Hello, and welcome to my JustGiving page!

So, what are you up to now Ruth?

In April 2014 I will be taking part in a three month volunteering placement in Bolivia as part of the International Citizen Service (ICS) programme.

For twelve-weeks, from April to June, I will be living in La Paz and working for the charity International Service.

Who are International Service?

International Service are an international development charity who have worked for 60 years to protect and promote the rights of the most marginalised people in Latin America, West Africa and the Middle East. 

Their goal is to support people to understand their rights and put them into action through long-term projects and initatives.This usually involves focusing on women, disabled people, children, young people and people living with HIV and AIDS, as well as others. 

Why Bolivia?

Ranked 117th out of 177 countries on the UN Development Programme's 2007-8 Human Development Index, Bolivia is the poorest country in Latin America. The country faces long-term development issues due to strain on resources, in particular education, healthcare and a lack of food for it's growing urban population.

There are over 1.3 million people living with disabilities in Bolivia, many of whom suffer from preventable diseases such as polio and German measles, with poor nutrition a major factor in this.

How much do you have to raise?

In order to participate on the programme I must reach my fundraising target of £800. I understand that you won't want to give up your money for nothing, so over the next few months I'll be taking part in various challenges and activities to earn your donation!

How do I donate? And is JustGiving safe?

You can stop me in the street, pop donations through the post or send cheques directly to International Service but by far the easiest way to donate is through this JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Where does the sponsorship money go?

My ICS placement is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and not the money you donate. Therefore, it must be noted that the money I raise will NOT go directly to funding my specific project (flights, accommodation etc) but instead will contribute to the continuation of the programme and allow the charity to enable as many young people as possible from the UK and overseas to volunteer on projects in the developing world and to fight poverty in the years to come.