BoliviaBolivia

Helping moms & babies in Bolivia

You are changing the lives of moms and babies. Here’s how.

Mom's & BabiesMom's & Babies
Helping moms & babies in Bolivia
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The Need

Of the 5.2 million children who die around the world each year, 75 per cent die in the first year of life. Babies are at risk of death due to premature birth complications, complications during childbirth, infections, pneumonia and diarrhea. But this is preventable. With training and support, moms in poverty can be empowered to raise healthy and happy babies.

Our Response

Critical care
Your support helps secure access to pre- and postnatal care, skilled birth attendants and medical intervention when necessary.

Home-based care
Mothers are visited in their homes monthly by a Survival specialist, who offers education in prenatal care and early child-rearing as well as one-on-one biblical mentoring.

Group-based learning
At these church-based activities, moms learn skills to earn an income and gain vital knowledge including basic literacy, the importance of breastfeeding and how to prevent malnutrition and disease. These groups combat isolation through a supportive community of mothers who, together, learn about the God who loves them.

Bolivia Stats

Average number of children in household 5
Average age of first-time mothers 16
Births attended by skilled health personnel 50
Stunted growth from malnutrition 27

Activities

Early stimulation: Staff taught caregivers how to perform early stimulation exercises for their babies through songs, play and touch to help with their emotional, cognitive and physical development. At the church, moms had access to a playroom containing age-appropriate activities and toys for babies to play with and explore in a safe environment. Pregnant mothers were also taught how to bond with their babies while still in the womb through pregnancy stimulation exercises.

Income generation: Moms learned vital business skills to help them generate an income and provide for their families. For example, caregivers were taught how to prepare and make pizzas. They will be able to use these skills to prepare meals for their families and homemade pizzas they can sell to others in their community.

Hygiene: Families received hygiene kits containing important items to help keep their homes and children clean. Participants also attended hygiene workshops that included topics such as the importance of hand washing, how to reduce the spread of illnesses and how to correctly use soap.

Spiritual nurture: When they first entered the program, mothers received Bibles, notebooks, pens and markers to help promote at-home Bible studies and devotionals. Some families did not have a Bible at home and were thankful to be able to read it and share their faith with their children. Program staff also prayed with families, shared the gospel and offered spiritual counsel during group activities and home visits.

Nutrition: Caregivers received food baskets containing a variety of food items, allowing them to prepare and cook nutritious meals for their families and prevent malnutrition. Families were so grateful to receive nutritious foods! Moms were also encouraged to breastfeed their children since it contains all their babies need for growth and development and protects against infections.

Physical health: Mothers attended medical checkups with their children. During checkups, babies received a physical exam as well as height and weight checks to track their growth and identify any potential health problems such as under nutrition or illnesses. Pregnant moms were also given medical care and program staff taught mothers what to expect during pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period.

Project Stats

This intervention addressed:

