Prevent the next generation of street children

“This is the first time in my life that I am full. It feels so weird not to be hungry. Is there always food here?”

Working at Kaya, I consider myself pretty tough. I have dealt with a lot of hard situations, witnessed awful circumstances and thought I had heard just about everything. However, there are moments that break my heart all over again, floor me, and remind me of the reality that our children deal with each day.

Recently Ricardo joined the Kaya family. Ricardo has a similar story to many of the children who call Kaya their home. After the devastation of losing his mother, he was left in the care of a family member who was abusive. To escape the abuse, he ran away to the streets. After being picked up by the police, he was taken to a state-run emergency shelter. It was at that shelter that a state social worker requested Ricardo come and live in Kaya’s Residential Program.

Ricardo arrived to Kaya so incredibly frightened. With just a simple look in his direction, he would turn away in fear. He arrived carrying only a plastic bag with a pair of sweat pants and one sweater. These were his only possessions. After lunch on his first day at Kaya, Ricardo looked at me and said, “This is the first time in my life that I am full. It feels so weird not to be hungry. Is there always food here?” The expression on his face was full of wonder and bewilderment. 

Later that day, Ricardo kept looking around and I asked what he was looking for. He quietly whispered, “Why aren’t there any policemen with guns here?” I cringed remembering Ricardo had just arrived from the state home where the kids are locked in houses with bars on the windows and policemen guarding the doors with guns. I swallowed a lump in my throat as I explained how things at Kaya are different.

Abuse, the streets, locked in, hunger—this is what Ricardo is accustomed to. In moments like these, it is easy to become overwhelmed with sadness. Ricardo's next question and my answer quickly reminded me how important it is we keep going. He asked, “How do you keep kids here if there are no police and locks?”

I could have answered we have great programs at Kaya, and we really do. We work hard so children have new opportunities. I could have said children stay because they have no other option but the streets, which also is true. But in that moment, I knew why the children really stay at Kaya: It is because at Kaya each child is loved. At Kaya they find a home where they are wanted and this simple fact makes them want to stay.

Because of you, we are able to welcome children like Ricardo into the Kaya family. Because of you, Ricardo is learning what it means to be loved by the Kaya staff, his Kaya brothers and by his perfect Heavenly Father. We cannot do this without your support. In the U.S. it is nearing summer when people will enjoy time in the sun; however, in Bolivia we are entering the winter months. While families in the U.S enjoy the fun time of vacation, Bolivian children are in the middle of their school year. The summer months are the most difficult time to raise funds here at Kaya, but it is critical that we do so. Please pray that we will raise the support needed for our children in Bolivia and please consider how you can support Kaya this summer.