Tom and Julie Dalechek

TomAndJulieD@project-helping-hands.org

The team will arrive at El Alto International Airport at 13,313 feet above sea level and immediately descend over “Death Road” to the House of Hope Orphanage in Caranavi at 2,000 feet above sea level. After working in the orphanage, we will travel north through Guanay and Mapiri to Apolo, ferrying our SUVs across rivers on dug-out canoes, serving very remote villages along the way with medical and dental help and education.  From Apolo we will head back south to La Paz following another route which will take us through Charazani, well known as the home of Andean medicine men.

• Amount of in-country travel:  Extensive.  Expect rugged conditions and vicissitudes … the “price” of serving very remote and needy rural communities.
• Sleeping arrangements:  Lodging will be different nearly each night.  Team members will generally sleep in sleeping bags on the floor or ground.  Once back in the city of La Paz, the last night will be spend in a 5-star hotel.
• Running water/electricity: Intermittent, team members may have lengthy stints without either.
• Physical requirements:  This trip may include moderate physical activity including walking several miles on rough terrain and lifting heavy luggage.  Team members are encouraged to be in moderate physical shape.. Participants will have to be prepared to carry a backpack on a 2-day hike into a remote village (where there is much Leishmaniasis) ... with the aid of pack mules to carry our supplies.

Applications for this team will be accepted until September 30, 2010.  Note that applying for a team does not guarantee acceptance.  All applicants will be notified of the status of their application no later than October 15, 2010.