We are thrilled to announce the arrival of the two college graduates participating in this year’s Internship Program at our flagship home, Refugio de Esperanza (Haven of Hope Bolivia)! The graduates, Olivia and Naomi , arrived in Santa Cruz on August 21st. They were greeted with a warm welcome by the directors, Marco & Gladys, and the staff and children at the home. We would like to sincerely thank all the intern sponsors and donors who made this possible through your support.
Our Internship Program is open to college students and recent graduates majoring in Psychology, Social Work, and/or Education. Naomi and Olivia will have the chance to witness the power of our multidisciplinary approach to orphan care, creating an environment where children can truly thrive. By participating in our existing programs, they will provide invaluable attention to the children, while also supporting the dedicated and well-trained staff in Bolivia.
While Olivia and Naomi are recent graduates, students who participate in our Internship Program will receive credit towards their fields of study, as this is a fully accredited internship – providing real-world experience and increased knowledge of orphan care in an international setting. If you or someone you know is interested in participating or supporting our next Internship Program, please visit this page for more information.
Naomi earned a degree in Psychology and Olivia earned a Spanish degree with an interest in Education. Naomi’s participation in the program will advance her studies in Psychology by observing trauma-informed care based therapies for children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. She will participate in weekly professional team meetings and learn how the directors and staff are addressing difficult behaviors and meeting the complex needs of the children.
Olivia’s studies in the Spanish language and her interest in Education will be significantly enhanced by her participation in this program. She will help increase the staff-to-child ratio so more attention, tutoring, and love can be devoted to the children. Additionally, she will be utilized as extra hands to assist the teaching staff and support the existing programs.
Please check back in on our blog for more updates on Olivia and Naomi’s progress and the wonderful experiences they will be immersed in while assisting at Refugio de Esperanza in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. You can also follow their progress through our social media! Through this program and those of you who support it, we are creating meaningful, life-changing experiences for everyone involved – students, staff, and especially the children we serve!