Medical Humanitarian Internship

Sage Weaver

Volunteer Organization's Special Needs
Santa Cruz, Bloivia

I traveled to Santa Cruz, Bolivia in South America to work in an orphanage for children with special needs.  While there, I lived with a family with three young boys. Several other volunteers from America, Canada, and England also lived with the same family. 

The daily trip to the orphanage (where no one spoke English) was itself somewhat of an adventure.  Each day I took two buses and walked two kilometers to reach the orphanage which housed about 20 children.  All of the children had mental and physical disabilities and very few talked or produced any vocalizations.  At first I was rather frustrated because I wondered if I could ever meaningfully bond with the children, but as the days went on, my frustration turned to compassion and excitement.  I had felt prepared for the different language and distinctive culture, but I found myself unprepared for the emotions that this trip evoked.

I fell in love with each child for a different reason: Camilo and I took (and scrutinized) pictures with my digital camera for hours at a time; Christian stared into my mouth for as long as I would let him; Guillermo climbed on me as if I were a tree.  My email notes home shifted from stories about my home-stay family to more interesting stories about boys peeing on me, Maria smearing her poop all over a room, children with tics or OCD, and so much more.  Despite what most people would define as chaos within the setting, I found in the San Jose orphanage my niche.  Understanding that I truly love what some people might find gross and stressful made me realize that I want to change my career path so I can ultimately work with children who have special needs.

Although I miss 'my' Bolivian children immensely, I am grateful to them for opening their hearts to me triggering the opening of my heart as well.  They collectively helped me realize what I want to do with my life.  I will never forget them.