JOB DESCRIPTION

PARTNER ORGANIZATION: Aywiña

LOCATION: La Paz, Bolivia

Position: Fonoaudiologist with kwnoledge in

Communications strategies and focused in social
and inclusion issues
 IS Partner Appraisal Document

CONTENTS

Pages

Introduction to Bolivia 3

Current Situation 4

The Problem 6

The Project 8

Partner Organisation 8

Job Description 11

Development Worker Profile 11

Living and working conditions 12

Conditions of Service 12

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1. INTRODUCTION TO BOLIVIA

Bolivia is a country of great contrasts. Geographically, Bolivia has three main regions -
the Altiplano or high plateau, the Valleys and the Lowlands. In terms of altitude, the
Altiplano ranges approximately between 3700 to 4500 metres, valleys descend from
these higher areas to altitudes between 1500 to 3000 metres above sea level. Lower
Valleys descend towards the tropical lowlands to about 400 to 500 metres.

In cultural terms, most inhabitants in Bolivia today can trace their ancestry to the
Tiahuanaco and Inca Empires. Traditionally, these cultures mostly inhabited the
Highland and Valleys in what is now Bolivia. Today, the migration to the main cities
and to the lowlands has meant a spread of the different ethnic groups. These are
smaller in number and many have been subject to heavy influence from migrants from
the Highlands and Valleys of Bolivia and from abroad. Nevertheless, of all the Latin
American countries, Bolivia has the highest proportion of an indigenous population.
Within this indigenous population are various ethnic groups with their own language,
beliefs system, customs and so forth, with Quechua and Aymara cultures being the
principal two. More than 50% of the population is bilingual, Spanish being the official
language. According to the latest census, 23% speak Quechua, 16% speak Aymara
and 3% others which includes Guarani.

One of the main challenges facing Bolivia today is the need to re-value these
indigenous cultures, respecting their traditions, beliefs and what is referred to as the
“cosmovision andina”, which basically refers to the way these people see life and live
accordingly which is focused on maintaining an equilibrium within the environment of
which of course man and woman are part. But also, last but not least, open the
exclusive social, economic and political structures to the indigenous people therefore
ending discrimination and exclusion.

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2. CURRENT SITUATION

Since 1985, the government has followed policies imposed by the IMF. Measures have
included the freeing of price controls, of restrictions on exports and imports, and the
labour market. Moves to reduce public expenditure and towards greater privatisation
have led to a transformation of the State's role. In the first five years after introducing
these policies, more than 20,000 miners from the State Mining Corporation were
dismissed, and public sector salaries were kept at very low levels. Wages fell in real
terms during this period, which coincided with runaway inflation and the collapse of the
tin industry (one of Bolivia's main exports) due to falling prices on the world markets.

Bolivia is the poorest country in South America. Seven of every ten Bolivians are
considered to be poor, (taking poor to signify a lack of money or material possessions
such that a person is unable to meet the basic needs necessary for survival).

- Life expectancy: urban areas – 62years, rural: 57years

- Infant mortality rate: (0 to 5 years old) 55.6 per thousand births alive.
- Access to sanitary services: 29% of population
- Children under 3 suffering from chronic malnutrition: 24%

In 1950 the rural population represented 73,8 % of the total population and until the
mid eighties this area had the highest population percentages. However, in recent
years this trend has been reversed by the high migration to urban areas. According to
recent data:

- 62.4% of the population now live in urban areas.

- 37.6% of the population now live in rural areas.

This rapid rise in urban population has meant that there are increasing marginal shanty
towns developing particularly in the main cities (La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz and
Cochabamba). Like the majority of rural areas, these marginal city areas lack basic
services such as water, sewerage, health posts and adequate schools.

The current economic model introduced in Bolivia in l985 has brought about
reasonable financial stability, in that inflation has remained between around 4%. Since
2000 Bolivia’s growth rate has ranged from 0 to 4%, however, it has not been able to
reduce the ever increasing levels of poverty among the majority of the population.
Some analysts argue that in fact these levels of poverty have risen, and the gap
between the small elite (politically and economically) and the majority of the population
has widened.

Attempts to reduce this ever increasing gap, such as the “Participacion Popular”
(Popular Participation) Law (l994) have not had the desired effect. This law which
attempts to redistribute previously centralized resources to provincial areas has had
wide ranging results. In theory the law is potentially positive, however, in some areas
lack of sufficient training, provision of information on the law and in-fighting amongst
different political tendencies in rural areas have hindered and delayed positive impact.
In other areas successes have been achieved in terms of developing processes of
participative planning with different organisations at provincial levels. There are also
examples of increasing the effective use of natural resources and positive attempts at
developing what are known as “productive municipalities”.

