Volunteering is one of life’s most rewarding experiences. Become a local, surgical or women’s group volunteer today.
Local Volunteer Opportunities
- Donate school supplies
- Ask your doctor, dentist or hospital for medical supplies
- Join our Board of Directors
- Join our Women’s Guild
- Introduce us to your pastor, organization or Foundation
- Help at a special event such as the Annual Breakfast in the Spring
Volunteer Surgical Program
We have been sending volunteer surgery teams to Bolivia since 2011 to serve the poor, whose surgical needs would otherwise go untreated.
An average of ten surgical teams travel to Bolivia each year as volunteers with our program. Currently, we send only general surgeons, gynecological surgeons, plastic surgeons, ophthalmic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons (including pediatric) and urology surgeons.
A surgical team consists of the lead surgeon, an anesthesiologist and a nurse or tech. The lead surgeon usually assembles their own team, but we may also have volunteers to match up with a surgeon. All volunteers must be currently licensed professionals, in good standing with their licensing board.
We have partnered with staff in Bolivia as well as the assistance of local physicians who volunteer their time to our surgical mission program. Surgical trips are scheduled anywhere from two months to two years in advance . The team typically operates 5-10 full days and makes presentations to the medical residents and local physicians a few evenings during their stay. The duration of the trip is dictated by surgical specialty and the lead surgeon’s availability (either one or two weeks of surgery); volunteers should allow for a minimum of two days of travel on the outbound and return.
Volunteers are responsible for their air travel, incidentals and gathering surgical supplies. Esperança pays for food and lodging while volunteers are at the project site and associated costs for the surgeries (facility, lab work, medication, etc.).
If you are interested in volunteering or have additional questions, please contact Christina Araiza, program director, by email at christina@esperanca.org or (602) 252-7772 ext. 111.
*Due to the limited size and scope of our program, we are unable to accommodate other medical practitioners, lay people and students at this time.
Who We Are
A group of caring and dedicated women who work cooperatively to assist the primarily low-income families of the Golden Gate Community Center, located in west central Phoenix where the Esperança domestic project is housed.
What We Do
- Annual Back to School Uniform & Supply Drive for children enrolled in Golden Gate’s Summer Enrichment Program.
- Christmas Angels for the KARE Families at Golden Gate (most comprised of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren)
- Annual “Un-Descansito” Program (translated to “A Day of Rest”) – offering services like haircuts, manicures and other pampering options to KARE parents, along with activities for the children.
- Volunteer support for Esperança and Golden Gate programs.
Your Involvement
The Women’s Guild meets the third Monday of every month at 12 pm at the Esperança office, located at 1911 W. Earll Dr. in Phoenix. Lunch is provided and meetings last an hour. We use our personal and professional connections, as well as our ingenuity, to look for donations or assistance opportunities to aid our projects at the Golden Gate Community Center. Working with Esperança Women’s Guild, you get a chance to see how your time and compassion directly helps financially struggling families in west central Phoenix. For more information, call Maria Valenzuela at (602)-252-7772 , ext. 108 or email her at maria@esperanca.org.
