Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding, and potentially life changing experience. At CEDESOL, we have a small team working on large social problems. This means that you can make a real difference during your time with us. CEDESOL has benefited from volunteers from all over the world, including the USA, the UK, France, Canada, Australia, China, Korea and Bolivia.

In most cases volunteers choose their own personal project to work on and complete during their time with us, according to the abilities and interests of the volunteer and the needs of CEDESOL. Volunteers should be ready to lend a hand to other staff as needed whether it be reviewing a project budget or scrubbing a stove clean after a demonstration.

Examples of volunteer projects:

In the past our volunteers have constructed solar cookers in our workshops, written grant applications, worked on the industrialization process of rocket stoves, created newsletters, developed our website, edited television advertisements, assisted with cooker demonstrations and trainings, collected data on fuel savings, and evaluated the impact of stoves.

Volunteer requirements:

•    self-starters who work well without supervision
•    able to communicate in at least basic Spanish
•    highly organized
•    interested and/or have experience in our field of work
•    committed to the aims of CEDESOL
•    computer literate
•    good team-players
•    able to commit for at least two months

For more information or to discuss a project idea, please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

To learn about the experiences of a few of our past volunteers, see our Volunteer Profiles.

Costs:

CEDESOL believes that it is important to keep any costs associated with volunteering as low as possible. We can arrange accommodation in home stays with carefully selected local families, Spanish classes, airport pick up and a local orientation. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for a breakdown of costs.

There are many cultural activities and adventure trips easily accessible from Cochabamba and we recommend that volunteers consider this when planning their budget. Amongst other places of interest, it is possible to visit the Bolivian Amazon, the Salar de Uyuni (the spectacular Bolivian salt flats), Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu in Peru, and many national parks and cities. CEDESOL can help arrange these activities.

If you are unable to come visit us, there are still many ways to make an impact from your own home.  Help spread the word about the dangers of indoor air pollution, raise money to help subsidize the cost of a solar cooker for a Bolivian family in need, reduce your own carbon footprint.  See our What you can do link for more ideas on how to make a difference.