Volunteering on a Music Project in Bolivia

Volunteering on a Music Project in Bolivia

As a volunteer on a Music project in Bolivia you will work alongside a trained music teacher in an orphanage for children who have come from very difficult backgrounds. Music helps the children learn new skills, discover their musical abilities and often acts as a form of therapy.

Bolivia is well known for its rich musical culture, so if you have a love for music or play an instrument then this project would be ideal for you. Whether you are on a gap year or career break you can share your musical knowledge and learn about music abroad.

Teaching Music with Projects Abroad

The Music project is based in the town of Cochabamba, Projects Abroad’s main base in Bolivia. The project was founded by Projects Abroad and works with the Ciudadela SEDGES orphanage.

The orphanage provides a home for children from newborns right up to the age of 18. The staff at the orphanage try their utmost to fulfil the basic needs of these children however as with any child extra curricular activities are vital for their personal development.

The music project has been designed to focus on 3 major objectives:

• Appreciation and awareness - Bolivian folk music has helped to form the culture and history of this country. It is important that children carry on this tradition and learn more about the unique country they live in.
• Learning - it is important for the children to discover and develop their musical abilities.
• Therapy - many of the children have had terrible experiences and come from difficult backgrounds, due to this they can become frustrated and depressed which can develop into behavioural problems in the future. Music often allows these children to replace negative thinking with a more positive attitude. By learning a new skill they gain self confidence and build their self esteem.

The orphanage has a wide range of both traditional Bolivian musical instruments (panpipes, bamboo flutes, rainsticks) and more familiar instruments which are used throughout the world (drums, tambourines, guitars). These will be available for you to use with the children.

Volunteers will be working under the guidance of a professional music teacher however you will be encouraged to come up with new ideas and musical workshops for the children. The children will be split into smaller groups depending on their age and musical abilities. This will allow you as a volunteer to form a closer relationship with each child and focus on helping the children not only develop their musical potential but most importantly enjoy themselves and have fun!

This is an enjoyable and worthwhile placement. Bring energy, creativity and an open mind and you will learn vast amounts and your help will be greatly appreciated.

You can join the Music Project in Bolivia for just two weeks if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the placement and you, the volunteer; however, please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period.