A school, perched in the middle of nowhere
I’ve just returned from Bolivia where I’ve been working with sponsored children in some incredibly isolated and hard to reach places.
After driving for hours on a rocky dusty road and then trekking down a mountainside, we reached a school hidden deep in the valley, a modest two room mud brick building with a Bolivian flag flying on a mast in the yard. The flag had a gaping hole where the wind ripped through it. This was typical of the communities I visited during my trip.
Working with the kids was a lot of fun, the purpose of my trip was to help children to tell their own stories in their own words, helping them to develop their voices and story writing skills. We played circle time games to encourage talking and sharing thoughts and feelings. We then broke down into smaller groups of ‘talk partners and a scribe’ to help them write stories about their lives and their experiences.
I think the children’s stories will give you the best picture of what it is like to grow up in these harsh but beautiful surroundings.
Alex one of our budding story writers
“In my community there is many mountains very big. I like the trees, the pines are very big. Once, I went up to a pine I was playing with my friends and very happy. Another day, we went to the river with my friends, Marcos, Ruben, we took a bath it was very much warming. The water was hot. I still don’t know to swim and I will learn.
I like to walk sometimes I like to run with my friends. Also I like riding bicycle because it goes faster I can feel wind and I so feel happy. One day I would like to have a bicycle to play in my community and I would lend it to my little brothers.” Alex, 13yrs
Bolivia is a stunning but difficult country. 48% of children there live in extreme poverty, not surprising when you see the environment they try to scratch a living from. Growing food here is very difficult, which means malnutrition is a big issue. The following child’s story highlights some of the more difficult aspects of living in these isolated communities.
“In my community it’s too much hot and also cold. When it rains the river grows and there is a lot of water and we cannot cross to the front side. When it rains I just stay home and I cannot get to the other community. We get diseases and cold temperatures bad smells in our community.
I like spring because there are many flowers and a lot of fruit and vegetables, there is more to eat and to take a bath in the river with the warm water. Also in spring I like to play soccer and some like to play on the green grass. Because of rains more, corn, beans, alfa it grows more, to feed the cow and also grass to feed the sheeps and the goats.”
Enjoying ‘circle time’ with the children
Writing was a really big challenge for virtually all the children I encountered. Put a pen in a child’s hand and ask them to write and you will receive a blank expression and a blank piece of paper. Ask them to draw and no one struggles, creating something immediately. It was evident the Bolivian children I worked with are rich in artistic expression and ‘visual language’ and less so in oral and written communication. However, as you can read, they wrote some really great pieces using the Storytellers Map and Cards. The tool along with time and patience will foster some great storytellers, for sure.
“My favourite song is; “Wachi Wachi Turito” because its very pretty, happy I dance with it, these are the words of the song:
“Catch the bull with the rope
Little bull from the mountain
Catch the bull with the rope
Over there you go little bull
Over the plants go jumping”
I listen this song at school, I learnt this song in Candelaria. My teacher Heidi Pinaya Bellido taught me this song when I was fourth grade this year.” Sergio, 11yrs
Learning outdoors – not bad when you have such beautiful surroundings
I hope this has helped to give you a glimpse into what life is like for children in Bolivia, and for those of you who sponsor a child there I hope this will help you to understand them and their environment a little better.
If you’d like to see some more photos of my trip you can take a look at the World Vision Facebook page. If you’ve got any questions for me then please just post them below and I’ll get back to you.
If you’ve been inspired by this blog you may also like to consider sponsoring a child in Bolivia.
Steve Richards is a Children’s Communications Specialist with World Vision UK. His work seeks to give the children we work with the skills and confidence to write and speak for themselves in their own words. He has just returned from conducting story writing workshops in Bolivia.
Fabulous piece – makes my sponsorship even more real. I’ve been to Bolivia and your photos and stories take me back there – what I loved the most was the simple life and the smiles – no matter how poor it seems Bolivian children can laugh at themselves and the world. Looking forward to following your blogs, thanks Kat
Thanks Kathy … it’s great that you can relate your experiences to mine .. what an incredible place! You’re right … they are rich in so many ways despite their poverty …
One of the things that I have learnt though, working for years with impoverished communities is that; just because people are smiling, doesn’t mean they are happy. Many parents will smile for their children to give them hope…whilst crying inside….
Thanks for your sponsorship – it’s a great thing and brings hope!
Steve
Dear Steve:
I enjoyed seeing your photos of Bolivia and realize what a desolate country it is plus how some of the regions are so isolated.
My sponsorred child is Alejandrina, aged 11, and resides in the Sacaca disrict. Did you, by any chance, visit this region if so I’d love to receive some information.
