Give 100 kids hope for a better future in La Paz.

by Kaya Children International

Project Report | Dec 18, 2013
A Boy Named Grover

By John Eggen | Chair of the Board

It was May 2005. Michelle and I had been working in Bolivia for nine months. Kaya was completing construction of its first permanent home: the Barnabas House. For the past several years, the one and only home of what was then called the Bolivian Street Children Project was bursting at the seems. So this new home would not only transform our ministry, but would transform children's lives. We’d developed trusting relationships with children ready and waiting to enter a new life….

"Grover" was one of those young boys.

Living in a tarp under a bridge, Grover, who was by far the youngest in his group, had left an abusive home for life on the streets. He'd felt the heavy hands of abuse, and had been kept from attending school so that he could earn an income – something common among the children of Bolivia. Michelle and I had spoken with Grover many times about leaving the streets. And finally, the day had come. Grover’s only problem: the older boys wouldn’t let him leave (because he owed them 50 cents!) We took care of Grover’s debt and he came to live in our apartment as we awaited the opening of the new home. In the first weeks, we taught Grover some basic life lessons, from bathroom hygiene to trust. Having spent years wondering where his next meal would come from, Grover never left the table without squirreling away food in his pocket. Eventually, however, Grover adjusted and grew to love his life in the Kaya home.

But then one day, years later, Grover unexpectedly disappeared. He left the Kaya home and, despite our best efforts, we were unable to locate him. We feared the worst. Having buried more street children than we ever thought possible, our greatest fear was that Grover had returned to the streets and lost his precious life. But about a year later, Grover contacted us. He explained how he had tried to go home to help his family, but found that his family had not healed as he had. He realized that his home was not a safe place and -- being then an adolescent – decided to enroll in the military for his obligatoryservice.

This past summer, as I visited La Paz once again, I had the honor of seeing

Grover for the first time in many years. Having completed his military service, he lives on his own, and is planning to go to military college in the hopes of becoming an officer. Grover works an overnight shift at a bakery to save money. Even more, he continues to be in contact with his “Kaya Family” often even giving of his own money to help his “brothers” in their times of need. Grover’s story is one of an amazing transformation. He once lived a desperate life of abuse, neglect and hopelessness in the streets. Yet, today, he is a beacon of hope to everyone around him and his face glows with pride.

Since 1997, Kaya has made deep investments in the lives of the children we serve. As Grover’s story demonstrates, Kaya changes the life of a child forever. But the full cost of Kaya’s programs for a boy like Grover is about $350/month. I don’t know about you, but I think it's worth every penny. While we might struggle with our own financial issues, the cost of saving a life is “priceless.” Please consider making a gift to Kaya Children. Today, Kaya serves over 100 children in our programs, but we cannot do this work without partners like you. Will you join us?

Permalink

Aug 1, 2013
Making a Difference in Bolivia

By Sara Callard | Development Director

Children who have lived on the streets have so many needs. The basic need for food and shelter is obvious. Medical care and education are critically needed, and so vitally important too. But to feel that they are loved, that someone out there really cares about them, is far more important to the children than anything else. Which is why we at Kaya are so grateful for all of our volunteers who make the trip to Bolivia to work face-to-face with the children, taking the time to get to know each of them as unique and wonderful individuals. There is no amount of money that can buy what the children receive from caring volunteers who give the kids what they need most of all... LOVE!

Kaya volunteers hail from all over the globe, bringing different talents, languages, experiences and skills. Whether it's playing futbol or guitar, the children truly crave quality time with caring adults. Our latest group of volunteers from Germany have truly enjoyed working with the children, and a new volunteer just arrived last month from Belgium! Since she is a psychologist, she is helping to evaluate children when they first arrive.

A US volunteer, Katie Harris, is working alongside them. One of Katie's jobs at the house is to help plan the boys' birthday celebrations. When Katie first arrived at Kaya, it was clear to her that each staff member truly loved the kids. She says, “This makes the Kaya Center a very special place. The kids receive food, clothing and academic support, but – more importantly – they also receive encouragement, love and acceptance. One of the things I value most about the Kaya Center is that it is a space where our kids can be typical kids—they play, laugh and even sometimes fight.”

Your support means that the children at Kaya are able to spend their days in a safe environment, where they are loved, where they are able to dream big, and where they are able to just be kids. Thank you for recognizing the children at Kaya and playing a part in their lives. We are grateful for you!

Permalink

Apr 1, 2013
Thank you for your ongoing partnership with Kaya

By Sarah Kwok | Development Coordinator

Josue (age 11) and his brother, Fidel (age 9) moved into one of Kaya’s home earlier this year. They ran away from home two years earlier to escape abuse at the hands of their father. The dark, cold streets of La Paz were their home for nearly a year until their father went to jail. You can only imagine the excitement in these young boys hearts when they returned home to their mother and new stepfather.

Josue and Fidel’s family is extremely poor. Like many others, they live in crowded housing without sanitation, reliable running water or electricity. Josue and Fidel had to contribute to the household income in anyway possible. They guarded cars in the city streets, shined shoes and at times begged and stole. But life got even worse for the boys --their stepfather resented them. He denied them food, school fees and even at times refused to let them inside. A short time later, the physical abuse started again.

Despite having a family, Josue and Fidel were on the streets again until they arrived at Kaya. At Kaya, they are living in a safe haven escaping the violence and dangerous influences of the street. They are enrolled in school for the first time in nearly three years and receiving extra academic support. Through a new pilot program, Kaya is working with their mother. Our shared hope is for their reunification in a safe, healthy and loving environment. Most importantly, at Kaya, Josue and Fidel are learning that God loves them and has a plan for their lives.

It is a long, slow road. Many, many positive words of encouragement are needed to overcome the negative ones they have absorbed. Josue and Fidel, like many of Kaya’s children, have been beaten down for years. They are just starting to believe that there may be something different. Your support and ongoing partnership with Kaya helps make a difference in the lives of children like Josue and Fidel.

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 5 6 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.