Case studies: former SOS child Sucre, Bolivia

'I am grateful to life'

Cristina (24) is the name of the main character of this story. She is a former child from SOS Children's Village Sucre and, thanks to her call to the vocation of social service; she chose a profession that resembles the love she grew up with when she was a child.

Although she remembers the hard moments she lived with her biological family with grief, after the death of her parents she made sure for her life to change completely. She says that since she was welcomed by the SOS family of Adriana in 1996, she had felt like a 'bird in full flight'.

Adapting to the new life at the village was not easy. She missed her mother and was sad for a while, in spite of the happiness of her new brothers and sister. However, constant care and support by Adriana soon changed her mood and she soon found a way out of sadness.

Adriana says that, since she was a child, Cristina was always interested in music and dance and that her special ability to dance made her famous at the village. She really had talent.

'How right my mother is in remembering how much I liked music and dance when I was a child. Yes, even when I had problems, due to my age, when I was invited to a party, for example, I forgot about it', says Cristina.

Choosing a career
As it was time to take up a career, Cristina chose to study pre-school education in the city of Cochabamba in Bolivia. Her mind was inspired by the magic of children at the village, so, after a few years of studying, she was ready for her first internships. She worked at different pre-school centres where she was acknowledged for her dedication and patience at teaching children.

When she received her professional diploma three years later, she worked as a teacher at a prestigious educational centre in Cochabamba where she consolidated herself as a good professional. 'I just know that I could not fail in picking my career. I am grateful to life because I love my career and profession. I love to work with children.'

Family Ties

Cristina says that after living at the village, she never broke the ties to her SOS family. She says that she visits her family, especially her mom Adriana, every winter and summer vacation and that she used to get in touch with her often through Internet and telephone when she was in Cochabamba. And it was precisely on one of those trips to Sucre that she came across the Cultural Formation Centre Pachamama in Sucre. Today she works there at the prestigious centre which includes an interesting module of nursery school.

"I feel like this job is what I was looking for. Pachamama opened its gates to me and I am bringing out the best in me to teach the children who need to develop their knowledge and their artistic and cultural abilities, and achieve full development", comments Cristina in an interview at her workplace.

Finally, Cristina highlights that it is never late to learn about reaching our dreams. Among some of her plans is completing university studies in child education. She decided to reach her dreams mainly because she feels that she has got a great family at the village that will her support her always, no matter what path she will take.

SOS Children has been working in Bolivia since 1968, and has nine unique children's villages based at El Alto, Jordan, Mallasa, Oruro, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Sucre, Tarija and Ticuipaya. These children's villages care for more than children while community programmes reach a further children and their families in local neighbourhoods.

You can support children like Cristina by sponsoring a child.