Who are the people?
Most of Bolivia’s families are Native American or mestizo, meaning they are of mixed Spanish and Native American descent. Nearly half of these families make their living as farmers. However, the lack of proper tools and reliable transportation makes it difficult for many parents to earn a sufficient income and support their children.

Sometimes families leave their rural communities and move to the city in search of better-paying jobs. But there they find a different kind of poverty. Employment is difficult to find, so many people turn to drugs or other illegal activities to cope with their hardships.

World Vision is working among the poorest of Bolivia’s families, who have an especially hard time making ends meet. Parents want to provide a better life for their children, but their earnings are often meager and not nearly enough to meet the most basic of needs. They long for the hope that sponsorship brings.

Due to recent political and economic crises, many Bolivians are seeking help and hope, and many are turning to faith. Through child sponsorship, World Vision works alongside families and entire communities to transform the future for their children.
Most of Bolivia’s families are Native American or mestizo, meaning they are of mixed Spanish and N

Country Comparison	Bolivia	United States
Population	9 million	295.4 million
Land Mass	418,683 sq. miles	3,537,439 sq. miles
Life Expectancy	64 years	78 years
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000)	54	7
Literacy Rate	87%	97%
Primary School Enrollment	78%	92%
Access to Safe Water	85%	100%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)	$960	$41,400

Religion

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What is it like to live there?
One of the poorest countries in Latin America, Bolivia’s poverty levels are high at 63 percent, which increases in rural areas. Much of Bolivia’s population is concentrated in only 10 percent of the geographic area, the cold Altiplan plateau.

Less than half of Bolivia’s families have adequate sanitation. Diseases such as dysentery, malaria, and tuberculosis are common, and the country now has one of the highest infant mortality rates in South America. During the winter, children are prone to severe respiratory infections, and many families have no money for medical treatment. Child sponsorship is providing medicines and training to greatly improve health care for families.

Transportation also is a matter for concern. Few roads are paved and many become flooded during the rainy season. This makes transporting goods difficult and cuts off food supplies and medical aid. During such times, it
may take several months for your sponsored child to send or receive any correspondence.

The country’s official language is Spanish, but Quechua, Aymara, and Guarani also are spoken. Bolivia is home to the beautiful Andes mountains, which span the western part of the country from north to south.
One of the poorest countries in Latin America, Bolivia’s poverty levels are high at 63 percent, wh
Bolivia Projects
With the support of generous donors like you, World Vision is partnering with families throughout Bolivia to build brighter futures filled with hope for their children.

Many activities are under way to help meet immediate needs and promote lasting changes that will strengthen communities and move families toward self-reliance.

Overall program goals include:

• Constructing new classrooms and providing school supplies to create a positive learning environment for sponsored children.
• Establishing tutoring programs to help struggling students and reduce the school dropout rate.
• Immunizing young children against potentially deadly childhood diseases.
• Teaching mothers about the importance of hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention to ensure good health for their children.
• Equipping parents with vocational skills such as masonry and weaving to help them increase their income and better provide for their children.
• Training farmers in agricultural skills that will help them grow more nutritious foods for their families.
• Developing water sources to provide families with safe, clean water.
• Organizing Bible camps for children.

• Pray that your sponsored child might be open to God’s love and grace.
• Ask God to guide your sponsored child as he or she learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
• Pray for God to protect the health of your sponsored child and his or her family.

Please click here to peruse online picture folders of children from this country.