Help Bolivian Children Living in Poverty

Dr. Darlene Melk (Chief Medical Officer) and Dr. Lisa Hunt (Board) are preparing for their next trip to Bolivia, which will occur in late spring. Often, our supporters ask us - "What new project will you start when you are down there, this time?" They are often surprised when we respond, "No new projects!" See, what's important for our work is sustainability. Our goal is to keep improving and maintaining those improvements on what we are already doing: Providing life-saving and life-changing medical and social interventions for children who have absolutely no other options. We focus on high-quality health outcomes, nutrition, and intensive physical / speech therapy leading to more independence and inclusion in both their families and their communities. 

On each trip, Drs. Melk and Hunt see each and every child who is part of the Rosa Vera Fund. These medical evaluations take place either at La Escuelita, where RVF patients receive physical / speech / occupational therapy and special education, or  alternatively, the medical evaluations take place in the child's home, with their caregivers.

La Escuelita - the Little School - is busy every day with a regular influx of patients, caregivers, and siblings. Children with special healthcare needs require careful attention; evaluations at La Escuelita allow medical professionals to coordinate care with specialists, and therapists. In addition, each patient - and their siblings - is provided with a warm nourishing meal. 

Home visits give the advantage of allowing the doctors see the living environment of their patient, and allow them to make recommendations for specialized care. For example, how does a caregiver prepare warm, nourishing meals when they do not have electricity for a stove or refrigerator? How far does the parent have to carry the child (or push their wheelchair) to public transportation? Does the family have access to clean drinking water? 

On the upcoming visit, special focus will be on the numerous children recently added to the Fund, in order to create a tailored plan - along with the recommendations of Bolivian medical professionals - to create treatment providing the best possible outcome for each child. 

Thank you for all you do in helping us provide these basic-yet-innovative medical and social interventions to the children we work with in Bolivia!

Sincerely,

After four years of only virtual contact, Dr. Lisa Hunt and Dr. Darlene Melk returned to Bolivia to reconnect with our project. Although short, the trip was full of familiar faces, places, and routines with new children, new staff, and fresh ideas.

As the fund’s medical director, Dr. Melk was delighted by the project’s resilience despite the pandemic and the challenges that come with providing healthcare to impoverished children.

The Rosa Vera Fund recently updated our care standards. We now support children with chronic conditions for a period of three years rather than up to their 21^st birthday. All agree that the results validate this new approach. The 20 most recent cases have come in with a greater sense of appreciation and urgency. The families are highly motivated to maximize the time with our therapists and to learn all they can to best care for their child over the long haul.

Another positive change has been the addition of a coordinator. Lourdes Plata joined the team in 2021 and works out of an administrative office at La Escuelita where she screens potential new cases and meets with currently enrolled children who need her assistance. She also organizes and runs the parent support group meetings and fundraising events, and even attends specialist visits when possible in order to move cases forward.

Each year, at the conclusion of our work trip, the team holds a “despedida,” or farewell celebration. Many local leaders attend to publicly express gratitude for our efforts in helping the most vulnerable children in their community. This year the festivities took place on the street right outside La Escuelita. For the first time, it was held outdoors to accommodate the large number of children and families attending.

One by one, the children and caregivers arrived.  Whether carried or pushed in wheelchairs, all the children showed up with smiles on their faces, happy to be a part of this special community. Emphasizing that our resources are limited, Dr. Melk reminded everyone present that they were chosen because of their demonstrated commitment as advocates for their children. These parents are some of the most resilient and patient human beings we have had the privilege of knowing.

At the despedida, Dr. Melk explained that the Rosa Vera Fund was founded 18 years ago with the mission of helping vulnerable children living with chronic conditions. Because we rely on the healthcare infrastructure where the children live, we must partner with a local team whom we can trust with our funds and who will carry out the work. We have been very fortunate to collaborate with a team in Bolivia that has shown outstanding leadership and commitment. They have demonstrated that with a vision, the right partnerships, compassion, and persistence, you can create something incredible where you might least expect it.

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