Other Projects
In addition to the Health Care and Child Sponsorship programs, there are other needs in the community that need to be addressed. ProSorata is engaged in helping to address those additional needs.
Water Projects
Water is crucial to life, good health and breaking the cycle of poverty. To this end, ProSorata is involved in fundraising and grant writing for small, community based water and sanitation projects. ProSorata applied for and won a $10,000 US grant from US Agency for International Development to build a bathroom and showers for the community of Tutuacaja. This bathroom is now complete and open to the community. This has given a community of 100 people bathroom, shower and laundry facilities. ProSorata considers water projects from the community when they have applied to the local government for assistance and been turned down for being too small or remote.
Children’s Books and Lending Library
ProSorata has started two lending libraries for children and their families to borrow books, take them home and return them when finished. Books are very expensive in Bolivia and most families do not have books at home. Now we have whole families hooked on a variety of series of chapter books! We also have non fiction books that relate to what the kids study in school, as well as beautiful, early reader picture books for the younger kids. We are always looking for book donations! Maybe your book club wants to contribute?
Community Service
We also involve the kids in Sorata in community service projects and trips outside of Sorata to know more of Bolivia. To this end, in June 2007 we to twenty young people camping up in the mountains, about a four hour walk from Sorata. There we did a trash cleanup to remove trash from a numerous international expeditions and posted wooden signs encouraging people to pack out their trash. Quite the adventure. In the past we have taken the kids trekking in the Andes, to Copacabana and the Lake Titicaca and will go for the Aymara New Year (June 21) to the indigenous ceremonies at Tiwanaku.
Solar Lanterns
While we can’t bring electrical hook ups to the house, we can bring solar lanterns. Some of the children and families live in homes without electricity. The sun sets early year around this close to the equator, so kids have to have all their jobs and homework done by 6:30 or 7:00 to make the most of daylight. This is not always possible when they are working in the fields after school. ProSorata raises money to purchase solar lanterns (not available here in Bolivia) so families can do homework and read together after the sun has gone down.
Special Projects
Each year we do a variety of small, special projects that rise up from the needs of the community. These projects have included providing the following for each family or child in our program:
Toothbrushes/toothpaste, school supplies, backpacks, towels, blankets, first aid kits and used clothing
