Volunteer Work in Bolivia

9/07/10 -7/09/10

Being a part of Orkidstudio, for the two month project and the

fundraising efforts that preceded it, have included some of the

highlights of my life along side some of the most testing moments.

Fundraising proved to be very satisfying and fun throughout the second

half of my third year. It included some crazy schemes which I would

never have normally got involved in, but ultimately, provided an

endless supply of social events and gave me experiences which I’ll

never forget. However coupled with my continued lung problems it did

seriously affect my third year of university, which although advised to

defer, I decided to finish and subsequently have not fulfilled my

potential at this level. The regret I feel now I’m sure will be short lived

as I know in the future it will be the experiences that I remember not

the degree.

My time in Bolivia will be one of these memories that I’ll keep forever.

One of the most exciting experiences of my life to date. The culture,

people, environment and history was invigorating. And I soaked up as

much as I could in the moments between working on site as a

volunteer.

Working for Orkidstudio was also part of this experience described

above, however it also proved to be very testing, through which I learnt

allot and do not regret anything what so ever.

Below I have described what we were doing out there and included a

questionnaire which gives my opinions on the work we did and the

charity itself

Section 1- The Project

The aim of the project was to help the children and the community by constructing new facilities, including a workshop, canopy and

classrooms, for an organisation called The Alalay Foundation and teaching the children how to express themselves through art and creativity. The Alalay has 9 centres across Bolivia and seek to help

street children across the country.

The Children

Working for and with such a loving and fun bunch of children was an honour; they were the heart and soul of our time in Bolivia. It was

difficult to hear about what these children have been through but it enhanced the importance of what we were trying to achieve.

Section 2- Personal contribution

Where did you feel you contributed most to the project?

and why?

I think my main contributions were on and off site problem solving

(coming up with quick construction solutions and also rethinking future

plans) and trying to take up the slack of onsite Managment when times

got tough.

I kept good relations with the Bolivian workforce, who I was able to

instruct on site, and have since kept in contact with Rene, our most

trusted builder.

Where did you feel your contributions were less beneficial

towards the final outcome of the project and why?

The struggle with management, although necessary in the end to

change the build, was demoralising for everyone at the time.

What Skills do you feel you’ve acquired over the course of the

project? (Personal/ technical etc)

I have gained allot of construction process knowledge and also grown in

confidence at my own knowledge which seemed to be more extensive

than some others. Also I have witnessed how not to deal with people

and would like to think have learnt to manage people to a better

standard.

Section 3 – Management

How do you feel you were managed on a personal level? (Task

management, communication etc.)

Very poorly, embarrassingly so. The project leader was rude, insulting

and egotistic for a large part of the project, to all of the volunteers and

co founders. Only when we managed to break this down was the

project able to move forward. This lack of respect to the volunteers is

one of the funder mental problems that ran throughout and resulted in

an extensive overrunning of program. This culminated in a physical

attack on a volunteer which was pathetic and meant I personally lost

whatever stands of hope and respect I may have still had for this

person. And little remorse has been shown.

How do you feel the project was managed?

Materials not on site, workers standing around not working, wrong

tools, site not prepared before work started, no thought to

construction process meaning we had to work it out ourselves as we

went (wasted time), hugely underestimated construction period and no

deadlines met, terrible design which did not suit the climate, culture or

function of project, lack of involvement of children and volunteers at

early stage, Lies about the sustainability and durability of the design

(still being voiced as promotion now) eg...crates not recycled but

bespoke built, large volume of unnecessary concrete, longevity of

building, rare hardwood from Amazon forest used etc.

Decisions being made by volunteers as management were not around

(not professional practice)

Work ethos on site, no leaders meant efficiency was poor, and no

respect given to designers or management

Complete lack of technical drawings, obvious repercussions

Section 4 – Community

In what instances do you feel there was positive engagement

with the community of Alalay

Individually as volunteers, we engaged with the children throughout

the experience.

In terms of the build, there was a distinct lack of any meaningful

involvement of the local community, not due to a lack of desire from

the locals themselves but by the lack of opportunity.

This was to the extreme of even the children not being aware of what

was going on for the large part of the project.

For a charity which boasts its involvement with the community, this

was unforgivable.

In what instances do you feel there was a lack of (or negative)

engagement with the community of Alalay?

Promises not met, false hope. Giving the people so much less than they

deserve or than what could have been achieved in that time and with

that money. There was an opportunity to use the project to educate

the children, this was also ignored, even if health and safety didn’t

allow them to work, they could have been given site tours weekly or

daily to explain what had been done and the processes involved.

Section 5 – Design

What do you feel are the greatest assets of the design?

Original design- that it didn’t come to fruition

Revised design- just made the best of a bad situation, still little going

for it; hopefully the foundations can be used for years to come. Idea of

canopy good although it was designed terribly and very dangerous now.

And its greatest shortcomings?

Design of the whole building is for the wrong place and wrong reasons;

it does not work on any of its desired levels.

An interesting concept which if you scratch beneath the surface has no

grounding or thought backing it and its claims up.

The list is very long but is summed up in my answers above, mainly in

the Managment section.

Section 6 – Improvement

As a volunteer if you were to undertake a similar project in the

future, what are the key aspects you’d look for in the project?

The main point would be management; it is insulting to think that

orkidstudio would continue blindly without addressing this problem at

the core of the charity. So in the future I’d look at working for a well

organised charity which has defined its member’s roles clearly and its

internal structure runs as a business whose business plan can be

trusted.

I’d also inspect the charities goals closely and check them against the

proposed design. Also a more considered and structured involvement

with the community, especially children would be desired