Sponsor's update from Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Santa Cruz,
Bolivia from Winter 2007/2008.

Dear sponsors,

It’s our great pleasure to write you again and let you know about the progress of SOS Children Bolivia during this year. We are very grateful for your kind support that has allowed us to work with over 13000 beneficiaries this year, from which more than 1400 live at an SOS Children’s Village.

I’m glad to write you again because I have the opportunity to share some situations and experiences about children, youths and, in general, about our Village.

Currently, we have all the family spaces for children covered since we welcome 13 new children in five of our families. They all arrived with many expectations and the dream of finding a new family, although they also had some fears as they were victims of partial orphanage and abandon by their parents. This is the case of Ximena, Angie, Roger, Daniel, Rodrigo and Emmanuel, biological siblings, who were supported in an assistance way at first as they were in social risk. Their mother was condemned. We helped this family during almost 6 months previous they entered the Village. When their mother died, the children were affectionately welcome by Mrs. Rosa, the mother in charge of one of our families. Their adaptation was favorable as they lost their fears in short time and now we can see emotionally healthy children.

One sad situation during this year was the case of a group of siblings, children of mother Eva Calizaya, who lost their older biological sister, who died some months ago. It was a great loss for them.

Some youths are standing out favorably in the cruceña society as they are working and studying. Ricardo, son of one of our families, is in charge of a company that purchases and sells computers; with effort, will and commitment, he got the position he has now. Other similar case is Sergio Luis’s, who is an outstanding youth among a group of youths because of his attitudes and interest in the Promotion and Commercial Marketing area. The case of other youth might be different from the other ones as he had behavior problems. He decided, on free will, to enter a therapeutic program where he’s doing well and getting great achievements.

In the Village we also had special events for youths like the wedding of Rafael, who is now in the Independization stage and moved forward to a new stage in his life. Likewise, three youths are expecting babies and they will be born during the next months and will be given all the love, care and protection they need together with their parents.

Let me tell you also that, as well as we welcome new children, some adolescents leave their families to live in Youth Facilities as part of a new stage in their lives. Twelve youths will be part of this new stage. One of the youths who is in the Advising stage, finished his technical career in Agronomy and other youth is studying Infirmary in a private university with her own economical resources as well as the economical support of the Village.

Regarding youths, we helped two of them who live outside the Village (independent youths) so they can open their own micro-enterprises; one of them is related to the Agricultural Production area and the other one is related to the Cosmetics and Jewelry promotion area.

Events at Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Among other topics, by the middle of this year, we had the opportunity to incorporate four persons who were postulating to become aunts and who are now in the orientation stage. Later, they will start their education at the Mothers’ School in Cochabamba City to get their medium technician degree. We also have two aunts who finished their education in Level III and now are waiting for their appointment as ‘SOS MOTHERS’.

Regarding the technical area of the Organisation, we can mention the improvement of the welcome process for new children promoting the participation of the biological family and community. Likewise, we were being working on supporting families who are in social risk in a city periphery neighborhood called ‘Plan Tres Mil’, which is a neighborhood economically depressed.

Among the outstanding events of the year to collect money for children, we had the performance of a vocal group who is well-known in our city as they have a varied musical repertoire and play local, regional and national music. This event was carried out at the Cultural Centre of the Franco-Aleman School and about 250 people attended then. It’s important to pint out that the members of this group are ‘SOS Friends’.

In the Family Strengthening Programme to prevent the infantile abandon in Santa Cruz, we assist 1934 children and 1489 families in 61 Community Houses and Community Centers that are located in communities considered in social risk and with high poverty index.

Projects for children in need

Within the Child Component, we had the second prevention campaign for participant children where they had antiparasitical medicines and their vaccines completed. Likewise, to improve the service quality of the Initial Education Service, 153 Community Mothers were qualified on the Montessori Method, which had success and was well accepted by the mothers.

Within the Family Component, 63 families that are in social risk elaborated their life plans and we are carrying out a modular program since September; it’s addressed to the strengthening of the couple’s relationships.

Within the Woman Component, 200 mothers are being qualified in fast and technical jobs for them to improve their economical incomes through Cloth Painting, Manicure, Macramé and other workshops; 95 women finished the Self-Esteem Strengthening Programme.

Within the Community Component, we have 61 family committees that work actively on the development of the Community Houses and Centers. Eighteen committees organized two cultural fairs: ‘Bolivia Unida’ and ‘Bolivia Paz y Unidad’, whose objective was to propitiate a cultural integration. Representatives of Family Committees were qualified on topics about leadership, self-esteem and human relationships; these workshops allowed them to strengthen their community leadership and their management.

At the SOS School, nowadays, we have 710 children and adolescents. Three children in every class have families who migrated to other countries because of the difficult situation they go through in our country. Generally, the mother is who leaves, which rebound in the children’s school performance and behavior.

As a program, we are developing different activities like sport, ecological and business projects in order to give the students the opportunity to build up their knowledge in a significant way. We are emphasizing the management of an enterprising and constant excelling spirit.
During this second term, we had many activities and celebrations like the Child’s Day, when we had workshops about the Children and Adolescents’ Rights, contests and games. We also had workshops about toys elaboration and expositions in the ‘II Meeting of Enterprising Bolivia Network’ with the participation of high school students. Finally, the theater cast had performances in external theater festivals at Casa de la Cultura, NUR University and Montero City.

We send you our best regards from the children and families of SOS Children’s Villages Santa Cruz-Bolivia. Sincerely,

Regards and warm greetings for the coming holidays,

Guido Pecho Rivero, Director of SOS Children’s Villages Santa Cruz & Paloma Delaine R., Sponsorship Advisor, SOS Children Bolivia