Local Dog Shelter Assistant

location
4 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Brilliant 4.7  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Become even more passionate about dogs and their welbeing
  • Gain Spanish fluency by living with a host family
  • Learn the locals way
  • Make memories with new friends and co-workers
  • Visit Bolivia's finest places


Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples

About the program

Are you a dog lover and would you like to contribute? Volunteer at this dog shelter, the biggest in the area with 140 dogs.

This project arose after the floods in Bolivia in 2018, thanks to the initiative of people who saw many dogs being abandoned by their owners due to the disaster. Nowadays, also run away dogs or dogs that are rescued from the streets take residence at this shelter. Currently, they run a shelter for ...

About the program

This project arose after the floods in Bolivia in 2018, thanks to the initiative of people who saw many dogs being abandoned by their owners due to the disaster. Nowadays, also run away dogs or dogs that are rescued from the streets take residence at this shelter. Currently, they run a shelter for around 140 dogs, which makes it the largest dogshelter in the country. Sometimes a dog is getting adopted by a family where he/she can live happily ever after! We are always happy to see when a dog is adopted. 

A volunteer can help out by preparing the food and feeding the dogs, cleaning the areas, buying new toys, play with the dogs and also, when you are handy, help build new shelters for the dogs to sleep in!

Your direct co-workers are volunteers and social veterinarian workers.

Are you a dog lover, that likes physical work? Then please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Typical day

A typical day at the dog centre starts at 10 am with feeding the dogs.  After that it's time to do some dirty work (cleaning the fennels and the terrain). Then, it's time to play and get some exercise. Our dogs love to play and to be petted. And walking ofcours.

Hosting 140 dogs, naturally some ...

Typical day

A typical day at the dog centre starts at 10 am with feeding the dogs.  After that it's time to do some dirty work (cleaning the fennels and the terrain). Then, it's time to play and get some exercise. Our dogs love to play and to be petted. And walking ofcours.

Hosting 140 dogs, naturally some things have to be repaired or new fennels have to be build. A handy volunteer can add major value by fixing things! 

Depending on the desired work hours, volunteers are also involved in activities to raise funds. All ideas are more than welcome. 
Volunteers can either to choose to work a whole or a halve day. 


Free-time activities

In addition to volunteer and internship opportunities, there is a lot to see and do in Bolivia. If you are in for some action you can descend a zipline in the middle of the jungle, ride a bicycle down the steep Yungas road or sail a boat on Lake Titicaca. Are you looking for something more relaxing ...

Free-time activities

In addition to volunteer and internship opportunities, there is a lot to see and do in Bolivia. If you are in for some action you can descend a zipline in the middle of the jungle, ride a bicycle down the steep Yungas road or sail a boat on Lake Titicaca. Are you looking for something more relaxing or
cultural? You can submerge yourself in one of the country's many hot springs, take a break in the turquoise lagoon, admire the constructions of the Pre-Colombian Tiwanaku Empire or the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Education Requirements

no specific focus at High School level

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Experience with dogs; handy; hard worker

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Beyond South America

Our one-time mediation fee includes:

  • search and mediation for a suitable project
  • preparation via Skype calls
  • search and mediation for accommodation (host family and/or volunteer house)
  • airport pick up and city tour; SIM-card; donation to the project; support with visa
  • 24/7 contact to coordinator on site
  • emergency support and hospital transport;
  • evaluation of the project
  • transport to your project (one-time)

Note: We offer an upgrade package (comfort class) for volunteers that need more support. This package includes more contact time. We take you more often to your project/Spanish classes, we offer 'airport drop-off' and there is extra time to explore Cochabamba. Naturally, this upgrade comes with a small price increase. 

Which costs are not included? 

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Accommodation (we do offer accommodation in our volunteerhouse or host families for additional prices)
  • food/meals and daily needs
  • Spanish classes (possible)

We will send you detailed information about the costs of living you can expect in Bolivia.

Please note, that all the profit of Beyond South America goes to the foundation "Casa de la Alegría" providing therapeutic workshops for children and adolescence in social projects in and around Cochabamba/Bolivia

Airport Pickup at J Wilsterman Airport

Yes we provide airport pick up. 

If you chose the 'Comfort Class' package we also drop you off at the airport the day you leave. 

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Accommodation

Please arrange your own accommodation.

Food & Beverages

Food, snacks or beverages are at extra costs.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is J Wilsterman Airport (CBB) in Cochabamba. We assist you to find cheap flights to Bolivia. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Bolivia provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Bolivia you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Bolivia. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

There are no specific starting dates- a volunteer can start on request 



Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 750€
24 weeks (max. stay) 750€
Average fees 109€/week

Program fees

109€ per week 4 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 24 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Beyond South America during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Beyond South America

Brilliant 4.7 rating (6 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2013

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Laurie

About the project

We are a non-profit agency, offering handpicked and sustainable volunteerpositions in South America.

