Prevent the next generation of street children

Here in La Paz it is summer! The children have finished their school year and are enjoying summer vacation!

The children at Kaya are forced at a very young age to learn to survive. Whether it is a 4 year old who is left alone to take care of her 2 year old sister or a 8 year old who must bring home a certain amount of money each evening or face abuse at the hands of his father, children are forced to grow up very early. Children come to Kaya from sleeping in ATM booths, from working 12-hour days on the streets, from abusive situations; these children have never had the opportunity to play like the precious children they are.

Our founding vision at Kaya was to restore childhood to those from whom it has been unceremoniously stolen and summer vacation is a great time for this! During the school year, one of the main activities and goals of the Kaya center is academic support. By the end of the year, both children and staff look forward to summer vacation when they have the opportunity to play, go on fieldtrips and explore the city of La Paz. Kaya has a summer program where children have the opportunity to visit museums and parks, go to the swimming pool, participate in dance and music classes, bake together, play sports and much more.

Liseth is a precious 6-year-old child who came to the Kaya Center at the beginning of this year. Initally, her mom didn’t allow her to attend because she had to take care of her two baby brothers. We worked with her mom to find childcare for the two babies so Liseth could attend school and Kaya. Liseth has spent much of her short life locked in her small, one-room home. She is responsible for much of the cleaning and cooking at her house. Before coming to Kaya, she had hardly left her neighborhood.

To get to accompany Liseth during summer vacation has been a great joy. She was amazed at the zoo seeing all the animals. She doesn’t stop smiling the whole time she is at the swimming pool. She loves making Christmas crafts and eagerly decorated the Kaya Center. She loves to bake and is the first to volunteer to help. Liseth is one of many children who for the first time this summer has had the opportunity to play and participate in the joys of childhood.

Each morning, nearly 70 children eagerly await the activities of the day. Summer vacation is normally when children spend more time on the streets and are forced to fend for themselves as their parents disappear for days at a time as they are partying for the holiday. This is a time when children are lost. However, Kaya offers a safe alternative for the children to come and celebrate the holidays in a healthy, fun manner. We assure the children stay fed and are taken care of during the time school is out and the children are the most vulnerable. In this holiday season, please consider how you can support Kaya as we restore childhood…one child at a time.