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Published: December 6th 2009
In Bolivia Ben and I intended to visit a child that we sponsor through Worldvision. Because of the passport situation Ben could not do it as the visit had been booked and was arranged for a specific date. I arrived in Bolivia as we had planned and on 16/09/09 I was able to do the visit.
Through Worldvision Ben and I sponsor three children. Alfredo in Bolivia, and a little girl in Senegal and another boy in Bagladesh. We have contact with the three of them by post and we thought it would be nice to be able to meet at least one of them. We exchange Christmas cards, birthday cards and speak about the differences of the worlds where we live. The project is for the development of the area and in fact we sponsor the project and have the extended advantage of exchanging correspondence with a child that benefits from it.
This visit to the village where our sponsored child lives with his family was one of the most rewarding things of this year abroad. I have to say I was quite apprehensive ever since I booked the visit with the office in London. Ben always said
he would be there to support me but I ended up doing it on my own.
The day before the visit I took the bus from La Paz to the town of Oruro where the Worldvision Offices are based for that area. Oruro is a small colonial city but is quite buzzing because of its proximity to the Chilean border. Not so close but for Andean distances it is a good post on the way. I was all the time breathing deeply and sighing and I guess it was not only because of the altitude but also because of the apprehension of the visit to the project. I arrived in Oruro around lunch time. I visited the town which is possible to do on foot. There are not many modern buildings and the city's architecture really takes you back in time. I visited the local market and got a ball and a little toy car to give to Alfredo. As I walked around the city my thoughts were only on the visit next day. That day I suffered with the altitude and got some medicine at a pharmacy.
On the 16th in the morning two members of the
Briefing
With Juan Carlos, the geologist and driver.Worldvision staff arrived at the hotel to take me to the Khantati Project, Jose Manuel and Mauricio, both from La Paz but working in Oruro during the week. Outside we met Juan Carlos the agronomist who would drive us to the project and later to the village where Alfredo lives. We passed by the market and bought some "viveres" (provisions for the family such as rice, sugar and flour and pasta) in the local market and set off on our way.
The landscape could not be more dramatic than what started appearing in front of us. We started the ascent as the project is located over 4000 meters above sea level, even higher than La Paz. There is a road that crosses the barren terrain and sometimes a village here and there. About half way through there is a former mine town which is not active but some people still leave in there. Herds of lamas populate the roadside every now and then. At a certain point we crossed a family of about six or seven people to whom Juan Carlos gave a lift. About 40 minutes later they got off to take the path that leads to their
Briefing
With Michel Angelo, the doctor. With the help of two nurses, the doctor takes care of about 2,000 children spread over a vast area. village. By then, around 10 a.m., the sun was intense and the wind creates a lot of dust. The people that got a lift with the 4X4 were all covered in colourful traditional clothing that covered most of the body in order to be protected from the sun.
When we arrived at the headquarters of the project I was introduced to the people who work there. I was impressed by the quality of the work I was being presented. Everyone in the project gave a brief description of the work they do and how this fits in the whole organization. I was then explained how the health, nutrition, skills development are taught and monitored and saw the records of the child I sponsor. It was extremely gratifying to start seeing how the contributions Ben and I make help make a difference at such a distance and for communities that really benefit from it. Most impressive of all was to see the passion and dedication of the workers for the project.
After a delicious brunch cooked by Eulalia we set off to the village about 30 or 40 minutes from the head quarters. My heart was pounding and thankfully
Briefing
With the finance manager altitude sickness did not affect me that day. Half way through we stopped at the school. Here I met Alfredo and his brother and spoke to the teachers and had an opportunity to see the school and speak not only with Alfredo but also with several other children. I have to say, I managed my emotions and was totally absorbed by the occasion. We stopped here for about 20 minutes and then made our way to the village.
I was not the only one apprehensive about the visit. Alfredo's parents were also quite anxious as well as other people close to them in the village. As the car stopped and I got off it, his father gave me a traditional "jaleco" (waistcoat) and I was then taken to the village by an Elder while the others performed songs and dances. It was a great party. I took part in the dance, sometimes with Alfredo's parent's and the family in the middle of the circle of musicians and people. Villagers presented me with potato necklaces and other traditional costumes. Alfredo's parents gave me a "chuspa" a beautiful Andean bag made of wool. I was touched by the kindness with which
Working breakfast
Robson, Edurardo and Jose Manuel I was received by the village. For them I was there to pay a visit to their son and they seemed genuinely happy with that. It coincided with Alfredo's birthday which was a month away and the celebration grew bigger and bigger. I also briefly visited the house where the family lives. The house is made of adobe. With his father I could communicate in Spanish and he helped in the communication with Alfredo's mother who speaks mainly "quechua" the local language. The Worldvision staff were all so helpful also all the way through helping me with the language barriers.
After the formal entry to the village and the dance there were speeches and after that we were served a traditional meal in which the whole village took part. It is worth mentioning that the greens served in the meal had been grown in the greenhouses which are built with the help and expertise of the project. I visited such a green house in the village.
There was a time to say good-bye but before that Alfredo's parents and some villagers took me to climb the rocks that are just outside the village. In reality the village is
On the way to Alfredo
The village is in the Oruro region and is at 4,500 meters altitude on the foot of these massive rocks. The climb was quite steep however the children and the other villagers climbed it bare feet and with no problems. Alfredo's mother carried his little sister in her back in an Andean child-carrier made of wool. I worried a bit about her but her agility and balance were impressive. We took some pictures from the top and then came down. I said good bye to Alfredo and his family and the villagers and we departed at the sound of more music and further dancing from the villagers.
Back in the offices of the Khantati project we had some coffee and debriefing and after that made our way back to Oruro. In the evening in Oruro I went for dinner with Jose Manuel and Mauricio and we ate a delicious pizza with meat from Lama. On the next day I made my way back to La Paz to meet Ben and Vincent. I have to say thank you to Mauricio and Jose Manuel for taking control of my camera and for the really nice pictures I have of the day. Cheers guys.
As I said before it was one of the most
rewarding days I had in this trip. I was able not only to visit and experience a few moments with the family of the child I sponsor but also to get to know the project itself and some of the people that benefit from it. I feel privilegged I was able to have this experience, such a close contact with the people of the country I was visiting. Sponsoring a child has been a rewarding experience.
You can find more about child sponsorship and World Vision´s work at www.worldvision.org.uk.
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Elaine
non-member comment
It was so enlightening to read Robson's account of his visit to the Khantati region. I have just sponsored a little girl from there and can't wait to go now I have seen it. I have started saving up already. The people look lovely and my little girl is already precious to me. Elaine