to obtain funding for the organisation. The project was still in its early stages when I arrived and I committed to six months of volunteering.

Spirulina is a type of algae that is green in colour, spiralled in shape and can be consumed both fresh and in its dried form. It has gained worldwide recognition due to its extremely high nutritional content: it is one of the richest sources of protein, vitamins and minerals nature has to offer.

It grows best in hot, tropical climates, needs relatively little investment or maintenance as it grows in bodies of water, and can be consumed both in its fresh form or as a powder. Additionally, it is a highly sustainable food source.

It has been sold on the health food market for decades and it is also used to treat a number of types of malnutrition such as protein deficiency, zinc deficiency, iron deficiency and vitamin A deficiency. After identifying that no one in Bolivia is producing Spirulina, SODIS decided to begin a project to cover both these areas.

At the end of October, I received a share of the $500 mini-grant fund available to volunteers who work at partner organisations of Sustainable Bolivia. After submitting a successful application, I was given $385 towards my project. The fund was required to obtain the algae, set up the project to begin production and then determine the best conditions for the Spirulina to grow in.

As Spirulina is not available in Bolivia, starter cultures needed to be purchased from a lab in the US. Ten samples were ordered to account for the risk of the cultures dying on the journey. 1ml culture vials were mixed with nutrients and fertilizer and after three weeks, eight of the ten turned a healthy green colour.

The fund was also used to purchase other materials to experiment with various conditions and determine which were the best for this particular project. The aim was to find a good balance of cost and productivity. The experiment was a chance to get well-practised at methods of growing Spirulina and observe how it behaves. Four tubs filled with Spirulina were set up in a makeshift greenhouse to limit their exposure to UV. They were connected to air pumps to keep them continuously agitated.

The experiment had two variables: the culture medium and the fertilizer. The culture medium is the liquid in which the Spirulina grows and is composed of water and nutrients. One of the mediums tested contained various chemicals, while the other had a more organic composition. The same was true of the two fertilizers.

To harvest Spirulina, it must be filtered through a cloth. It can then be consumed in its fresh state. However, after two days it is no longer edible so it is better to dry the fresh produce into a powder where it can keep for up to a year.

The mini-grant fund was also used to buy various materials for a dehydrator, which will be used to dry out the Spirulina. This included wood for a frame, shelves made of stretched cloth and a ventilator.

The project is currently at the stage where Spirulina is going to be grown in a 400L pond. A method for growing in this project has been established and experimentation is ongoing. The funds obtained from the mini-grant were vital to get the project started and it will soon be self-sustainable from the income it generates from sales.

The project was a great opportunity to develop new skills, experience working for an NGO and learn a new language. It was also great to be part of the Sustainable Bolivia community. There was never a dull moment in the house and I have made some lifelong friends. An experience I could not recommend enough!

Tebo

By Jaana Yli-Kauhaluoma

Who is Diego?

Diego Estebo, best known as Tebo, is an artist born in 1982 in Barcelona, Spain. He studied Graphic design in Vigo and illustration in Coruña in Galicia. After graduating he moved to Madrid where he worked in various part-time jobs such as digital press and conducting surveys. After two years he decided to open his own web and graphic design studio with two of his friends.

Still it was art that had always been his passion and illustrating was the way Tebo spent his free time outside his regular working hours. As an illustrator he also carried out many projects for instance for record companies, festivals and magazines. Having never been completely satisfied with his day jobs and feeling they were rather just for earning money he finally, after four years of working in his studio, decided to take a step forward following his dream to become a full-time illustrator. Unfortunately things did not go quite as planned and after two months he was offered a job as an online marketer and in order to make a living, he accepted the offer. Once again he was stuck in a job he felt was lacking creativity. However, Tebo seized his window of opportunity when he heard that the company he was working for was closing down.

“I started to plan other things, not just searching for another job. I did not want part of my creativity to be stuck in a job I didn’t like.”

Codes – beginning of a journey

Tebo made the change he had longed for and started working in an art residence, Alfara Studio in Salamanca, Spain. There he began an art project called “Codes” in order to create a portfolio to present when applying to other art residencies. The idea of the project was to go to different places in different countries and search for local things that caught his attention, for example writings, objects and places, and then create art inspired by the things he had found.

The first location his project took him to, was another small town in Spain where he found his inspiration in the landscapes. In his own words, he used “the language” of flags to create flag-like landscape inspired artwork with a printmaking technique. The first part of the project was born, carrying the name “Códigos_Encina de San Silvestre”.

