ICYE Bolivia aims to recruit larger numbers of volunteers for the ICYE long and short-term programmes by emphasising the benefit of non-formal learning and intercultural exchange. ICYE Bolivia’s main strategy for this is to enhance the organisation’s visibility, promote the value of volunteering, non-formal learning and intercultural exchange.

The ICYE Bolivia team will collect videos and photographs from volunteers to make a promotional video that will be published on different social media platforms. What’s more, in information sessions at schools, universities and other educational institutions, and through games and interactive exercises supported by international volunteers, ICYE Bolivia will raise awareness of volunteering, non-formal learning and intercultural exchange.

Events/activities:

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Stronger Communication

Since the start of the year, ICYE Bolivia has been working on developing stronger communication with young people and the general public through their social media platforms. For this, there have produced more promotional material and are working on videos by and with their volunteers.

Photo from Mid Term Seminar on 15th- 18th of February in Sucre: Volunteers discuss how to improve volunteering promotion and emphasise the benefits of volunteering

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Info-sessions in schools

ICYE Bolivia has held Info-sessions in several schools in La Paz and Santa Cruz:

• Santa Teresa High School: 08.04.2017
• Amoretti High School: 10.05.2017
• San Ignacio High School: 19.06.2017
• Dios es amor High School: 22.05.2017

The sessions began with an introduction and a role play, in which students took on roles in a “foreign culture” in order to get them to interact with each other for a better understanding of culture. After the simulation exercise, a current volunteer presented his/her experiences volunteering in the country, the difficulties faced, how they were resolved, what was learnt, and the benefits of volunteering and an exchange year for young people. The Info-session ended with a presentation of the volunteering programme and how young people could enrol to become volunteers.

Photo from info session at Bolivian school

With more than 300 young people attended and more than 180 email ids collected, the info-sessions have showed great results. ICYE Bolivia has planned more presentations to reach larger numbers of potential volunteers.

Photo from info session at Bolivian school

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Promotional videos

With the help of 20 international volunteers and 10 returnees in the cities of La Paz, Santa Cruz and Sucre, ICYE Bolivia has created 3 promotional videos on the benefits of volunteering and inviting young people to participate in the programme. During the month of March, the volunteers and returnees met and helped make the videos they had discussed during their mid-term camp.

The videos have featured on Facebook and shared on other social media platforms, achieving  more than 5600 views and over 100 likes. As a result, the organisation has already received 24 inquiries about volunteering.

More information about ICYE Bolivia’s activities can be found in their Facebook.