con Bolivia

Providing direct support to locally based projects in Bolivia  
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PROJECTS How are projects selected? During frequent visits to Juan’s native Bolivia, he and Suzanne utilize their extensive network of family and friends to identify potential projects. Then, through a process of careful listening to local individuals, con Bolivia evaluates how well they are addressing the educational and/or economic needs of indigenous women, youth, and /or children. All programs which con Bolivia selects are initiated by visionary Bolivians who know what is needed to bring about real and lasting change in their own country, one of the poorest in Latin America. Projects currently being supported: “Sol y Luna” is a day-care center for indigenous children, a project which was started at the request of the indigenous women of the small village of Mallasilla. The center serves over 30 children between the ages of 0-5. Without “Sol y Luna,” some of these children would be left at home alone. Others would be brought into La Paz with their mothers where they would need to sit quietly for 12 hour days, frequently on street corners, breathing fumes from the leaded gas burning busses and cars. But now these mothers have an alternative ... an excellent day care facility! Here, children are taught basic hygiene, are given nutritional meals, receive monthly dental and medical exams, and spend time in mentally stimulating educational activities. “Sol y Luna” is managed by a group of devoted volunteers, and is run by employees from the village itself, who receive training as caregivers and cooks. In this way, “Sol y Luna” benefits the women and the entire economy of the village, as well as providing a safe and nurturing place in which the village children can grow and learn. con Bolivia is providing significant funding to ensure that “Sol y Luna” will continue its important work for these Bolivian children. “Padre Hugo” Father Hugo Varqga (or “Vargas” as he is called in Bolivia), is a gregarious, outgoing man who has worked tirelessly for over 33 years amid Bolivia’s poor. Among his current projects are a shelter for La Paz’s shoeshine (lustrabotas) boys, many of whom are homeless and drug addicted. Here they come for a shower and a safe place to rest and receive food. Fr. Hugo also works with a group of nuns in El Alto who have sewing machines and a center to train former prostitutes in sewing skills, but currently lack money to buy material. He recently received a donation of desks and chairs, all of which are in various states of disrepair or brokenness. He will use the donated goods to train young boys in the art of carpentry, if only he had enough money to transport the furniture to the carpentry shop and be able to purchase the tools and wood necessary for the repairs. con Bolivia’s donations are helping Padre Hugo to continue his grassroots, and incredibly significant, work for the youth and women of La Paz and surrounding areas.