Where is the College located?
The UAC-CP is located in the small community of Carmen Pampa (about 40 families) in the Nor Yungas mountains. The nearest large town (for groceries, restaurants, hotels, mail, transport to La Paz, etc.) is Coroico, located about 8 miles away. Transportation between Carmen Pampa and Coroico is slow and often stressful in crowded mini-vans that travel infrequently and without a regular schedule.  Bolivia’s capital city of La Paz is located approximately 3 hours from Coroico via public transportation.

Will I receive any type of pay?
In exchange for a full semester of work, all professional visitors who teach English receive free housing accommodations and food. Others are asked to make a monthly contribution of $50 to help cover the cost of food and housing.

Do I have to pay any type of fee?
No.

What costs am I expected to pay?
The most significant costs associated with living and working in Bolivia include: airfare (a proximately $1,000 US round-trip to the United States); health insurance (approximately $500 US for six months); visa application and residency fees (approximately $400 US for one year); and general living expenses (this cost varies according to each person, but could be budgeted for $100 US per month).

What is the time commitment?
It is a genuine sacrifice for people to interrupt their jobs and join us in Bolivia — sometimes at considerable financial expense to themselves. Most professional visitors desire to experience a fascinating culture and at the same time contribute in some way to help the poor. For both reasons it is advantageous to live here for at least one year in order to acclimate to the language and culture and to discover in what ways you can make the best contribution to fulfill the mission of the College. That said, we understand that this amount of time is not always possible. Ultimately, time commitments depend on the job position (please review our job positions).

People who are teaching should arrive about 10 days before classes begin and are expected to stay for the duration of at least one full semester.  It is important to note that the College’s academic year schedule is different than the typical northern hemisphere school calendar.  The first semester of the UAC-CP’s academic year begins on the first Tuesday in February and runs through the end of June. The second semester begins the last Tuesday of July and ends in mid-December. 

What types of employment opportunities exist?
Primary employment opportunities are posted and updated regularly on Carmen Pampa Fund’s website. Please download them to learn about each unique position.  Think about your skills and interests and formulate an idea of what you’d like to do here. Be aware that sharing your ideas will only be one part of your contribution. Another part will be learning, working, and sweating alongside Bolivians to discover solutions together.

Where will I live?
Most visiting professionals live in the Guest House. Living together in the house, people agree to share household tasks, taking equal turns cooking, shopping, and cleaning. We are committed to supporting each other in our work and social lives. Our lifestyle is simple, but healthy. Fruits and vegetables are plentiful in Bolivia and some meats are available.  At least one common meal is shared together each day as a community.

The house is a somewhat rustic but historic adobe hacienda which is fitted with indoor plumbing and screens. Typically, each person has his/her own room with simple accommodations.

Though the Guest House has many more accommodations than the average Bolivian home in the area, it is important to note that common amenities found in he U.S. are not available in Carmen Pampa. For example: water must be boiled before drinking, hot water is only available in the showers (electric shower heads), water flow occasionally stops completely or becomes cloudy with clay and must be filtered, power shortages and surges on occasion, and laundry is washed by hand and dried in the sun. The house does have direct cable Internet, but it is often interrupted and not 100% reliable.

The Guest House welcomes married couples who are willing to put up with the lack of privacy. For couples and families it is possible to rent a tiny, very primitive house near campus or something more substantial in Coroico. For a variety of reasons, the Guest House is not an optimal situation for a couple exploring a temporary relationship. They, too, are invited to find living arrangements nearby.

People who are seeking a more intense immersion into the Bolivian/Aymara culture and the Spanish language can opt to live with UAC-CP students in the dormitories and eat in one of the three food cooperatives. This is probably the best way for a person to experience the culture in a short time and gain the esteem and friendship of Bolivian peers. Living in the UAC-CP dormitories is a difficult lifestyle with its barracks-style dormitories, common bathroom/cold showers, and limited Bolivian cuisine. However, the welcome sign is always hanging at the Guest House should you need a respite or feel sick.

Do I need a visa?
The Bolivian government requires that all U.S. citizens have a visa for entry to the country. For short-term visitors, a tourist visa (approximately $135 US), which can be obtained at the airport in La Paz upon arrival, allows for a 90-day stay in the country. People who stay for longer periods of time should consider getting a visa objeto determinado (approximately $85 US) and beginning the process of obtaining temporary residency. More information about the visa process can be found in the pre-arrival handbook available for download. Please note that all costs associated with visa application and Bolivian residency are the responsibility of each person.

For additional information, please contact Hye-Jung Park at hjparkcorea@yahoo.com.