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As part of the IMF and World Bank HIPC II Initiative (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries),
Bolivia was obliged in 1997 to produce a Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan. An
important point decided in relation to the PRSP was the decision to strengthen
programmes resulting from the Popular Participation Law between the Bolivian
Government and International Cooperation. This law is seen as having the potential to
not only improve conditions in provincial areas but also as a mechanism for
strengthening and empowering regional and provincial organisations. The Government
proposed concerted action plans in relation to the reduction of poverty with the
following main actors: Government, the international community, civil society and the
private sector. However, the actions so far seem to be removed from the plans, leaving
the road to effective poverty reduction still very much unpaved.

Bolivia holds the record as the country with the most frequent changes of presidency,
with some decades averaging one a year. The previous few years have been no
exception, with a succession of changes since Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada (‘Goni’)
took presidency in 2002. As a businessman and wealthy miner, his politics were very
much right wing. This brought a wave of strong social, largely indigenous movements
expressing strong dissatisfaction with the government ideologies and economic model,
which, with neo-liberal policies has opened Bolivian markets to unfair competition. This
has led to high levels of unemployment, much black market trading and an estimated
70% of the workforce in the informal sector, thus not paying taxes, but also not having
any job security, and basically in an extremely vulnerable economic situation.

Miners in demosntration

October 2003 has since been named ‘Black October’ due to the violent clashes
between the military and the civilians during their protests against the government. The
events succeeded in ousting the President, but tragically cost the lives of over 100
men, women and children and left many more permanently injured. Since then, Bolivia
has seen two ‘interim’ presidents before the general elections took place in December
2005.

The elections resulted in the former Coca leader and strong Union fighter Evo Morales
– from the MAS party (Movimiento al Socialismo) being elected by an overwhelming
majority of 54% of the votes –a first in Bolivian history. The next few years will be very
significant for Bolivia as we watch eagerly this new President, representative of the
indigenous population, majority and poorer sectors of the population, a man with
humble roots, preside over the country. He has already declared nationalisation of the
hydrocarbons (natural gas) although it remains to be seen if it is economically and
legally viable, in relation to the multinationals that have been running the industry for
years. His second big challenge is to fulfil the promise of a Constitutional Assembly. A

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national assembly was formed to write up a new constitution for the country. This has
now been finished but is awaiting approval by referendum. It is the event that many
people hope will contribute to developing a more equal and just society.

3. THE PROBLEM

In Bolivia, it would be fair to say that most disabled people have suffered or have to
face marginalization, discrimination and social exclusion, whether due to attitudinal
barriers or physical barriers. Furthermore, disability in Bolivia is closely linked to high
poverty levels, as stated in many developed countries. According with Gregorio Iriarte´s
book, "Critical analysis of reality and understanding of recent statistics" (2006, p67),
63% of Bolivian people is considered poor. There is no official information about
statistics of people with disabilities in Bolivia, but data from the website "Educared" - a
network of Argentines that promotes integrated education says that 70% of people with
disabilities live in poverty - it makes a higher figure of poverty.

There are several aspects of Bolivian culture that affect how disabled is considered in
society. Particularly in rural areas, where tradition and cultural beliefs are still very
strong, disability is considered as a curse from God to families with previous sins, they
believe that disability is sent as a punishment. Sometimes dealing these beliefs is very
hard, even disabled people is relationed with animals and simply let them die. Since
there is little or no information available in rural areas about disability and how to deal,
families with a disabled person have very few options. The stage in Bolivia is complex
because these cultural constructions that reproduce discrimination and segregation,
consolidating the exclusion of people with Down Syndrome into family, community,
education, health, access to general services, but mainly creating social environments
with hostile or compassive treat that attempt and bring different types of violence with
absence of a culture of respect for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities, to
personal autonomy, self-determination and development of potential contribution to
society.

Organizations of people with disabilities and organizations that work in this area, have
made that the issue of disability be part of the National Development Plan of the
country, the government also recognized the National Plan of Equality and Equal
Opportunities for Disability - PINEO as a State policy, this is the first plan addressed to
disabled population. Moreover, they also achieved the rights of people with disabilities
be part of the Constitution, so there are 3 specific items for this population and to
mainstream the issue.

