Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 1

Lorena, age 24,

Teacher: ages 8-13 Show Details

FROM:

• Lorena Caballero Roman

TO:

• Lillie Brumwell

Message flagged

Friday, July 15, 2011 6:27 PM

Message body

Hi Lillie, 

I'll be glad to help you because I worked for an organization that helps poor children to find an sponsor so they can study,have food and medical access. 

Poverty is a major issue in Bolivia and children are the most affected because if their parents don't have incomes to raise the family, kids have to work in order to help their parents and most of them can't go to school because of their extreme poverty. Another effects of poverty on children are illnesses, they live in places where there isn't running water, sewer, and they don't have medical insurance. Sometimes all the family has an only room to live so they use it as a kitchen and bedroom. Migration is another issue that we have to take into account as an effect of poverty, parents decide to go to other countries (Argentina, Spain and Italy) to earn money for raising their kids who are left with a relative. When children are left by their parents, they are prone to be victims of abuse or they can be gang members.

I'm sending you some files of kids that needed to be sponsored so you will see their reality.

 If you need more information just let me know :)

            The people of La Paz, Bolivia are farmers or street vendors living in poverty.  children suffer from malnutrition, illness caused from being malnourished, medication,  lack of early childhood stimulation, education and political unrest.  Farmers and/or street vendors do not have health insurance.

"On average , of the 255,00 infants born each year, 7,000 die in the first month, another 7,000 do not survive their first year." (http://www.unicef.org)

Almost half of the population in Bolivia is made up of children and adolescents.  Poverty living conditions cause a low level of physical, mental and cognitive development.  The rights of children have not yet been developed.   

There is a very high demand for child labor because it is so inexpensive.  Children work in sweatshops, vegetable fields, and mining.  For this reason children are sold to traffickers for as little as $3.00.  Without any education or form of normal childhood.  It is a form of slavery, confined, beaten and psychological wounded.  Adolescent girls are pregnant or are already mothers themselves.  Sexually transmitted deceases, including HIV/AIDS is constantly growing. 

Childcare centers are small, dark and lack supplies.  But the children are happy to make their instruments and use empty product boxes as toys.  If they are fortunate enough to attend they can be feed by one of the volunteer health and nutrition programs. 

http://www.unicef.org/bolivia

lapaz@unicef.org