“Códigos_Encina de San Silvestre”

Towards the unknown

The second part of the project ended up taking him a lot further, all the way to India to the Uttarayan Art Residence. In India he immediately paid attention to the writings of Hindi and Gujarati and the styles of the alphabets. What also caught his attention were the posters on the streets and the labels in local shops with their simple, humble, and easily identifiable style. In his artwork he wanted to combine these styles and details.

“We often ignore other cultures, travel too fast and miss a lot of small things. The idea behind my art may not be understood by others without explanations but it doesn’t matter. It is good that people can make their own assumptions and have their own feelings about the artwork. It is good not to give too much information for the viewer.”

He based his artwork on the writings of Hindi, which he combined with the style of the posters, and Gujarati, which was combined with the style of the labels seen in local shops. As a result there were two art series: an acrylic collage “A Quick View from a Tuk Tuk” and a silk print “Zoom in Gujarat”.

“Quick view from a Tuk Tuk”

“Zoom in Gujarat”

From the busy streets of India into the heart of South America

The second part of the project had come to an end, but the project itself was not yet finished. After recovering for two weeks back home in Spain it was time to leave again. The next art residency was offered by Sustainable Bolivia in the city of Cochabamba.

“Always when I go to a place I don’t know what I will be working with. In Bolivia the public buses and Micro’s caught my attention immediately. I wanted to start working on that and I soon realized it was a perfect idea. They are a local icon. If you see a Micro you know you are in Cochabamba. That is what I want from my artwork.“

Códigos_Cochabamba

Originally the whole Code project had served as an excuse to travel to different art residencies but soon it became an important part of Tebo and his work. The explicit theme of the project Codes allows him to know what to do and where to aim with his artwork.

“I like to make signals. If you are not from Cochabamba and don’t know what Micro’s are you might like the artwork or not. But the thing is that you don’t understand it if you have never seen the Micros or the other origins of my work. There is encrypted information in the artwork.”

In Cochabamba it has not only been about the Códigos_Cochabamba project. Working on a project requires a lot of energy. Tebo says, taking time to do something totally different makes it easier to concentrate and reenergizes you. In Cochabamba that meant working on an additional art project at the Universidad Mayor de San Simón Architecture faculty in the EDAV (Estudio de Artes Visuales) studio, creating a more inspirational learning space for the students.

Students of Universidad Mayor de San Simón enjoying the more colorful workspace

For Tebo the reason for choosing the locations of his art residencies has never been about where he wants to travel but rather where it is the best to practice his art. Bolivia was no exception. He searched for many residencies in South America however most were too expensive or otherwise unsuitable. Tebo chose the Sustainable Bolivia art residency because he had heard good reviews from his friend who had completed a residency with Sustainable Bolivia and Bolivia was also economically more attractive.

“I wrote an email to Sustainable Bolivia proposing my project and attached my CV. They said the project sounded interesting and told me I could start in October. It was perfect, as I was leaving India in September. I spent two weeks in Spain recovering from my travels and on the 28^th of September, I arrived in Bolivia. Staff kept in contact with me while I was in India. It was really nice to feel that I they were expecting me at the next residency.”

To date Tebo has spent a month in Cochabamba and feels comfortable in the city. Especially in comparison to the energy consuming cities of India, Cochabamba has felt really quiet and calm. He enjoys how people have a special kind of relationship with the city and how people interact with each other. The life on the streets is one of the city’s best features. There are people and vendors everywhere on the streets, for example you can just ask for a fresh orange juice and someone makes that for you, he mentions. The constant interaction between people has felt unique. Also the Cancha, a huge outdoor market, has stolen a part of his heart.

“I love and hate the Cancha. When I go there for a walk I might buy for example some cheap clothes but if I ever want to go back to the same place it is impossible. I have a really bad sense of direction. But in the Cancha I don’t mind getting lost. And I love that.”

Still, Tebo feels the Micro’s are the coolest thing in the city. Tebo’s wish is that if the Micros are ever replaced that at least their easily identifiable style should be maintained as it is a really important part of the city’s identity.

Micro – Cochabamba city

Living and working at Sustainable Bolivia main building has also felt enjoyable. Though it is a communal residence where there is always someone coming and going it has not felt overwhelming. Living in a place with people from many different countries has helped Tebo to improve his language skills and furthermore he has been able to offer assistance for those trying to learn Spanish. In addition he has enjoyed the opportunity to learn from different cultures.

