Towards the end of my sophomore year, I was fortunate to be accepted to volunteer at a children's home in Bolivia.  The opportunity was made possible through the AIESEC Miami chapter at FIU. AIESEC is the largest student led nonprofit organization with internships in over 126 countries & territories.

On May 18th, 2014, I left to Santa Cruz, Bolivia for ten weeks. There, I lived with and mentored children at the foster home/ orphanage Hogar del Ninos Madre Francisca Casci.

My overall experience was definitely a positive one. I met so many amazing people, tried new delicious foods, and travelled to unique places. However, when I look back at my personal journal I remember how challenging it was as well. 

When I first arrived in Bolivia I was constantly put out of my comfort zone. I stuttered to throw together the few Spanish words I knew in order to communicate. I was asked to introduce myself in Spanish on my first day at the orphanage which was a task I could barely accomplish at the time. The kids just smiled and stared at me. I felt isolation due to my limited ability to converse. Less than two weeks after arriving in Bolivia I was again asked to give a formal power-point presentation about myself, in front of 20+ college students IN SPANISH! The presentation is a requirement for all AIESEC participants. I've never been someone to be nervous for presentations, but that one was definitely nerve-wrecking! In the end, all went well, nevermind the numerous grammatical errors. People appreciated that I tired.

Much later on, during my sixth week in Bolivia other English speaking volunteers arrived. By that point I had already gained immensely in my Spanish conversational skills. Despite the language difficulties, I was amazed to learn first-hand how much can be expressed through non-verbal communication. I felt close to the children, and we enjoyed spending time together despite our lack of deep conversation. I think my limited-Spanish allowed me to converse at a more child-like level rather than an authoritative level. I believe the kids appreciated that. Their graciousness and understanding really encouraged me. I also now have more compassion for people I meet that are learning and struggling to speak English.

Apart from the above experiences, I loved working with the kids.  So many of them were kind and sweet despite their circumstances. For example, the children would randomly come up to me and give me a hug or ask to hang out. At the same time, I worked with kids who were less affectionate. There were two boys whom I tutored that evidently had concentration issues, perhaps ADHD. Daily I was motivated to find new ways of explaining math and English concepts to keep their interest in learing. Volunteering in Bolivia also meant appreciating the simple things in life. Hand-washing and hanging out my laundry as a group was daily routine. The young girls ability to independently carry out domestic duties like cleaning, and cooking was impressive. In hindsight such moments alowed me to slow down, remain humble and build character.

It's not easy to summarize my mentorship experience, except that it was one of great learning on both sides. I gave a lot of myself, but I feel like I received so much more. Bolivians and AIESECers are extremely hospitable. As I write this almost two years later, my Bolivian summer remains to be one of the most impactful and unforgettable times of my life.

Highlights of my Summer in Bolivia: 

 - learned to speak basic conversational Spanish

- tutored elementary students in math (division, multiplication, etc)

- tutored all kids, ages 6 - 18 years, in English language, grammar and pronunciation

- organized fun events such as group games for boys and girls

- assisted caretakers with preparing kids for school in the morning

- helped with meal preparation and cleaning

- supervised cleaning, homework, etc

- escorted children to the park on numerous occasions

- organized and participated in activities with the kids (companionship)

- listened to and encouraged discussion about the Bolivian culture

- spent 1 week backpacking around the country with the other international volunteers

The video below was created by the other volunteers. It was a farewell gift for me when I left Boliva: