Global Health in Bolivia (Tarija)

Program participants will find their home away from home in carefully selected homestays, screened by CFHI Local Coordinators in Tarija and following CFHI’s health and safety guidelines. Nestled within Tarija’s town center and surrounding areas, these homestays offer the perfect blend of comfort and authenticity, situated in middle-class neighborhoods near shops, restaurants, and cafes. In some cases, CFHI scholars share a house or a room in the same homestay with fellow program participants.

Going beyond mere lodging, these homestays provide a unique opportunity to learn about the local culture and practice Spanish skills on a daily basis in an informal setting. Accommodations include two meals per day. At the welcome orientation, participants will be instructed on culture and work etiquette to have the best experience in both homestay and the health setting.

Participants should arrive in Tarija on the program start date and will be picked up from the airport by a CFHI representative and taken to their homestay. A welcome orientation will take place the Sunday or Monday after arrival.

U.S. citizens must obtain a tourist visa for Bolivia. This can be done upon arrival at the airport. More information on travel and logistics will be provided by CFHI after acceptance into the program.

What’s Included

CFHI Program fees include the majority of your on the ground costs. As a nonprofit, CFHI strives to keep fees low and offers fundraising opportunities, scholarships and discounts.

Pre-Departure Support

• Program advising and support via email, phone, and web meeting from CFHI’s Central Leadership team
• Detailed online Pre-Departure Training that includes modules on program logistics (flights, visas, immunizations, and more), intercultural learning, introduction to health realities at your program site, and much more

On-Site Services

• Airport pick-up upon arrival and transportation with a local CFHI representative to your program lodging
• Welcome orientation 1-2 days after arrival covering safety, transportation, and other logistics
• Spanish Classes: 30 hours/month of Spanish classes, including medical Spanish instruction and cultural activities
• CFHI Local Team that provides instruction, logistical support, and 24/7 emergency response
• Meetings and lectures on local healthcare system, socio-economic determinants of health and current cultural/historical topics. 
• Placement and coordination of clinical and any public health activities (if relevant)
• Accommodation and two meals per day
• Local cell phone or support obtaining a local SIM card
• International emergency medical and evacuation insurance (unless waived by your university or institution)

Post-Return Resources

• Opportunities to engage as a CFHI Alumni Ambassador, reviewing scholarship applications, speaking on CFHI panels, and more
• Access to CFHI alumni-only social media group/s featuring news and career opportunities related to Global Health
• CFHI alumni newsletter highlighting events, professional development opportunities, resources, and ways to stay involved

Uniquely, most CFHI student program fees go directly to the communities they will be visiting, benefiting the local economy at large. 

Sara Habibipour

Sara is currently an undergraduate student studying Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at UCLA. She hopes to pursue a career as an infectious disease physician tackling global health inequities. Sara participated in the Tarija, Bolivia program in July 2023, where she got to dive deeper into her interest in Chagas disease, as well as shadow doctors doing rural home visits which she learned greatly from. Outside of school, Sara has practiced ballet for 16 years. She also enjoys solo traveling and practicing Spanish with friends she’s met from across the world.