Sponsor a Child in Bolivia

 
Map of Bolivia
  • ChildFund came to Bolivia: 1980
  • Population below poverty line: 60%

Bolivia is characterized by its rich cultural heritage and significant indigenous population. The correlation between poverty and ethnicity is strong. Recognized as one of South America’s poorest countries, 60 percent of Bolivia’s population lives below the poverty line. Indigenous groups are often marginalized and do not have easy access to education and health services due to geographic, cultural and economic barriers. For example, 53 percent of indigenous children completed primary school compared to 69 percent of the non-indigenous.

Being a child in Bolivia can be extremely challenging, six of every 10 children have unmet basic needs and half of the youth population live in poverty. Three out of four children suffer from physical, emotional or sexual abuse within the home, which many associate with high levels of alcohol within communities. Many children face abandonment due to strong migration movements of their parents and older siblings.

“Everyone at the community center has supported me in one way or another; now it’s my opportunity to guide and help the new generation.”

— Berta, age 19

Healthy Mothers

Healthy mothers have healthier babies, but in Bolivia many women die annually when giving birth. Our maternal and neo-natal program in the Villarroel province is just one example of our work to give children the best start in life.

We’ve trained more than 100 birth attendants and supported five 24-hour health centers so that health practitioners are knowledgeable and available to help avoid obstetric emergencies and to provide life-saving assistance when they occur.

Disease Prevention Awareness

In Bolivia many diseases are caused by parasites that are transmitted by air, water, food and insects. Chagas disease is just one example of a life-threatening condition that can be avoided. Diarrhea and malaria also are prevalent and can be prevented.

We train community health workers to manage these common illnesses as well as to help prevent HIV/AIDS.

Health Development

Our Early Childhood Development programs help give children under two every chance at developing to their maximum potential. We train youth leaders and “Guide Mothers” for in-home work where we teach parents and caregivers how to build upon what they learn in the Early Childhood Development Centers. Child Development Scales are important tools to monitor children’s progress.

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Child Protection

Domestic violence rates are high and many children are abandoned when their parents and older siblings leave the country in search of a better life. One in 10 children has parents who have migrated, and two-thirds of youth ages 10 to 18 are victims of physical abuse within their own homes.

Parents in Community Watch Groups help promote children’s rights within the community as well as through our Learning Resource Centers where books, audio and visual materials and games are used to make children aware of their rights.

“Everyone at the community center has supported me in one way or another; now it’s my opportunity to guide and help the new generation,” said Berta, age 19, who now studies at university thanks to after-school programs that focus on math, language, and other core areas not typically found in the Bolivian education system, have helped her.