Currently Recruiting for Primary, Preventative, Surgical and Dental Care Participants
Overview
1 in 4 Bolivians live on the “hunger fringe” (www.FAO.org). The economy in Bolivia continues to undergo transitions as the country desperately searches for a more self-sustaining system that will release it from its almost complete dependence on traditional global trade models.
After receiving care herself, a young nun was so impressed with our work in Peru that she advocated that we should have a presence in Bolivia. In 2003, MMI sent the first project team to this country.
In 2005 MMI launched MMI Bolivia under the direction of Francis Perez, an MMI project leader, grew up in a small Dominican Republic village annually visited by our project teams. Francis saw the work of MMI and wanted to help serve as a translator the next time the group would visit his village. He began to teach himself English in preparation for the team’s return the next year—and the rest is history!!
Francis still serves as Director for this region and this program has experienced dramatic growth in the recent years. We would encourage you to go on any project with this great group of people!!!
Location
Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Land boundaries
total: 6,940 km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,423 km, Chile 860 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 1,075 km
Climate
Hot and humid; average temperature in January is 72° – 86° F; rainy season is in the summer (November to April)
Terrain
rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
Language:
Spanish; Quechua dialects
Airport:
Santa Cruz (VVI)
Visas:
US citizens need a Tourist Visa to enter Bolivia, which will cost $135.00 (see www.traveldocs.com for more information); US Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of arrival.
Project Location:
This Project is a return to San Juan, a rural area 2 hrs north east of Santa Cruz in the department of Santa Cruz. We will be serving the Indians and mestizos who work for the Japanese at their farms. MMI will work in partnership with the municipality. The growth we have experimented in San Juan since our very first Project is great.
Immunizations:
Yellow Fever vaccination is required to enter Bolivia. Please check with a travel medicine physician/clinic, local health department, or Center for Disease Control (CDC) for other recommendations.
Accommodations:
very basic hotel or retreat center with shared bathrooms
Clinic:
medical and dental clinics will be set up in various rual areas outside of San Juan.
Surgeries:
held at the local hospital in San Juan