It is important to emphasize that despite of Bolivian government efforts (Law of

disabled people and National Plan for Equality and Equal Opportunities), in Bolivia
there is still evidence of exclusion of people with disabilities and specifically those with
Down Syndrome . In order to reduce this exclusion, the government created the
National Solidarity Fund and Equity for People with Disabilities, these funds came from
the General Treasury of the Nation, specifically from elimination of state funding for
political parties, civic groups and indigenous people in election years and non-election
years, annual support is of 40,000,000 (forty million 00/100 Bolivianos), these funds
should be used in 10 programs specified in DS # 256

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Specific issues:

Education

Currently, Bolivia has a new education law called: Avelino Siñani and Elizardo Perez,
this pretends to achieve an inclusive and multi-national education, despite to consider
inclusive education, but curriculum structure of schools are designed with education
especially for people with disabilities, so currently curriculum guidelines have been
prepared from that "special" approach.

On the other hand, organizations of disabled people and entities working with this
population have been promoting access to education with an inclusive focus. In La
Paz, these entities and organizations are organized on the NET EQUITY

Labour

Labour situation of people with disabilities is critical, the vast majority do not have a
labor source that allows people to have a worth economic income, in this context
disabled people have prompted the promulgation of DS # 27,477 and 29,608, they are
about employability of people with disabilities, this norm pretends including disabled
people in labour sources in a 4%, whether in public or private organizations, now its
compliance is demanding.

Currently, Labour ministry is designing a plan of action and implementation of the

norm, it will be providing technical training to people with disabilities and seeking
employment offers and demands.

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Health

En todos los programas de salud, no han contemplado las necesidades de las

personas con discapacidad, por lo que los servicios de salud no son accesibles, por
otra parte, el gobierno proporciona el seguro social de salud a todas aquellas
personas que cuentan con una fuente laboral y como la mayoría de las personas con
discapacidad no tienen acceso al trabajo, por lo que también se les privan del ejercicio
al derecho a la salud. Bolivia acaba de implementar un nuevo sistema de salud,
denominado: Seguro Universal de Salud – SUS, en la misma, tampoco se toma en
cuenta a la población con discapacidad.

Health programs have not considered needs of people with disabilities, so health
services are not accessible, on the other hand, government provides social health
insurance to all working people, but most people with disabilities have no access to
work neither to have health services. Bolivia recently implemented a new health
system: Universal Health Insurance, but it does not consider population with disabilities

4. THE PROJECT

International Service - Bolivia, is working with the project: Towards social inclusion of
disabled people in areas of national and local development, it has financial support
from the government of Ireland.

This project works through four local organizations: Ministry of Labour and Bolivian
Institute for Blindness and two entities of civil society: AYNINAKUNA and AYWIÑA, this
is the final year, which will end in September 2010.

In the context of this project, the approach that implements AYWIÑA is very relevant.

5. PARTNER ORGANISATION

BACKGROUD

AYWIÑA, is an Association of parents, families and friends of children, young people

and adults with Down’s syndrome. It is a civil nonprofit institution which has been
working since 1998, its fundamental objective is integrating babies, children, young
people and adults with Down’s syndrome into the family, school and community
environment, contributing significantly towards the construction of an inclusive society.

AYWIÑA is an Aymaran term that means “Walking amongst many” - in order to achieve
a common objective and so that our children get to meet each other. This is the
concept of the name: that there are more and more people to help promote the
construction of a mutually binding and fair Bolivian society, respecting the differences
between people, as this is the essence of human life.

Misión

We are an association of parents of children with Down syndrome, non-profit dedicated

to support, monitor, inform, advise and train fathers and mothers, teachers and
educational community, promoting social, education and labour inclusion, and holistic
development of their children from birth to adulthood, raising awareness of Bolivian
society and affecting public policies of Bolivian State to improve the quality of life for
people with Down Syndrome

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Visión

To promote an inclusive society where babies, children, young people and adults with
Down’s syndrome can develop with dignity under the framework of equal access to
opportunities.

AYWIÑA until 2013 will achieve to set processes of social, education and employment
inclusion of children, youth and adults with Down Syndrome holisticly, sensitizing
Bolivian authorities and society aimed to improve public policies and quality of life of
these people, having the support of parents and well-trained technical team to provide
quality services.

Aims & Objectives

o To support, inform and advise families, from birth through all stages of life.
o Empowering parents and mothers so they may become facilitators of their
children's inclusion in the areas of health, education and work
o To encourage the integral development of babies, young people and adults with
Down’s syndrome in order to initiate integration and social inclusion.
o To help promote the health and educational integration of children, young
people and adults with Down’s syndrome.
o To inform and raise awareness in society about the conditions and rights of
people with Down’s syndrome.
o To promote inclusive education process of children and young people with DS
in regular schools through an educational accompaniment system at all levels
of the national education system.
o To promote labour inclusion of youth and adults with SD through training
processes and training of quality and promote their entrepreneurial capacity
o To collect and publicize information on Down’s syndrome.
o To influence public policies in education, health and work aiming to promote
actual integration of people with Down’s syndrome.

