Over 40% of Bolivia’s population lives in poverty. In La Paz, thousands of children live in the streets, many without family support; children of the streets have become a subset of Bolivia’s urban poor that receives little to no attention from the Bolivian government. UNICEF categorizes street children into three groupings: “Children at risk,” “Children on the street” and “Children of the street.”
“With cold hands and an empty stomach, walking without stopping, with the sole objective of surviving the endless night, and when the forces are about to abandon me, it is possible to see the dim light of dawn, and finally when the day, friends and life itself manage to make me smile, giving me strength to survive, I tell myself just one more day” were the words of one of those teenagers.
Surviving on the streets is a reality for many in the municipalities of La Paz and El Alto. Daily, thousands of people, including girls, boys, adolescents, and adults, face extreme poverty, violence, and an absence of parents. As a result, they search the streets for security, affection, and recognition that they cannot find at home.
Harsh realities of homelessness are reflected in the crude and cruel situations that people on the streets experience. Girls and boys are forced to beg for money and food, commit theft and robbery, abuse alcohol, and provide sexual services. These challenges result in physical deterioration, sexually transmitted infections, family separation, and, in some cases, early death. Despite their age or illness, those who survive must continue to pay their bills, and many end up living in poverty.
Addressing the adversities that homeless people face is crucial, but complex. The Arco Iris Foundation’s “Street Project” aims to provide answers and solutions to the difficulties that homeless people face. The project has professionals from the areas of Social Work, Psychology, Education, Legal, Health and Nutrition, who work with commitment and responsibility to help these people.
Support from the Arco Iris Foundation is focused on building mutual trust and creating an emotional bond with the people they help. With a friendly self-acceptance, people can begin the long-awaited process of social reintegration and build a new life project for the future.
Building a new life with effort requires daily struggle and determination for all children, adolescents, and adults who have found refuge on the streets. The technical team of the project reinforces and motivates people through personalized actions. With perseverance, homeless people can become functional and productive members of society
Helping Bolivian Street Children Through Education and Medical Care