“This kind of place gets you out of your routine. It is more dynamic here. People are really nice and staff and volunteers are always creating different activities which makes it easier to get to know other people.”

Tebo’s art residency in Cochabamba will end in December 2016, however the plan is to continue the project maybe for two more years:

“It would be nice to go to at least three more locations. Maybe another place in Europe. Also North America could be really interesting. I never planned to go to India or Bolivia even though I like to travel. This is traveling for my art. I have no idea what will happen next year which is exciting and scary at the same time.”

Tebo will complete the Codes_Cochabamba project with an exhibition held in the museum la Casona Santivañez on the 16^th of December. After that the future lies open. With an exceptional talent and an eye for details, only the sky is the limit for “Codes”. With so many places to explore in the world we cannot but eagerly wait to see what hidden beauty he will reveal to us in the future.

Are you passionate about art and working in an international environment? Find out more about Sustainable Bolivia Art Residency and how to apply at http://www.sustainablebolivia.org/art_residency.html and for any further questions please email information@sustainablebolivia.org.

 Marketing Intern – Elise Fjordbakk

By Elise Fjordbakk

When I first found out I was actually going to Cochabamba to work as a Marketing Intern at Sustainable Bolivia (SB) earlier this year, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But after four months of getting to work alongside great colleagues, making new friends from all over the world and travelling throughout Bolivia, I know for sure I would go back in a heartbeat.

As the Marketing and Social Media Intern for Sustainable Bolivia my main responsibilities included managing all social media platforms, writing and editing blogs on volunteer stories, partner organisations as well as cultural events in Cochabamba, and managing online job listings. My favourite thing about the internship was that I got the opportunity to tailor it to my interests; during my time in Cochabamba I also got to do a lot of photography and create several videos for SB and partner organisations. This meant travelling to several of the organisations, and also around Cochabamba to shoot, interview and get to know the network of grassroots organisations that SB works with and the people behind them, in addition to working in the Sustainable Bolivia office.

In my role I had a lot of freedom, which meant that I from day one had to take charge and organise myself effectively, but I always felt supported by the rest of the team at SB. Working at SB was to me an invaluable experience in a professional working environment, as I from the very beginning felt valued as a fully fledged staff member. Working alongside amazing staff members, drinking endless cups of coffee and cooking up some great lunches; after no time at all I felt that my colleagues were also my friends.

One of the main skills I took away from working at SB was the improvement in my Spanish. By translating job listings and participating in meetings I was able to use and improve my language skills quickly. I still remember how I nerviously stuttered my way through our first staff meetings, but after a while I was helping out with translation and really felt confident with my Spanish. Doing lessons with the SB Language School and being able to practice every day definitely made a huge difference.

Day hike – Pico Tunari

I didn’t just work, but also live, in SB’s main house and office for four months. Living where you work might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but living in an amazing environment of volunteers and like-minded people was a great experience. As any seasoned SB volunteer can tell you, Casa P is the hub of SB, with its kitchen and amazing garden being the scene of weekly shared dinners, language exchanges, workshops on everything from urban composting systems to Bolivian politics and cultural events on Bolivian traditions.

Weekend trip to Toro Toro National Park

Living in Cochabamba was great. The city in itself is neatly located in the middle of Bolivia, and it’s a great place to go travelling from. Together with other volunteers I ventured to Pico Tunari, Toro Toro national park, Sucre, the mines in Potosí and the renowned Salt Flats in Uyuni.

If you are interested in marketing, communications, photography or film, doing an internship with Sustainable Bolivia is a great way to develop your skills and get professional working experience, whilst also getting the opportunity to live in a new and exciting place, practice Spanish and meet people from different backgrounds.

The only regret I have is that I didn’t stay for longer.

- Are you seeking a unique opportunity to gain professional experience in an international environment supporting grassroots NGOs?  Sustainable Bolivia offers Marketing Internships for periods of 3 to 12 months. If you are interested in applying or would like to find out more, please email information@sustainablebolivia.org or complete an online application form -

Jesse Wilson in Tunas Pampas

by Jessie Maguire

Jesse Wilson spent a good portion of her time in Cochabamba fundraising, and you could too. I sat down with her to discuss her success and exactly how she did it! Here’s the Q and A.

Q: Tell me where you’re from, what you studied and why you chose to go to Bolivia initially.

