Feed and educate children in El Alto, Bolivia

SUMMER UPDATE

In May, 3 HBF Directors (Matt, Lydia, and Eunice) traveled from Canada to Bolivia to spend time with the kids and see the new projects (HBF is 100% volunteer driven and every traveler pays their own way).  They packed their schedule with visits to the Juk'at Juk'ata Centre (JJC), Casa Kusisina (CK), the bakery, and the annual trip to Lake Titicaca with the children and their families.  They were very pleased with the progress of the programs and pleased to see the children thriving.

The JJC is full of light and cheer and the children are happy spending time there. They especially love to play outdoors on the large play area next door.  The educators are dedicated to the children and their families and that is apparent by how much they are adored by the kids. 

The bakery is doing tremendously well, with the second class of students ready to graduate this summer.  The City of El Alto now provides a professional teacher for the baking program, and entrepreneurship skills are also taught.  Several mothers have already started baking and selling their wares in the markets.  A pilot mico loan project is expected to start this Fall with the chosen candidate to receive a loan to purchase an oven for her home in order for her to increase what she is able to make and sell. 

Many families do not have ovens in their home.  This made the gingerbread party at the bakery a very special experience for the children who have never done this type of activity before.  HBF Director Lydia has been hosting gingerbread parties for 30 years in Canada so it was a natural to bring this experience to Bolivia. She has already started stocking up for next year's event! 

Signing an official agency agreement with Casa Kusisina was another big step for HBF.  Casa Kusisina is the only centre of its kind in El Alto, providing support to children with special needs.  HBF established a toy library, a psychomotor room, and a lunch program at Casa Kusisina.  This Centre, mostly run by volunteers,is only part time right now, but HBF hopes to grow it to a full time program as there is a waiting list of families who need this support for their children.  The Bolivian government is unable to provide services to the families that they need.  

Bolivia is currently facing a deepening economic crisis, marked by rising inflation, fuel shortages, and limited access to foreign currency. These challenges are not just national headlines — they’re hitting the communities HBF serves in very real ways. From the rising cost of food and school supplies to the difficulty of securing basic program resources, the impact is making it harder than ever to deliver services consistently.

That’s why your continued support means more than ever right now. Whether through a one-time gift or a monthly donation, you’re helping ensure that children in El Alto continue to receive nutritious meals, access to education, and a safe space to learn and grow — even in uncertain times.  Thank you for standing with the children when it matters most.