GoEco - Bolivian Orphanage Volunteer Project

Established in 1996, the Orphanage is a non-profit organization that provides a community service in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. All of its government funds and donations go to benefit orphaned and abandoned children in Bolivia. Their mission is to provide support for the development of orphans and neglected children. The orphanage operates "villages" that offer a secure, lasting, and protected upbringing with a suitable education to facilitate future employment and self sufficiency.

The children's villages consist of individual family units, each lodging a mixed gender group of 10-12 children of various ages. Each house is managed independently by a foster mother. Each unit provides the environment of a traditional family with a mother and siblings, and related siblings are kept together. The children that grow up in these villages are raised and taught in school based on strong moral and religious principles.

Once the children have reached age 15-16 and completed middle school, they live in divided boys' and girls' residences. Most of them will go on to study a technical or professional career, and a few will even continue to higher education at the University. Each child makes their own career decision based their individual talents and intellect.