Meet your organization

About Beyond South America



Beyond South America is a small nonprofit agency in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It all started in 2012 with a few volunteer positions at "Casa de la Alegria", a foundation that provides therapeutic workshops to youth- and childcare projects in and around Cochabamba.

Everyone in our team has been a volunteer, traveled to a foreign country alone and knows how difficult it can be. We’ve met many volunteers who have had bad experiences, have been left alone in their projects, and lacked support. With that in mind, we decided to start organizing different volunteer opportunities, with hand picked projects, host families we know well, airport pickups, 24/7 support, and most importantly: We want to get to know our volunteers, so we can help them find not just any, but the right project for them.

Since then we’ve grown and have become the "ones to go to when in need" for stranded volunteers in Cochabamba. We’re still a small, familiar organization but by now have partnerships in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Guatemala, and are looking for enthusiastic, open-minded and skilled volunteers for a wide variety of positions in our handpicked projects.

As we have all lived our own lives of voluntary work all around the world, we understand the needs of volunteers, their concerns and wishes. We also care about our collaborating organizations, we offer only sustainable projects, that guarantee safety and on site support for our volunteers.

It may sound naïve, but we actually believe that volunteering can change the world for the better. Acts of solidarity, global learning and intercultural exchange break down borders that exist between cultures and in your own mind. Anyone who has ever worked in another country, who has given his time and energy to a good cause, knows that this can be an unforgettable experience, even a life changing moment. Your own impressions and the ones you leave in others, the learning experiences on both sides, bring the world closer together.


The feedback we receive from our volunteers and from our partners speaks for itself and shows that both sides benefit from volunteering. Many projects in Latin America need committed volunteers and helping hands to continue their important work. Motivated people, who work responsibly and in solidarity, also function as an impulse for the projects and their employees and prove that it makes sense to continue their work.


 

We try to combine the needs of projects and volunteers with our work and work towards finding the right project for volunteers and the right volunteer for the projects. Therefore, we want to get to know you, learn more about your background, your abilities, desires and fears, in order to propose suitable projects to you. Of course, we are also happy if you already have a project in mind and we gladly organize an unforgettable experience for you.

 

Currently we offer positions in projects working in the following fields:

  • Childcare

  • Education

  • Youth Development

  • Teaching

  • Community Work

  • Circus Arts

  • Healthcare

  • Environmental Education

  • Reforestation

  • Conservation

  • Animal Care

  • Urban Gardening


Check out our vacancies and please note, that ALL the profit of Beyond South America still goes to the Foundation "Casa de la Alegría" supporting and sustaining their work. So volunteering with Beyond South America means, you contribute directly to a good cause, bettering the lives of children in Bolivia.

So come with us to Beyond South America.

6 reviews · rating4.7

Thank you Beyond South America! I worked in two projects in Bolivia and had an amazing time there. At first they organized for me working 4 hours a day in a community center in the west of Cochabamba and everyone was super friendly and welcoming. My Spanish wasn’t so good at the beginning but my ...
Hey there, I worked as a volunteer for Casa de la Alegría in 2018. It’s a foundation in Cochabamba/Bolivia working with kids. They give workshops to kids in order to strengthen and support their social emotional development through games with therapeutic aspects using the Rock and Water ...
2017 I went for 3 month working in a day care center in Cochabamba. We were a couple of volunteers – mainly Bolivians – and organized Workshops, prepared Food for the kids, helped out with their homework and simply played with them. The kids got there after school and I worked every day about ...
Gloria Reinhardt rating4.6

2017 at Reforestation Assistant

I had a bad experience with volunteering in Albania once, where I had to quit my project after 3 weeks. So I was very careful when my boyfriend wanted to do voluntary work in South America. We thought it would be better to organize part of our trip with an agency. I was really surprised about the ...
Joris Vermeulen rating4.6

2017 at Caretaker in a Park for Rescued Animals

In 2016 me and my girl friend went to Bolivia to volunteer and learn Spanish. Beyond South America (BSA) provided the best help we could have wished for. From the first e-mail we sent till the day we left Bolivia, Laurie and Marije have helped us with everything we needed. They found us projects ...
Ria Willems rating4.8

2015 at Caretaker in a Park for Rescued Animals

I went to bolivia with beyond south america. There is a one time donation and for that price Laurie organises the whole stay in Bolivia. House, work, languageschool, and even a bridge club for me. She wecomes you at the airport and shows you around. You pay for what you want directly to the school ...

Location

Americas > South America > Bolivia > Cochabamba

You might also be interested in

Contact Laurie
  Excellent response rate

Most volunteers ask about


Do you have any more questions? Send a message to Laurie
Please don't share personal contact details for your privacy

Book with Flex Option!

Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs within 12 months.

Enjoy our services for dedicated volunteers!

Enjoy a Refund Guarantee, Free Flex Option, and Emergency Assistance. Our Price-Guarantee ensures unbeatable value, and our Support Team is ready to assist.