Full-term births 24
Pregnancies 12
Breastfeeding Moms 10
Malnourished Babies - Severely Underweight 3
Attended births 12
Malnourished Babies - Moderately Underweight 10
Normal birth weights 24
Early stimulation: Staff taught caregivers how to perform early stimulation exercises for their babies through songs, play and touch to help with their emotional, cognitive and physical development. At the church, moms had access to a playroom containing age-appropriate activities and toys for babies to play with and explore in a safe environment. Pregnant mothers were also taught how to bond with their babies while still in the womb through pregnancy stimulation exercises.
Early stimulation: Staff taught caregivers how to perform early stimulation exercises for their babies through songs, play and touch to help with their emotional, cognitive and physical development. At the church, moms had access to a playroom containing age-appropriate activities and toys for babies to play with and explore in a safe environment. Pregnant mothers were also taught how to bond with their babies while still in the womb through pregnancy stimulation exercises.
Early stimulation: Staff taught caregivers how to perform early stimulation exercises for their babies through songs, play and touch to help with their emotional, cognitive and physical development. At the church, moms had access to a playroom containing age-appropriate activities and toys for babies to play with and explore in a safe environment. Pregnant mothers were also taught how to bond with their babies while still in the womb through pregnancy stimulation exercises.
Early stimulation: Staff taught caregivers how to perform early stimulation exercises for their babies through songs, play and touch to help with their emotional, cognitive and physical development. At the church, moms had access to a playroom containing age-appropriate activities and toys for babies to play with and explore in a safe environment. Pregnant mothers were also taught how to bond with their babies while still in the womb through pregnancy stimulation exercises.
Early stimulation: Staff taught caregivers how to perform early stimulation exercises for their babies through songs, play and touch to help with their emotional, cognitive and physical development. At the church, moms had access to a playroom containing age-appropriate activities and toys for babies to play with and explore in a safe environment. Pregnant mothers were also taught how to bond with their babies while still in the womb through pregnancy stimulation exercises.
Early stimulation: Staff taught caregivers how to perform early stimulation exercises for their babies through songs, play and touch to help with their emotional, cognitive and physical development. At the church, moms had access to a playroom containing age-appropriate activities and toys for babies to play with and explore in a safe environment. Pregnant mothers were also taught how to bond with their babies while still in the womb through pregnancy stimulation exercises.
Income generation: Moms learned vital business skills to help them generate an income and provide for their families. For example, caregivers were taught how to prepare and make pizzas. They will be able to use these skills to prepare meals for their families and homemade pizzas they can sell to others in their community.
Income generation: Moms learned vital business skills to help them generate an income and provide for their families. For example, caregivers were taught how to prepare and make pizzas. They will be able to use these skills to prepare meals for their families and homemade pizzas they can sell to others in their community.
Income generation: Moms learned vital business skills to help them generate an income and provide for their families. For example, caregivers were taught how to prepare and make pizzas. They will be able to use these skills to prepare meals for their families and homemade pizzas they can sell to others in their community.
Income generation: Moms learned vital business skills to help them generate an income and provide for their families. For example, caregivers were taught how to prepare and make pizzas. They will be able to use these skills to prepare meals for their families and homemade pizzas they can sell to others in their community.
Hygiene: Families received hygiene kits containing important items to help keep their homes and children clean. Participants also attended hygiene workshops that included topics such as the importance of hand washing, how to reduce the spread of illnesses and how to correctly use soap.
Hygiene: Families received hygiene kits containing important items to help keep their homes and children clean. Participants also attended hygiene workshops that included topics such as the importance of hand washing, how to reduce the spread of illnesses and how to correctly use soap.
Spiritual nurture: When they first entered the program, mothers received Bibles, notebooks, pens and markers to help promote at-home Bible studies and devotionals. Some families did not have a Bible at home and were thankful to be able to read it and share their faith with their children. Program staff also prayed with families, shared the gospel and offered spiritual counsel during group activities and home visits.
Spiritual nurture: When they first entered the program, mothers received Bibles, notebooks, pens and markers to help promote at-home Bible studies and devotionals. Some families did not have a Bible at home and were thankful to be able to read it and share their faith with their children. Program staff also prayed with families, shared the gospel and offered spiritual counsel during group activities and home visits.
Spiritual nurture: When they first entered the program, mothers received Bibles, notebooks, pens and markers to help promote at-home Bible studies and devotionals. Some families did not have a Bible at home and were thankful to be able to read it and share their faith with their children. Program staff also prayed with families, shared the gospel and offered spiritual counsel during group activities and home visits.
Spiritual nurture: When they first entered the program, mothers received Bibles, notebooks, pens and markers to help promote at-home Bible studies and devotionals. Some families did not have a Bible at home and were thankful to be able to read it and share their faith with their children. Program staff also prayed with families, shared the gospel and offered spiritual counsel during group activities and home visits.
Nutrition: Caregivers received food baskets containing a variety of food items, allowing them to prepare and cook nutritious meals for their families and prevent malnutrition. Families were so grateful to receive nutritious foods! Moms were also encouraged to breastfeed their children since it contains all their babies need for growth and development and protects against infections.
Nutrition: Caregivers received food baskets containing a variety of food items, allowing them to prepare and cook nutritious meals for their families and prevent malnutrition. Families were so grateful to receive nutritious foods! Moms were also encouraged to breastfeed their children since it contains all their babies need for growth and development and protects against infections.
Nutrition: Caregivers received food baskets containing a variety of food items, allowing them to prepare and cook nutritious meals for their families and prevent malnutrition. Families were so grateful to receive nutritious foods! Moms were also encouraged to breastfeed their children since it contains all their babies need for growth and development and protects against infections.
Nutrition: Caregivers received food baskets containing a variety of food items, allowing them to prepare and cook nutritious meals for their families and prevent malnutrition. Families were so grateful to receive nutritious foods! Moms were also encouraged to breastfeed their children since it contains all their babies need for growth and development and protects against infections.
Nutrition: Caregivers received food baskets containing a variety of food items, allowing them to prepare and cook nutritious meals for their families and prevent malnutrition. Families were so grateful to receive nutritious foods! Moms were also encouraged to breastfeed their children since it contains all their babies need for growth and development and protects against infections.
Nutrition: Caregivers received food baskets containing a variety of food items, allowing them to prepare and cook nutritious meals for their families and prevent malnutrition. Families were so grateful to receive nutritious foods! Moms were also encouraged to breastfeed their children since it contains all their babies need for growth and development and protects against infections.
Nutrition: Caregivers received food baskets containing a variety of food items, allowing them to prepare and cook nutritious meals for their families and prevent malnutrition. Families were so grateful to receive nutritious foods! Moms were also encouraged to breastfeed their children since it contains all their babies need for growth and development and protects against infections.
Nutrition: Caregivers received food baskets containing a variety of food items, allowing them to prepare and cook nutritious meals for their families and prevent malnutrition. Families were so grateful to receive nutritious foods! Moms were also encouraged to breastfeed their children since it contains all their babies need for growth and development and protects against infections.
Physical health: Mothers attended medical checkups with their children. During checkups, babies received a physical exam as well as height and weight checks to track their growth and identify any potential health problems such as under nutrition or illnesses. Pregnant moms were also given medical care and program staff taught mothers what to expect during pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period.
Physical health: Mothers attended medical checkups with their children. During checkups, babies received a physical exam as well as height and weight checks to track their growth and identify any potential health problems such as under nutrition or illnesses. Pregnant moms were also given medical care and program staff taught mothers what to expect during pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period.
Vanessa

