Saving families from the alienation of poverty

Sixty-four percent of the Bolivian population lives below the poverty line.  And indigenous and rural inhabitants, especially children, adolescents and women, are the most vulnerable to poverty, often becoming excluded as a result of it.

We don’t allow poverty to rob the Bolivian people of their lives and their dignity. Our Gifts of Love and Hope Catalog provides the resources for families to earn a living, such as farm animals, seeds, sewing machines and street vendor carts. Sustainable income generating activities like technical training as well as funding and marketing of handmade products also supports families in their endeavors. Through our entrepreneurs’ schools, youth are equipped with trade and management skills and their business ideas fostered.

Students in boarding schools can gain technical skills training in fields such as mechanics, tailoring, weaving, agriculture, carpentry and cooking.  Non-formal education programs use creative thinking, playing and activities, such as music, theater, crafts, dancing and drawing, to help improve children’s self-esteem and encourage communications skills.

Our Early Childhood Development programs’ mission is to give children under the age of two every chance at developing to their maximum potential. By training youth leaders and Guide Mothers who extend our reach into homes, we are able to engage parents and caregivers and mobilize the community to participate in improving children’s development. Our Child Development Scale provides an important tool for assessing children’s progress along the way. 

Healthy mothers: The first step to a stronger community

Many women die in childbirth in Bolivia each year. Our maternal and neonatal program in the Villarroel province is helping to ensure safe births in this country. With more than 100 trained birth attendants and supporting five 24-hour health centers, this program trains all of its health personnel in obstetric emergencies as well as provides kits for sanitary deliveries. In addition to maternal and neonatal health, we train Community Health Workers to manage common illnesses, prevent HIV and AIDS and spray homes with insecticides to prevent Chagas disease.

Above all things, we protect the children of Bolivia. Parents in community watch groups promote children’s rights within the community, and this message is reinforced through our Good Treatment Corners, where books, audio/visual materials and games are used to also make children aware of their rights. In cases of abuse and neglect, both children and their families are encouraged to seek legal assistance to report these offenses. We are working with the Bolivian government to include children’s rights in the new Bolivian Constitution.

Once a child feels protected, he or she can grow stronger. We empower children to become leaders in their communities by selecting them for participation in the national Bolivia Association of Childhood and Adolescence and as active delegates for the National Children and Youth Congress.  In both organizations, children and youth have a voice in shaping national policies.

Bolivia is working its way from poverty to self-sufficiency.  Help us give the children and families of this country the helping hand they need to survive and thrive.