Inequalities in north-eastern Bolivia in terms of education and access to water for young people

In Bolivia, illiteracy is one of the highest rates in Latin America, especially among women, and access to education is marked by significant disparities between urban and rural areas.

Since their arrival in 1951 in Trinidad Beni, in the north-east of the country, the Daughters of Charity have been working to provide education and healthcare to « this population struggling to escape poverty and marginalisation. »

Sr Isabel González Alcázar: Sr Isabel González Alcázar: « There are 19 ethnic groups trying to maintain their own culture and preserve the language of their ancestors. »

The region is affected by extreme weather events that destroy families' crops and affect children's health.

« Residents store non-potable water in cisterns and use rainwater for consumption. Most of the infrastructure is dilapidated: there is no sewage system, so ditches become stagnant, and rubbish collection is inadequate. »

Diseases such as malaria are among the leading causes of infant mortality for children under five. Children's vulnerability to malnutrition and stunted growth is exacerbated by the poverty and marginalisation of these indigenous families living in rural areas.

« The national government does not invest in this region, so there is no progress, no businesses or factories to provide jobs for workers, which is why young people are forced to emigrate in search of a better life in neighbouring countries such as Brazil, Chile and Argentina. »

Project: A laboratory room for quality science education at La Inmaculada School

The Daughters of Charity first founded the Santa Maria school. However, over the years, pressure grew to accept more students. So, in 2001, they opened the La Inmaculada educational unit in Nueva Trinidad, in the eastern part of the city of Trinidad.

Young people can study in safe, violence-free environments in a country where violence is still deeply ingrained in family attitudes.

« We raise awareness among parents to improve family relationships with their children, in order to create conditions conducive to their education. »

They can also have access to water, the internet, energy and sustainable sanitation.

At the same time, the school is committed to providing them with a high-quality scientific education in the fields of natural sciences, biology, geography, chemistry and physics.

« We are doing everything we can to ensure that these young people from poor families have access to the best courses and educational tools so that they are as well equipped as possible to pursue higher education at university. »

  It is therefore necessary to create and equip a laboratory room with experimental equipment for teaching these sciences to 750 primary and secondary school pupils.

« But we lack funds, and when we ask the Ministry of Education for support, they tell us that it is the responsibility of the municipality, and the municipality says there is no budget. » Sr Isabel González Alcázar

With the new school year just a few months away, the equipment in this laboratory will contribute to the success of young pupils and high school students.

Thank you for your support for this small-scale but high-impact project.

With them, thanks to you.

If the project is financed beyond the objective, the surplus of donations received will be allocated to a similar project.