Many thanks for keepming us in touch with your helping work in improvong the health and education of these children.
K. Mavis wright
Hi K, sorry for my delay in response, I’ve been off the radar in Bihar state India…
I went to Sacaca but didn’t meet Alejandrina to the best of my knowledge. Let me know what sort of information you’re interested in and I will endeavour to provide it…
It is an absolute honour to serve these communities….
Steve
Many thanks Steve, we sponsor a child in Bolivia and it’s very insightful to hear the stories and see the photographs of your trip. Well done for the excellent work you have done with the children. Regards, Stuart
Hi Stuart… It’s a priviledge to work with the children and staff. I’m glad you enjoyed the stories and photo’s. Thanks for the support.
Steve
Thank you Steve for this insight into the life of my sponsored child, Elias. Though i should probably say “young man” as he is now fifteen. i am interested to hear more about schools in Bolivia. At what age would young people generally leave and what opportunities are there for them? Will any be able to go to college or do more than join their parents in subsistence farming? The last photo I had of Elias he was definitely wearing a school uniform.
Best wishes
Cas
Hi Cas, thanks for your comment. I’m on a major time delay with Bolivia at the moment, about 10hrs as I’m in India. I will enquire regarding the schooling with a colleague and get back to your when I can.
From what I can understand children leave school around 16, however, my experience is that there were a variety of ages of children in schools and some were ‘kept back’ a year or two depending on ability etc. I think most go into farming, a lot of young people seem to migrate to the cities/towns in search of work… one child always remains in the village to look after parents/grandparents. A bit like how it used to be in the UK with last born children.
Best
Steve
Hi Steve, I have sponsored Victoria for a number of years and have really loved being part of her life. Can you tell me how long my sponsorship is to continue as I suppose it has a finite time for the project ?
Hi Coral,
Generally speaking most children are sponsored to around 18yrs of age. Sponsorship with particular children ends when the project comes to the end of its life cycle, which is usually around 15yrs.
Your sponsorship is so important and there is always an opportunity to continue sponsorsing other children in need. Either in Bolivia or another context. All of our ADP’s are in the same area so it would likely to be a continuation of the experience that you’ve already had – having said that, as you know children are diverse and therefore this is a variable.
Thanks Coral.
Steve
Thank you for all your work with these children Steve – I sponsor a beautiful girl called Claudia in Bolivia – it is lovely to see an insight into their lives and this country.
Hi Jennee… so glad you can be a part of Claudia and her communities life…
You are doing a really positive thing – thank you
Great article Steve. We sponsor a lovely boy in Bolivia called Bautista. He’s now 9 and we’ve been sponsoring him since he was 4 – he’s the same age as my son Finlay and it’s always really interesting to read his letters and compare his experiences with those of Fin.
Fantastic Kirsten! I’d be interested to know what you find interesting about his letters and what sort of experiences he shares…
What do you think makes a good letter?
Steve
Wonderfull article and superb photos of the people and the area. Iam very new to this started sponsering a little 3yr old girl Sayda in sep last year ,had letter from her mum telling me about their lives and that she looks after the crops and animals. I could only imagine what it was like for them untill now ,but after seeing your article I have a very clear picture of wher they liveand the difficulties and hardship they face every day.and what was so thrilling for me I saw little sayda in her home surroundings.Thank you so much and all the other lovely people who face the very hazerdous journey to take and deliver all of our letters.To all of you please keep safe.At what age do children start school?
Hi Agnes, Thanks for your comments, great to be able to share this experience with you. I saw kindergartens (under 5′s) and then they go onto primary and secondary. However, I also experienced mixed age groups. This is dependent on ability and when the first start attending school.
Steve
Steve, really appreciate that you and world vision, make school fun. Where you anywhere near Bolivar? As I am not sure how many areas of Boliva, world vision is in. My girl is 11years old. In these rural communities are there any jobs for girls?, excepts”wife’s “, At the schools is it an equal divide of the sexes? Also between children that are sponsored and those that are not?
enjoy India
Joan supporter 112783824
Child 172262-4594
Hi Joan,
Basically, for paid work villagers move to the city… for example women would be maids or cooks.
Girls help with cooking and on the land.
Some are day labourers and are hired casually, partiularly during harvest time.
They tend to help with domestic labour.
Actually there are no paidt jobs for them in this extreme remote context. The work just for food, some of them become maids for other people in their houses in that way they can have food and a place to live, but they used to be like domestic ‘slaves’, receiving no money just board and food… However, these things are changing… thank goodness…
Steve