A: I’m from Vermont, I studied Biology at university at Hobart and William Smith. I couldn’t get into healthcare afterwards, and I wanted to learn a second language. I knew someone who had worked with Sustainable Bolivia. Then after a few months in Cochabamba, I started working with Mano a Mano. So the main goal was to learn.

Q: What kind of NGO is Mano a Mano?

A: Mano a Mano Bolivia is a Bolivian NGO that creates clinics, roads and schools in rural parts of Bolivia. I got to see the opening of a couple of schools, clinics that were going to be rebuilt by Mano a Mano and a road opening. They also hold courses for the doctors that work at Mano a Mano clinics.

Local children from Tunas Pampas, where the school will be built

Q: Bolivian doctors?

A: Yes. While I was there, doctors from Minnesota taught a course on emergency care, but for the majority of the time, Bolivian doctors take care of the medical care.

Q: Did you decide to fundraise for them, or did they ask you?

A: I was working in the mornings at Vivir con Diabetes, a diabetes clinic, and I was looking for a second project. I contacted Alyssa Chase, who was volunteering for Mano a Mano, and she had just applied to Global Giving; a global crowdfunding platform connecting non-profits with companies. I joined Alyssa and initially worked on social media and advertising. Then when we hit traction, we both started organizing fundraising events in the US and Cochabamba for a school in Tunas Pampas.

The area where the school is situated was surveyed, and it is in an earthquake zone. The risk of an earthquake happening is super high; so it jumped to the front of their priority list. That’s also why they started a crowdfunding campaign instead of their usual means of fundraising.

Q: So you were fundraising for the school to be rebuilt.

A: Yes, there’s a school there now but it’s structurally unsound, so the Tunas Pampas Town Council contacted Mano a Mano to ask for support to build a new school.

The existing Tunas Pampas school

Q: Is it a primary school or secondary school?

A: It’s a primary and secondary school, supporting the community of Tunas Pampas. They’re going to leave the existing school and rebuild a completely new one. Alyssa Chase contacted an engineer who specializes in earthquake resistant construction.

Q: So you did the fundraising alongside Alyssa. But your area was social media.

A: Yes, we ran a crowdfunding campaign, which started with a two-week long goal, where we had to raise $5,000. That was all done by contacting old volunteers, doctors who had worked with Mano a Mano before; one of the doctors has a great relationship with a hospital in Minnesota. That was the first part, and it was really successful because of Mano a Mano’s strong relationships. Then we started to organize events.

Q: In the States and Bolivia, right?

A: Yeah, we organized a few at the same time. We did a pole dancing event in New York City, organized by a friend of Alyssa’s. And I have friends in Rutland, who organized an event at one of the local bars. They had local musicians play. My friends have a good relationship with the bar, so they arranged a sale and auction where Magic Hat, a beer company, donated $1 for every draft that was bought on that one night.

We also held four events in Bolivia at Parlana (a weekly language exchange social event held at various venues across the city), which was incredible. One at Pulse. We learned a lot from the events, and talked to a lot of people about what was happening. We sold about a thousand raffle tickets over the four events.

Q: How much were you able to raise in total?

A: At the Rutland event we raised about $1000, and now we’re going to do one in Boston. It hasn’t ended yet.

Q: Did you put a time limit on the fundraising campaign?

A: No, it’s open until we reach $25,000. We’re at $13,958. The fundraising is ongoing until we reach our goal.

Q: All of it will go to the school?

A: Yes, Mano a Mano will provide half of what is needed for the school to be built, and the local town council will then cover the other half. Once the money is raised, the school will be built over a period of around four months.

The building project includes the school – two new classrooms and bathrooms, and housing for the teachers. The teachers live at the school. It’s hard to find bi-lingual teachers that speak Spanish and Quechua, so the living accommodation is an incentive used to attract them. Those teachers will teach the children from a community of 500 people.

Q: Describe the process you went through with the fundraising.

A: There were so many stages, that I had never done before. The first thing I had to do was find a host for the events, then a bar to hold the event, then organize invitations for advertising. I had to write thank you cards to everyone involved. It took a lot of work, but it was awesome because I feel like people socialize anyway. It was nice to be able to mix that with something I believe in. I haven’t felt that purposeful in a while.

Q: Do you think it will help you get a job in the future?

