Our first Spirit Cultural Exchange American Scholar Award Winner shares her experience providing occupational therapy services and contributing to the development of occupational therapy programs in Bolivia.
The Spirit Cultural Exchange American Scholar Award
The Spirit Cultural Exchange American Scholar Award provides financial support to exceptional Americans interested in pursing a cultural exchange experience abroad. Spirit is honored to support an individual with such remarkable dedication to making a positive impact on communities. Daniela’s journey exemplifies the spirit of the Spirit Cultural Exchange American Scholar Award.
Keep reading to learn about Daniela’s journey in her own words:
The Joys of Service
“In 2024, I had the privilege of providing occupational therapy services to children and adults with Down Syndrome in my parents’ homeland: Cochabamba, Bolivia. Inspired by the values of occupational therapy and my deep love for Bolivian culture, I was honored to have the chance to work at CEOLI, a local non-profit that provides low-cost group therapy services for families living near the city of Cochabamba.
During my first few weeks of my 3 month journey, I learned a lot about the different roles healthcare providers take on at CEOLI. For instance, psychologists often focus more on language and self-regulation, physical therapists focus on sensory integration and gross/fine motor skills, and psycho-pedalogists focus on developmental milestones and essential life skills. However, what I loved most about my experience was the inter-professional collaboration and how excited all the therapists were to learn more about the values and skills of an occupational therapist.
While at CEOLI, I was in charge of implementing individual sensory plans and running sensory groups for children between the ages of 3 and 11. Through play-based activities and crafts, I helped other therapists learn about the importance of analyzing and incorporating sensory-based activities into their classrooms to help promote self-regulation. I also provided consultative services to the psychologist and physical therapist who worked in the afternoons with children with Autism. I often educated others on visuals, alternative communication options, and parent education resources. During one of my final days, I met with the parents of CEOLI to discuss how to use visuals and other prompts to promote independence at home and within the community.
In addition, I also ran a Health and Wellness group with the adults at CEOLI. The lessons in these groups primarily focus on physical, social, and emotional health and well-being practices. Participants learned about topics such as healthy eating, exercise routines, and social boundaries. For our final group, we celebrated by taking the train to a local town named Quillacollo. During the community outing, we were able to visit a local cathedral, feed the friendly pigeons, and enjoy a snack in the local plaza.
During my time in Bolivia, I also visited local parks, attended festivals, and enjoyed a variety of local cuisine. I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to learn more about my Bolivian culture and how beautiful day-to-day life is in Cochabamba. I was also fortunate to have the support of so many people during my time abroad. I want to especially thank the RUSH University OTD program, CEOLI, and Spirit Cultural Exchange. During the Spring of 2024, I graduated with my doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy.”
Travel Tips for International Experiences
“For future students considering international study abroad experiences here are some of my travel tips.
- Be open to learning about how different social and political systems impact the delivery of services abroad. Asking these questions can help you better understand how accessible resources are in the country.
- Relationship-building is key to gaining trust from staff, volunteers, and families at your site. Be sure to take opportunities to ask thoughtful questions and invest in the community by supporting or creating events that support education about neurodiversity.
- Take any opportunity you to have visit local festivals, markets, churches, restaurants, and other community gathering places. This is one of the best ways to learn about your community’s cultural values, customs, and traditions.”
Congratulations again to Daniela, our 2024 Spirit Cultural Exchange American Scholar Award Winner!
We look forward to announcing our 2025 winner next week.
Are you interested in improving your Spanish while immersing yourself in a new culture? Learn more at www.spiritexchange.com/travel/learn-spanish-abroad.