A girl in rural Bolivia wearing a pink hat stands outside of her home, smiling. Joelia, 5, Bolivia

Bolivia

With your support, we've worked to help kids in Bolivia get a strong start since 1979.

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The rich culture of Bolivia and its indigenous peoples are world-renowned, but the Bolivian economy is also one of South America’s least developed. Indigenous groups are often marginalized and do not have easy access to education and health care because of geographic, cultural, language and economic barriers. Without convenient access to basic services, children under the age of 5 are vulnerable to deadly illnesses and malnutrition, and older children must travel long distances to reach school. Chauvinistic attitudes hamper the rights of women and girls in school, the workplace and at home. In some cases, they lead to violence.

Our Work in Bolivia

Since 1979, ChildFund has worked to help children in Bolivia grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe.

ChildFund Bolivia supports children’s well‑being from early childhood through adolescence by promoting comprehensive health care, nutrition and emotional development. For children ages 0–5, we partner with caregivers and health centers to strengthen maternal and child health, provide prenatal care, ensure proper nutrition, and teach early stimulation and parenting skills. For school‑aged children, programs focus on hygiene education, safe water and sanitation in schools, and integrated mental health support to help children cope with stress and trauma. For adolescents, ChildFund provides health education, helping youth make informed decisions about their health while also building life skills, resilience and leadership. All our initiatives are grounded in community-based approaches, working alongside local health providers and families to create sustainable impact.

ChildFund Bolivia supports children’s learning from early childhood through adolescence by removing educational barriers and fostering supportive, community‑centered environments. For young children, we strengthen early childhood development (ECD) centers and train caregivers in early stimulation and literacy to build a strong foundation for school readiness. For school‑aged children, we help improve teaching quality through child‑centered methods, provide remedial and after‑school literacy programs, and supply essential materials and infrastructure to enhance learning. For adolescents, we offer life‑skills and vocational training that prepares youth for future employment and economic independence. Together, these efforts help children gain the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to reach their full potential.

ChildFund Bolivia strengthens children’s development across all life stages by building essential life skills and engaging both youth and their caregivers. In early childhood, parents receive guidance to nurture emotional intelligence, communication and problem‑solving, while early childhood development (ECD) centers introduce structured activities that support cognitive, motor and social growth. For school‑aged children, ChildFund promotes social and emotional learning to foster empathy, teamwork and conflict resolution, alongside creative, cultural and sports activities that boost confidence and leadership. Among adolescents, programs focus on decision‑making, communication, financial literacy and community leadership, as well as vocational training and entrepreneurial support—offering seed funding, revolving funds and mentorship from specialists and universities. These initiatives ensure that children and youth develop the skills needed to thrive at home, in school and within their communities.

ChildFund Bolivia prioritizes child protection through prevention, intervention and advocacy efforts that safeguard children from violence, abuse and exploitation across all life stages. In early childhood, caregivers receive training in positive, non‑violent parenting to create safe home environments. For school‑aged children, we strengthen protection in schools through anti‑bullying initiatives, rights education, digital safety training, community child protection committees, and the creation of safe, supervised spaces for play and socialization. For adolescents, programs focus on preventing exploitation—including child labor and trafficking—through vocational training, mentorship and community monitoring systems, while supporting youth to serve as peer educators and advocates for safe environments. By engaging families, schools, communities and local authorities, ChildFund Bolivia builds a strong protective ecosystem that keeps children safe and supported throughout their development.

A child sits at a desk in Bolivia with a staff member of ChildFund's local partner.

A young girl participates in a ChildFund creative drawing activity at a community center in the city of El Alto in La Paz, Bolivia.

A group of youth pose in front of a mural in Bolivia that features paintings of loudspeakers.

Youth in Tarija, Bolivia, interact with a community mural at the local zoo representing dreams, communication and music.

A mother in Bolivia feeds her toddler boy from a bowl while sitting in front of their home.

One-year-old José, a sponsored child in ChildFund’s program in El Alto, Bolivia, eats a nutritious chicken soup that his mom learned how to make in our nutrition classes.

A group photo of one of ChildFund's local partners in Bolivia.

Young people from across the country at a ChildFund national leadership gathering in Cochabamba, Bolivia.