ReportA message from a caregiver

My name is Vanessa and my son’s name is David. I have been participating for five months in the Survival program.

During the short time that I have been in the program I have learned that I am a wonderful creation of God. In the past, my life was very different and I did not understand the love of God but now I understand that He loves me, and as He loves me I must love and care for my children and my family.
Before, it was difficult because of the situation of the country of Bolivia to have or eat balanced and nutritious food and I did not have a complete basket to prepare food for my baby and less for my family. Now the program gives me a food basket and hygiene kit to support my hygiene and my protection against bacteria and viruses, especially in this time of pandemic.

It is a great blessing to be welcomed in the Survival group, I can count on spiritual learning in the home visits and group activities in the playroom, and I will also be instilling values and principles to my baby because that is what the implementer teaches me. My child listens attentively when I am praying or reading the Bible. My favourite activity at home is to worship God.

I really enjoy the early stimulation activities because it is something new for me and I practise it at home with my son. The extracurricular activities and entrepreneurship that we do, such as pastry or chocolate products, bakery, knitting, etc., are activities where I have been able to see my skills and put them into practise to generate income and sell to my friends.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the help you give me. May God fill you with many blessings. I will always be praying that God will take care of your entrance and exit and I ask you to pray for my family and for all those around me.

With much love and affection,

Vanessa
Yessica

ReportA message from those your gift helped

My name is Yessica and I am 23 years old. I am mother to Jayden, who is 12 months old. I currently live in my parents’ house with my little sisters.

First of all, I want to thank God because I feel blessed to have been accepted into the program. I entered the Survival program when my little boy was five months old. When I joined this group, my economic situation was not good, and I was very worried because I needed more things as my baby was starting to eat baby food and drink powdered milk. I felt helpless because everything was getting complicated, and I had to leave my studies to take care of my son. Unfortunately, I don’t have the support of my son’s father and I can’t work either because people won’t give me a job with my son still so young. I have no one to leave him with because my parents go into town to work; however, they help me with the little they have.

Through this program I have had the opportunity to know God. The most beautiful thing has been learning about His Word, and I have also learned to pray. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to join this program because it is a great help and blessing for my son and myself.

As part of the program, I had the opportunity—along with the other moms—to learn many stimulation activities for my son that our implementer Paulina taught us. I also learned that I must care for, love and above all protect my son so that he can feel safe by my side.

I also thank the program because they were always concerned about the health of me and my child. Through medical checkups, I was able to know that we are in good health and with the doctor’s recommendations I can care for and protect my son and prevent him from contracting diseases. Another help we receive is the food they give us every month since it contains nutrients, vitamins and proteins that contribute to the growth and development of my son.

What I like the most about the program are the home visits that implementer Paulina makes because she shares with me many teachings that bless my life and that of my family—now, they can also learn more about God’s love.

I also want to thank the donors who make it possible for this program to take place in the centre. My family and I will be praying that you will continue to help the families in need and that God will protect you in your work and especially take care of your lives and the lives of your families. I ask for your prayers for all the babies and mothers of this beautiful program and that it may expand to other places in need.

I bid you farewell with love and affection in Jesus,

Yessica