Sponsor's update from Potosi, Bolivia

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Potosi, Bolivia from Winter 2007

Dear sponsors,

It’s a great pleasure for us to write you once more and let you know about the SOS Children’s Villages Bolivia’s progress during this year. We thank you very much for your kind support, which allowed us to work with more than 13.000 beneficiaries in this year, from which, more than 1.400 live in a SOS Children’s Village. At first, we send you our cordial and warmest greetings from the highest city of Bolivia, Potosi, and we wish you success and all the best in your daily activities.

Let us tell you that the Village has 114 children and 14 families; they all are looking forward to welcome five new children who will be part of our community. Most of our children and adolescents are relating closely with their biological relatives. In September, one of our adolescents met her biological relatives after 9 years and they were also looking for her for a long lime, as they has told us. It was a moving and unexpected meeting for the adolescent.

Regarding the families of the community, one of the most important events is the moving of mother Lucia’s family out of the Village. That family has now a good level of autonomy and responsibility. The community of mothers and aunts participated actively in this process. In general, the families are being qualified constantly in their autonomy process, as they are co-responsible and agents of change for the better development of their daily activities in order to look after the children, youths and adolescents’ future well-being.

Supporting children and families in the community

Regarding the educative aspect, a good percentage of children are studying in private and covenant school this year in order to strengthen their social skills by relating with their surrounding society. Regarding school performance, many children and adolescents got good marks during the first two school trimesters thanks to their mothers and aunts’ support. However, there are some children who need a personalized school support.

Regarding the youth population, 12 youths are studying their technical career and most of them are living with their biological families, who are now co-responsible people of the care and attention of our adolescents, and which strengthens the family affective bonds. Two youths will finish their technical career next year.

Although most of the children are fine, we have Gonzalo, who is an emotionally instable adolescent for whom it’s hard to assume the house rules. That’s why, and in order to look after his well-being, we are working with her mother, Gonzalo and a professional psychologist to help him to overcome his behavior problems.

Regarding the Family Strengthening Program, this was a year for important objectives achievement. The increment of the covering to 1.096 children and 600 families contributed to the Program’s positioning in the communities. At the same time, it allowed us to make the local committees more responsible regarding the topic of children in Community Houses. Year after Year, the contribution of the local committees is growing and being strengthening.

Working in partnership with the community

In June, we called the leaders of the local committees, family committees and municipal districts to a meeting to review the reach of the program so far and, at the same time, to create new program proposals for a greater development with the community participation.

This was a meeting like no other before, because we realised the greater commitment toward the topic of children in their communities and their commitment to a greater participation, support and defense of the children’s rights.

Another important aspect that was developed during this year was the families’ strengthening as the fundamental base of the programme. The most important was an event carried out on September 22nd and which was addressed to strengthen the affective relationship of parents and children of community houses. That event was called “Meeting of couples: toward a life of protection for children”.

Regarding the woman-mother topic, this year was exclusively dedicated to develop actions for the prevention of the uterus cancer and the strengthening of the family economy through solidary micro-credits.

We thank you again for your unconditional support for children, adolescents and youths. I say goodbye wishing you much happiness on the coming holidays. Sincerely,

Juan de Dios Casas Maceda
Director Aldeas Infantiles SOS Potosí

Hoping this news have enabled you to feel a little bit closer to us, we would also like to invite you to visit us at our Website: www.sosbolivia.org.bo and have a glimpse at a little story about the children and the Christmas cards in “Queremos Contarte” section.

Regards and warm greetings for the coming holidays,

Paloma Delaine R.
Sponsorship Advisor
SOS Children Bolivia