A: I haven’t looked into that, but I started looking into a bar in Boston that uses its profits for social projects, so I’d like to see if I can work using activities that people do normally and use them to give back to my community. Community involvement is really important to me, whether it’s just information giving, social advertising, or whatever. I got a lot of feedback, and it made me realize how much social change is actually happening in Cochabamba and Rutland, where I’m from.

Q: So you enjoyed the process?

A: Yes, I felt like I was good at it. This is a hidden strength I didn’t know about. Once this fundraiser is done, I want to look for new ones.

Q: What attracted you to working in Bolivia specifically?

A: I didn’t know anything about Bolivia and I was really curious to see what it had in store for me. When you’re a volunteer, you’re not a tourist, so you’re able to learn. People don’t treat you like an outsider. People are welcoming and that’s so great.

Q: Did you have trouble with the language?

A: I didn’t speak any Spanish when I arrived, but the host family I was living with in Cochabamba definitely nurtured my language. I also improved loads by taking classes. You learn so much from having to work. That motivates you.

Q: What would you say to people who would like to follow in your footsteps?

A: It might seem like a lot of work, and a bit tedious, but it’s a great way to raise money and spread the cause of your organization. Be persistent, and talk to a lot of people. It can be really fun, the combination of going out and fundraising. I met a bunch of bands, local musicians in Cochabamba and the States, so if you’re interested in music and nightlife, it can work really well. It goes well with social enterprise. You can mix that with something you believe in.

I had such a positive response from people in the nightlife industry. Jody from Parlana was so responsive, Pulse were too. The musicians were so motivated to donate their time. That was nice.

Q: People are scared of getting rejected, right?

A: Yeah, they think they’ll try and organize something and it won’t be a success, that it’ll be embarrassing. You don’t lose money doing this kind of event if you organize it right. Everything went well for me and I’m so happy I did it.

Have you had a similar experience, or would you like to fundraise for your organization? If so, get in touch with Sustainable Bolivia about how you can contribute. Email us at information@sustainablebolivia.org!

You can still support Mano a Mano’s fundraiser here!

A fun game of tag at an Orphanage in Cochabamba.

by Logan Miller Pratico

One question that I frequently found myself being asked over the past 7 months is ‘what is your favorite part about Bolivia?’ Most people, looking for a straight answer, are quite surprised (and maybe somewhat irritated) when I respond with an answer that can take most of 10 minutes.

But the truth is that there is no simple answer to this question. After 7 months of travel in Bolivia I have seen so many great places, talked to so many amazing people and had so many incredible experiences that it is impossible for me to limit my experience to just one thing. During my time in Bolivia the people that I worked with ranged from children to medicinal plant healers. The places that I traveled to ranged from salt flats to jungles to mountains. Each experience was undoubtedly as incredible as the last.

Gabe Roberts, artist of the Gringo Pants (LP) shows off his artwork at a Sustainable Bolivia art exhibition.

After experiencing a different culture with my host-family, experiencing a different type of work at my volunteer placement, and making an unbelievable amount of new friends at the Sustainable Bolivia (SB) volunteer house. I can honestly say that I have had enough amazing experiences in the last 7 months to fill a life time.

During my time working with SB I was able to gain a plethora of new knowledge through each individual volunteer placement. While working with children in an orphanage I learned to be patient, to always keep a positive attitude, and more importantly to have fun. Each of these characteristics can be very easily forgotten, however through my placement I was able to learn just what it meant to be a kid again. Furthermore, while working at the Cochabamba Botanical Gardens and with a medicinal plant healer I was able to learn a lot about Bolivian culture through plant life. This taught me a lot about how plant life has shaped Bolivian and South American culture for centuries. Finally, while working as the Resident Coordinator for Sustainable Bolivia, I gained insight into the inner workings of an NGO and how they operate. This provided me with a unique perspective into what it takes to keep an NGO running smoothly. The work that I did was not only full filling at the end of a long day, but it also provided me with a deep insight about myself and about the world around me that I certainly would not have gotten anywhere else.

The Sustainable Bolivia crowd at Cochabamba’s famous Corso festival.

More so, between the Friday night Koas, the Coca leaf chewing, and the Chicha drinking. My trip to Bolivia has given me an in depth insight into a culture that I could never experience at home. From the afternoon cooking sessions with the Spanish teachers where I learned to make ‘Sopa de Mani’ (peanut soup), or the late night drum circles at Kasa Muyu. Bolivia’s deep culture has impacted me greatly throughout my time in Cochabamba. Due to the fact that I would never have had a chance to experience any of these opportunities back home, I felt that by learning about a different way of life I was able to learn so much more about my own.