Actividades:

• Consolidation of Support Programs in order to stablish Inclusive of people with

Down Syndrome:

 Program of early stimulation and priming

 Program of inclusive education into the education program in early
childhood, primary, secondary, technical and higher education.
 Program of The first news (aimed at new parents).
 Program of health support
 Program of stimulating development of language (audiology)
 Program of stimulation in motor development. (physiotherapy)
 Program of training and work inclusion
 Cultural and sports program
 Program of influencing in public policies
 Communication Unit (dissemination and information)

All these programs achieved to promote the holistic development and a worth
life and authonomy in people with DS.

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• Aywiña has become a national reference in inclusion of children and young

people with DS in regular schools and developing curriculum adaptations in
primary and secondary level of schools. In this sense, has developed methods
of teacher training in inclusive education and curricular adaptations, preparing
to assist the diversity, reaching a total of 690 teachers
• To impact on changing vision of caring and compassion to Bolivian society
about DS.
• Now Aywiña is an active member of Equality Network and also Platform of
Communication.
• Aywiña has impacted significantly on educational policies through its
participation in the proposed inclusive education in the new Education Law
Elizardo Perez and Avelino Siñani, Organizational Letter of Municipal
Government of La Paz, program of implementation of National Plan for Equality
and opportunities.
• Aywiña holds the position of vice president of the Departmental Federation of
parents of children with intellectual disabilities

Organizational Structure:

Aywiña is organizad in parents groups according on ages of DS people:

 Group of 0 - 2 years old

 Group of 3 a 6 years old
 Group of 7 a 12 years old
 Group of 3 a 19 years old
 Group of 20 or more

And Directive Chart is formed with 10 partners elected.

Every parent is part of one of one groups according to age of her/his child and works
with those responsible people of her/his group to be benefited of himself/herself and
others.

At the same time, Aywiña operating structure consists of a General Coordination

(Director pedagogical), Responsible of Program, educators and volunteers

6. JOB DESCRIPTION

Development worker role

• Training to parents in stimulation of language development

• Support to early stimulation program

• Training to teachers and support educational inclusion in all levels

• Support plan in fundraissing and contacts to suppor educators

• Stimulation in language development

• Training to team and voluntiers in Communications strategies in a practice form

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• To support in the intitutional stregthment

7. DEVELOPMENT WORKER PROFILE

1. Educative and professional qualifications

Degree in fonoaudiology and / or communication strategies with social and
inclusion approach.
Project management, NGO management and / or related fields.
Professional qualifications related on planning, monitoring and evaluation
Good skills in Microsoft Office Word, Exceñ, etc.

2. Work Experiences
Experience with children and people with Down syndrome.
Preferably with knowledge in pedagogy and curriculum adaptations.
Experience in facilitation of training workshops.
Knowledge and understanding of the issue of disability, specifically the
Rehabilitation Based in the Community
Expertise in alternative communication systems.

3. Language skills
Good level of written and spoken Spanish.
Preferably reasonable level of English.
Effective communication and negotiation skills.

4. Personal Qualities

Flexibility to work with people with low incomes.

Ability to work as a team and share knoledge with colleagues.
Creative and proactive to work with limited resources.
Ability to work with own initiative.
Flexibility to work extra hours.

8. LOCATION

DW will work in AYWIÑA office, it is in La Paz, it is located in Landaeta St, Juan Pablo
II # 538, Sopocachi

DW will work from Monday through Friday, 9:00 – 12:30 and 14:30 – 18:30

The DW will live and work in the centre of La Paz. It is a lively city where traditional
culture meets modern technology, creating an interesting mixture of both Andean
customs, and western influences. Most facilities found in any modern city are also
present in La Paz, ranging from modern shops, sports facilities, cultural and
educational events etc.

La Paz, being 3627m above sea level, means that most new arrivals take a few weeks
adjusting to the altitude, and the general steepness of most streets! The climate is
considered quite cold –especially at night, but with clear blue skies most days, the sun
is strong and temperatures can reach 25C.

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La Paz is well situated for weekend trips out of the city. There are regular and cheap
bus services to many rural and urban destinations – from mountainous to more tropical
lowland areas.

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9. CONDICIONS

• Contract until September 2010, it is possible to extend, it depends on funds

project.
• Salary (4500Bs monthly)
• Rent costs if the DW is not from the location
• Health insurance and casualty.
• Costs of travel to the workplace.
• Training costs if need lessons in Aymara or other languages
• 20 days of vacation per year, subject to proration by month

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