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Bolivia has seen a consistent decline in active cases of COVID-19 since September. Active cases peaked at nearly 60,000 in late August but have fallen to less than 12,000 on 5 December. Face masks must be worn in public places, social distancing measures are imposed, and schools remain closed. However, curfews have been lifted, land and air borders are open, and all restrictions on movement are suspended until 15 January 2021.
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Thank you for praying for children and families in Bolivia who have been impacted by COVID-19—and the local staff and churches who continue to serve them in difficult circumstances.
At her local church in Bolivia, Claudia is the only person approved to travel around her community and provide care for Compassion assisted children. Her work is crucial. Many neighbourhood children are vulnerable to abuse, especially during a lockdown. Read more open_in_new
Please note: Due to the current pandemic, most child development centres in Bolivia are temporarily closed. Our local church partners continue to meet the urgent needs of the children through home-based care.
Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.
Compassion assisted children in Bolivia typically attend program activities at their local child development centre before or after school. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Bolivia.
Devotional time - Children are taught to pray.
Spiritual lessons - Children sing songs and learn Bible stories.
Break and snack time - Children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships. A snack often consists of an egg sandwich with tea, fruit shake with crackers, fruit salad, or bread.
Social-emotional lessons - Children learn conflict resolution skills and how to develop healthy self-esteem and a godly character. Children often come from challenging home environments and are taught social and personal skills.
Lunch and social time - Children generally receive a snack and lunch at the centre twice a week. The meals typically consist of vegetable soup, a lentil burger, salad, rice, dessert and apple juice.
Health lessons - Children learn practical health and hygiene tips.
Letter writing and career planning - Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests and set goals for their future.
Children are encouraged to join in sports teams, church and regional retreats and service activities (available for adolescents 12 years and older) such as cleaning up town squares and painting. Students can elect vocational training skills, such as computer literacy, pastry making, dressmaking and English.
of people live below the poverty line
of people lack access to improved sanitation
mothers die from pregnancy related causes per 100,000 births
Bolivia has made strong social and economic gains in the past two decades; in fact, it has been South America’s strongest-growing economy in that time. 2020 was a year of much political change for the nation. Former President Evo Morales resigned in 2019, following weeks of unrest over disputed election results.
As a member of the Aymara indigenous majority and with a background in a coca growers’ union, President Evo Morales was elected in 2005 on a platform of reform, workers’ rights, and advocacy for the poor and marginalised.
He renationalised the oil and gas industries and used the subsequent income to invest in social programs, lifting millions of people out of poverty. Between 2000 and 2015, the proportion of Bolivians living on less than US$3.20/day fell from 42 per cent to 12.9 per cent, and the number living in extreme poverty (less than US$1.90/day) improved even more dramatically.
Jeanine Anez, a conservative senator, assumed the presidency on an interim basis after Morales stepped down. Elections were delayed by the COVID pandemic until October 2020, when the Mas socialist party were elected into power. President Luis Acre officially took office in Bolivia in November 2020.
Meanwhile, many children still live in poverty. Bolivia still struggles with the issue of child labour; many children of school age have traded the classroom for the workplace, often doing low-paid, difficult and dangerous work. It’s a move born of desperation, and while it may mean a slight increase in a family’s income, working children are at a long-term disadvantage when it comes to education and opportunities for stable employment.
Yet local churches are working hard to reach the most vulnerable families with the love of Jesus and a hope more powerful than poverty.
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