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Bolivia has made great strides in the fight against poverty over the last two decades. However, income inequality remains severe.
A lack of rainfall in the country due to El Niño has limited the availability of fresh clean water and left children vulnerable to disease.
Compassion’s holistic child development programs are designed to be adapted to suit the local context and needs. In Bolivia, the current primary areas of focus for our church partners are:
Watch the latest video update from Bolivia below to learn more.
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Thank you for praying for the children, families and local churches we serve in Bolivia.
Hope and Happiness recently suffered sexual abuse from their father. Sadly, many children in Bolivia are vulnerable to abuse and families often suffer in silence. But staff at their local Compassion centre supported Hope and Happiness, and their family are beginning to heal from the trauma they experienced. Read more open_in_new
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 lack access to basic sanitation
of children aged 5 to 17 are engaged in child labour
A scenic landlocked nation, Bolivia is home to an astounding 40 per cent of the world’s animal and plant species. It is known for its beautiful mountains, extraordinary Lake Titicaca and Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flats.
With 36 different indigenous people groups, this nation has a vibrant culture. Common languages include Quechua, Spanish and Aymara. Families are very tight knit, with many generations often living together in the same house.
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. Former President Evo Morales 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.
2020 was a year of much political change for the nation. 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.
Despite recent progress, many children still live in poverty. Rates of infant mortality, income inequality and illiteracy remain extremely high in rural indigenous communities. Challenges facing the nation include poor sanitation, sex trafficking and forced labour, abuse and drug addiction.
Yet local churches are working hard to reach the most vulnerable families with the love of Jesus and a hope for their future.
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