Volunteer Sports Coaching in Bolivia

Project Summary: This project is aimed towards promoting sports and fitness amongst Bolivian youth. Most of the children that you will be working with come from an orphanage and lack sufficient support systems. The children are aged between 5 and 18. The sports project is a way for these children to become involved in healthy activities and stay away from the crime and drugs that plague certain neighborhoods in Santa Cruz.

Why the placement needs volunteers

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

Program Requirements

Volunteers on this project need to be energetic and be able to make sports exciting and fun for these children. You should also be in relatively good physical shape and be prepared to be physically active for a large part of your day. This is a perfect placement for individuals who love to be involved in sports and working with children.

Your role as a volunteer

As a volunteer you will be coaching sports teams, providing training, refereeing games and helping maintain the gym. There are a wide variety of sports you can become involved in such as football (soccer), basketball & aerobics amongst others. There are extracurricular activities attached to this project that involve teaching English, taking part in after school clubs and helping kids with their homework.

Program Schedule/Working hours and days

Volunteers assist in the Physical Education class in the mornings from 8:30am to 12:00pm and training in the gym during the evenings from 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Project dress code

Project dress code You should bring light clothes that allow you to move freely (i.e. track suits, t-shirts, running shoes etc...) when participating in this particular project. If you decide to particpate in the evening after school sessions and extra curricular activities, you will be expected to conform to the dress code of the school.

Suggested resources to be brought to project:

Any and all types of sports equipment can be donated to the project especially balls, nets, jersey's, shoes etc