In addition to my work placements and the culture I experienced, the people that I met while working at Sustainable Bolivia affected me in an amazing way with the new ideas including ways to experience new cultures, ways to live a sustainable lifestyle, and ways to look at life differently. In addition, the incredible kindness that they brought forth on a day to day basis was something that I had never experienced before in my life. I have never felt so accepted by so many people as I did during my time in Bolivia. The people that I met and the true friends that I made will always have a special place in my heart.

So after all of the weekend trips around the country, after all of the days spent working, after all of the late night talks on the couches in the back yard of SB. One thing is for sure, I will never forget my time in Bolivia.

The first Sustainable Bolivia Ping Pong tournament. Founder, Erik Taylor, took home the gold.

by Joey Taylor

You might have heard of the term “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR), also known as a corporate conscience, responsible business  or corporate citizenship. If not, the ethos of CSR is to deliver initiatives that benefit society and involves being responsible for the impact of the companies’ actions.

CSR is something I feel passionately about. I have worked in this industry for the last three years; managing corporate employees who, between them, gave thousands of hours to volunteer, and raisied over £1 million for charity. Of course, reasons that companies participate in CSR are not all selfless, and there are many sceptics of the concept.  However, companies do want to make a difference, and it is also a great way to engage staff and keep them happy, develop the professional and personal skills of their staff, make companies look better in the public eye, and ultimately CSR helps them do business. So it is a win win situation for both parties, if it is executed successfully.

If you think about it, this is not too different to international volunteering. Another area I have worked in for three years and feel passionately about, I have met and worked with many international volunteers. Of course all volunteers want to have a positive impact from their work, but volunteering is not solely altruistic. People volunteer to make themselves happy, to have new experiences, to develop their own skills and learn new ones, to make themselves look “good”, to help get ahead in the job market and improve their employability chances. Again, mutually beneficial.

Regardless of motivations, with both companies and international volunteers, there is always the potential to achieve a lot of good and make a real impact, if it is deliverd effectively.

There are many examples of corporate volunteers painting fences or building planters at charities but due their lack of painting or DIY skills, their achievements will then have to be completely re-done again by the organisation.  It cannot be expected that someone who sits behind a desk all day has “expert decorator or builder” on their CV. But companies have learnt from their mistakes of misdirected enthusiasm, and have moved away from somewhat tokenistic volunteering to something smarter.

Utilising the skills of volunteers is key. A strong understanding of volunteer’s skills is just as important as understanding community needs. For example, an IT expert can transform NGO’s computer and database systems, accountants can help charities understand their finances, marketing personell can help community groups be more effective with their communications. I organised countless numbers of charity strategic reviews with professionals, set up strong mentoring relationships between charity staff and corporate staff,  and helped organisations set up enterprise business programmes. This was hugely mutually beneficial for both organisations, the business and the staff.

Just as there are sceptics of Corporate Social Responsibility and corporate volunteering, there are sceptics of international volunteering. There are hundreds of examples of international volunteers that are more of a hindrance than a help, do a role or tasks they are not really qualified for, or that can feel useless. But just as corporate volunteering can be smart, this is where I think Sustainable Bolivia is a great example of doing international volunteering “right”.  Matching community need and volunteer skills is key to a successful volunteering placement, something that I think Sustainable Bolivia (SB) knows how to do and is in the heart of their organisation.

In my six weeks here, I have passed on my knowledge of volunteer management, fundraising and impact reporting, and and worked with the team at my placement (Bolivia Digna) to help improve their operations and staff’s skills.  Not to say my knowledge is perfect (far from it!) but this is what I know, what I do best and how  I can best contribute to an organisation who wants that support. My boyfriend, who used to coach football in the UK and US, ran a brilliant football programme with the children at Bolivia Digna, using his drills and football coaching skills and training the new volunteers on how to continue his successes. If you ask any SB volunteer, they all have great stories of their smart achievements.

You might think that this is common sense, and you are right, it is! But it is surprising how many companies, international volunteers and agencies can lack that. So before you volunteer, take a moment to stop and think about your motivations, and what skills and passions you can bring with you. A good match means the more rewarding your volunteer experience will be, and the greater the impact your placement will have on the community. Whether you are a corporate or an individual volunteer, we know that this is ultimately the most important outcome… there are just added benefits to both parties along the way.