Description:
This is a Bolivian Non-Governmental Organization staffed by volunteers from around the world. It is Bolivia's only refuge for abused wild animals. In 1996, the organization founded a wildlife refuge . In 2002 Quest Overseas made it possible to purchase our own land on which to establish a new, much larger refuge between Trinidad and Santa Cruz. Animal numbers were growing beyond our capacity, and having our own land offers us the security we need to plan longer into the future. We desperately need volunteers to help with this enormous and exciting challenge. We are also working with indigenous communities, its several thousand young members, schools and colleges, the media and international organizations, to raise awareness of the cruelty of the wild animal trade and the need to protect the environment.
The organization was founded in 1992 and today has branches throughout Bolivia, and in North America, England, Switzerland and Israel, all founded and run by volunteers of the animal refuge.
Costs: The first 15 days volunteering cost USD 120 /160 (as foods included).
After the first 15 days costs are USD 6 - 8 per day (depending upon accommodation) . One site has an ATM and internet cafe in the town. The other park is in the middle of the jungle, nearest ATM is 5 hr bus ride, nearest internet cafe is 40 min. bus ride, nearest village is a 20 min. bus ride.
This project is part of Ecoteer - the solution to travel and volunteering on a shoestring.
Ecoteer is a unique volunteer opportunities agency - offering a directory of cheap volunteer work opportunities, volunteer jobs abroad and working holidays. Our volunteer opportunities are cheap because we have eliminated the middleman slashing the price to volunteer abroad for gap years, career breaks and working holidays. Ecoteer is leading the way in a new type of volunteer work opportunities abroad and is changing the volunteer and working holiday industry back to what it used to be benefiting both the volunteer and the volunteer project.
We have other opportunities in eco-tourism, conservation, humanitarian aid and teaching in other 50 countries.
To volunteer with Ecoteer you need to become an Ecoteer volunteer member which costs only GBP15 per year or GBP25 lifetime.
Visit our website to search more of our cheap volunteering opportunities.
Highlights:
The refugee houses over 1000 animals - monkeys, birds, tortoises, coatis, sloths and cats. All were illegally poached and kept in private homes, hotels and circuses, often in disgusting conditions. Volunteers come from all over the world to join our community. They rehabilitate the animals, work with visitors and help run the organization during the day, and enjoy the quiet jungle life with friends from all over the world, during the evenings. Every member of staff except the vets is a volunteer.
Everyone can volunteer, you don't need previous experience or a biology degree, all you need is a big heart and the will to work hard to save the animals.
Volunteers who want to come and help in taking care of the animals are required to stay for a minimum of 15 days. Volunteers, who wish to be responsible for a specific animal need further training and therefore are required to stay for a month (usually more for the cats). Most volunteers stay for longer periods of time and often return to the refuge for a second and third time. Please not that it is difficult for the owners of this project to get to read email and it may take some time to get to answer you. They recommended that you "just turn up but this cannot be recommended by Ecoteer.
Please note that it is difficult to regularly answer emails so please be patient. However we will will accept everybody who turns up to volunteer as long as you can stay for two weeks.
Qualifications / Skills Needed:
None
Languages:
English
and Spanish
Cost in US$: From 120 for 15 days
Cost Includes:
Food,
Housing,
In-country orientation/Training
and In-country staff support
Experience Required: no
Typical Volunteer Projects:
animal welfare,
biological research,
conservation,
environment,
grassroots organization,
research,
veterinary,
volunteer management,
volunteering
and wildlife surveying
This Program is open to
Worldwide
Participants.
This Program is also open to
Couples and Individuals.
Participants Travel to Bolivia
Independently
Typically Participants Work
in Groups of 5-15
Application Process Involves:
- Other
- Written Application
Typically The Application Process Time Is 3 weeks
Post Services Include:
Alumni Network
Job and Internship Network
Ecoteer's Mission Statement: To help locally run grass root organisations to achieve their aims via attracting paying volunteers and tourists. Plus we personally help develop and improve the projects we work with to help them to achieve their objectives.
Year Founded: 2005